A jig is a type of custom-made
tool
A tool is an Physical object, object that can extend an individual's ability to modify features of the surrounding environment or help them accomplish a particular task. Although many Tool use by animals, animals use simple tools, only human bei ...
used to control the location and/or motion of parts or other tools.
Description
A jig's primary purpose is to provide
repeatability,
accuracy, and
interchangeability in the
manufacturing
Manufacturing is the creation or production of goods with the help of equipment, labor, machines, tools, and chemical or biological processing or formulation. It is the essence of the
secondary sector of the economy. The term may refer ...
of products.
[.]
An example of a jig is when a key is duplicated; the original is used as a jig so the new key can have the same path as the old one. Since the advent of
automation
Automation describes a wide range of technologies that reduce human intervention in processes, mainly by predetermining decision criteria, subprocess relationships, and related actions, as well as embodying those predeterminations in machine ...
and
computer numerical control
Computer numerical control (CNC) or CNC machining is the Automation, automated control of machine tools by a computer. It is an evolution of numerical control (NC), where machine tools are directly managed by data storage media such as punched ...
led (CNC) machines, jigs are often not required because the tool path is digitally programmed and stored in memory. Jigs may be made for reforming plastics.
Jigs or templates have been known long before the industrial age. There are many types of jigs, and each one is custom-tailored to do a specific job.
Drill jig
A ''drill jig'' is a type of jig that expedites repetitive hole center location on multiple
interchangeable parts
Interchangeable parts are parts (wikt:component#Noun, components) that are identical for practical purposes. They are made to specifications that ensure that they are so nearly identical that they will fit into any assembly of the same type. One ...
by acting as a template to guide the
twist drill or other boring device into the precise location of each intended hole center. In metalworking practice, typically a hardened
drill bushing lines each hole on the jig plate to keep the tool from damaging the jig.
Drill jigs started falling into disuse with the invention of the
jig borer.
Since the widespread penetration of the manufacturing industry by CNC
machine tool
A machine tool is a machine for handling or machining metal or other rigid materials, usually by cutting, Boring (manufacturing), boring, grinding (abrasive cutting), grinding, shearing, or other forms of deformations. Machine tools employ some s ...
s, in which
servo controls are capable of moving the tool to the correct location automatically, the need for drill jigs (and for the jobs of the
drill press operators who used them) is much less than it used to be.
See also
*
Jig grinder
*
Staircase jig
*
Sharpening jig
*
Tapering jig
References
Bibliography
*
{{Authority control
Woodworking jigs
Woodworking tools
Metalworking tools