Fixture (tool)

Using a fixture improves the economy of production by allowing smooth operation and quick transition from part to part, reducing the requirement for skilled labor by simplifying how workpieces are mounted, and increasing conformity across a production run.

[3] A fixture's primary purpose is to create a secure mounting point for a workpiece, allowing for support during operation and increased accuracy, precision, reliability, and interchangeability in the finished parts.

[2] Fixtures also allow for a higher degree of operator safety by reducing the concentration and effort required to hold a piece steady.

Examples include workshop vises, adjustable clamps, and improvised devices such as weights and furniture.

[7] In designing the locating parts of a fixture, only the direction of forces applied by the operation are considered, and not their magnitude.

[8] To secure workpieces and prevent motion during operation, support components primarily use two techniques: positive stops and friction.

A positive stop is any immovable component (such as a solid surface or pin) that, by its placement, physically impedes the motion of the workpiece.

Using a fixture will help secure the two separate parts in a designated area for the craftsman to complete the job easily & without the risk of injury.

Locating and supporting areas must usually be large and very sturdy in order to accommodate milling operations; strong clamps are also a requirement.

Bushings are simple bearing sleeves inserted into these holes to protect them and guide the drill bit.

[15] Welding fixtures locate parts using these clamps to secure important aspects of the subcomponent, such as holes, slots, or datum surfaces.

The welding fixture must be designed to allow all subcomponent parts to nest together properly to obtain the necessary amount of gap for fusion.

Modular fixturing strategies can be deployed in production scenarios where a setup is needed for a run of the same part in a shorter period of time.