Manufacturing Jigs and Assembly Fixtures
Jigs guide a process; fixtures hold a part while it happens. Both remove guesswork from the shop floor. Innovat3D designs and manufactures manufacturing jigs, assembly fixtures and production aids for UK manufacturers.
These are practical items designed around how the job is actually done — not idealised tooling that operators work around.
Problems this solves
- Assemblies built by eye, with variation between operators
- Drilling and marking positions measured out part by part
- Awkward or unsafe manual holding during assembly
- Training time for new staff on fiddly operations
- Quality issues found late because nothing checks position at build
Typical applications
- Drill jigs and bushed guide plates
- Weld and bond fixtures for consistent alignment
- Assembly nests and build fixtures
- Marking, labelling and trim templates
- Test and functional-check fixtures
- Line-side production aids and part presenters
Benefits
Consistency
The same result whoever is on the job.
Speed
Positioning is built into the tooling instead of measured every time.
Fewer errors
Poka-yoke features can make incorrect loading physically impossible.
Safer handling
Parts held securely instead of by hand.
Quick to change
Design revisions for a new variant are straightforward.
Who we work with
- Assembly and sub-assembly operations
- Fabrication and welding shops
- Electronics and enclosure builders
- Small manufacturers scaling up output
How it works
- 01
Watch the job
Understand the current method, the sequence and where variation creeps in.
- 02
Design
3D CAD around the part, the operator and the workspace.
- 03
Prototype
A first article to try in place before committing to the final build.
- 04
Manufacture
Produced in materials suited to daily production use.
- 05
Roll out
Duplicates for additional stations, with revision control.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between a jig and a fixture?
- A jig guides the tool — a drill jig with bushes, for example. A fixture holds and locates the part but does not guide the tool. Many practical items do a bit of both.
- Can you make several identical jigs?
- Yes. Once a design is proven, further copies for other stations or sites are straightforward.
- Can jigs be made without existing drawings?
- Yes — from a sample part, measurements or reverse engineering of an existing assembly.
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View CAD DesignDiscuss your application
Send CAD files, drawings, photographs, dimensions, an existing part or simply a description of the manufacturing problem — whatever you have is enough to start. Based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, Innovat3D supports engineering and manufacturing customers throughout the UK.