Custom Jigs and Fixtures, Engineered for Repeatability
Richconn designs and CNC-machines custom jigs and fixtures that remove variation from your process — drill jigs, machining fixtures, welding fixtures, assembly jigs, inspection (check) fixtures, and modular workholding. We engineer the locating scheme, clamping, and foolproofing, then machine every plate, pin, and bushing to CMM-verified accuracy — so the same part loads the same way, every cycle, across every operator.
- Jig & fixture design + build
- 3-2-1 locating & Poka-Yoke
- ISO 9001:2015
What Are Custom Jigs and Fixtures?
Jigs and fixtures are custom workholding devices that locate, hold, and support a workpiece during machining, drilling, welding, assembly, or inspection — so the same part is processed the same way, every time, regardless of who runs the operation. They are the quiet tools that decide how smoothly a job actually runs.
The distinction is simple but important: a jig guides the cutting tool (a drill jig has hardened bushings that steer the drill bit to the exact hole location), while a fixture only holds and locates the workpiece and never guides the tool. Both remove operator variation, raise repeatability, and cut setup time — the difference is whether the device also controls the tool path.
Because almost every jig and fixture is built for one specific part and one specific operation, they're inherently custom. Richconn designs the locating scheme and clamping, then CNC-machines the base plates, locating pins, bushings, and clamps to the accuracy the application demands.
- Remove variation: every part loads to the same datum, every cycle
- Raise throughput: faster load / clamp / unload, less measuring and marking
- Cut scrap: foolproofing (Poka-Yoke) prevents wrong-orientation loading
- Lower skill dependency: consistent output across operators and shifts
- Improve safety: hands stay clear; the part is held, not hand-held
From Part Drawing to Working Fixture
You send
Part 3D/2D, the operation, tolerances, cutting forces, volume
We design
Locating scheme (3-2-1), clamping, foolproofing, fixture CAD
You approve
Design review & quote within 2 business hours
We machine
Base, locators, bushings, clamps — CNC + grinding + heat treat
We verify & ship
CMM check, trial load, documented report, worldwide delivery
Jig or Fixture — Which Do You Need?
The terms are often used interchangeably, but they solve different problems. Getting this right at the design stage avoids paying for tool-guiding features you don't need — or missing ones you do.
Jig
Guides the ToolA jig both locates/holds the workpiece and guides the cutting tool to the correct position — most commonly via hardened drill bushings that steer a drill bit. Lighter, often hand-held or lightly clamped, and built for tool-guided operations.
- Operations: drilling, reaming, boring, tapping, counterboring
- Key feature: hardened drill bushings / tool guides
- Weight: lighter, quick to handle
- Cost driver: precise bushing placement & hardening
Fixture
Holds the WorkpieceA fixture securely locates and holds the workpiece but never guides the tool. Heavier and more rigid because it must resist cutting forces, vibration, and clamping loads. The tool path is controlled by the machine, not the fixture.
- Operations: milling, turning, grinding, welding, assembly, inspection
- Key feature: rigid locating & clamping, no tool guides
- Weight: heavier, bolted to the machine table
- Cost driver: rigidity, locating accuracy, clamp design
Jig & Fixture Types We Manufacture
Six core families cover almost every workholding need. Each is designed around its operation — the loads, the datum, and the tolerances differ, so the design does too.
Type 01 · Jig
Drill Jigs
Plate, template, box, and angle-plate drill jigs with hardened bushings that guide the drill to exact hole locations and angles — eliminating layout, center-punching, and positional drift across large batches.
Type 02 · Fixture
Machining Fixtures
Milling, turning, and grinding fixtures that locate the part to a repeatable datum and resist cutting forces. Locators are positioned so cutting loads push the part into the locators, not away from them.
Type 03 · Fixture
Welding Fixtures
Weld fixtures that hold multiple components in precise alignment through the heat and distortion of welding. Designed around datum and tolerance so the welded assembly stays dimensionally consistent.
Type 04 · Jig
Assembly Jigs & Nests
Assembly jigs and product-holding nests that position components for manual or automated assembly. Often in POM or aluminum to protect part surfaces, shaped to the product so it only seats one way.
Type 05 · Fixture
Inspection / Check Fixtures
Check fixtures and gauges that verify dimensions, clearance, and feature location — including go/no-go gauging — so quality checks are fast, repeatable, and not dependent on a skilled inspector with hand tools.
Type 06 · Modular
Modular & Pneumatic Fixtures
Reconfigurable modular fixtures built from interchangeable elements, plus pneumatic and hydraulic clamping for fast, consistent, repeatable clamp force in higher-volume or quick-changeover production.
How We Design a Fixture That Actually Holds
A fixture that passes individual dimension checks can still produce out-of-position parts if the locating logic is wrong. These are the principles our engineers apply to every design — the difference between a block of metal with clamps and a fixture that performs.
3-2-1 Locating Principle
Six Points, One Stable Position
Three on the primary plane (kills 3 DOF), two on the secondary (kills 2), one on the tertiary (kills the last). Get this right and the part has exactly one stable position — no rocking, no ambiguity.
Physically Cannot Seat Wrong
The fixture must not allow the part — or the tool — to be loaded in any position other than the correct one. We add asymmetric stops and locators so a part physically cannot seat wrong, even if an operator tries.
Forces Push Into, Not Away
Clamping force and cutting force are directed so they push the workpiece into the locators, never away. Milling generates lateral forces that will walk a part sideways if the fixture fights them instead of using them.
Speed Without Sacrificing Accuracy
Quick-acting clamps, minimal load/unload motion, adjustable locating points where needed, and operator safety designed in — so cycle time drops without sacrificing accuracy.
Materials for Jigs & Fixtures
Fixture material is chosen for rigidity, wear, weight, and how it contacts your part. Locating and wear elements are usually hardened steel; bodies and plates trade weight against stiffness; part-contact surfaces use non-marring materials.
| Material | Typical Use in the Fixture | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tool Steel (D2, SKD11, A2) | Locating pins, drill bushings, wear pads, rest buttons | Hardened (HRC 55–62) for wear resistance where the part contacts repeatedly |
| Alloy / Carbon Steel (4140, 1045) | Fixture base plates, clamp bodies, structural frames | Rigid and stable; resists cutting force and vibration; cost-effective for bodies |
| Stainless Steel (304, 420) | Welding fixtures, wet / corrosive environments | Corrosion resistance; 420 hardens for wear-critical locators |
| Aluminum (6061-T6, 7075) | Lightweight plates, assembly jigs, modular elements | Light and fast to machine where loads are moderate and handling matters |
| POM / Nylon / PEEK | Part-contact nests, soft jaws, product cradles | Non-marring; protects finished or delicate part surfaces from scratches |
| Cast Iron | Large, heavy machining fixture bases | Excellent vibration damping and dimensional stability for heavy cuts |
From Design to Verified Fixture
A jig or fixture is only as good as its weakest reference surface. Our six-step process treats design, machining, and verification as one chain — because a locating error designed in upstream can't be inspected out downstream.
Requirement & DFM
We study the part, operation, forces, tolerances, and volume to choose jig vs fixture.
Fixture Design
Locating scheme (3-2-1), clamping, foolproofing modeled in CAD; design sent for your approval.
CNC Machining
Base plates, locators, bushings, clamps machined on 3/4/5-axis and turning centers.
Heat Treat & Grind
Wear and locating elements hardened and ground for long-term accuracy.
Assemble & Try-Out
Fixture assembled, trial-loaded with the part, locating & clamping confirmed.
CMM & Ship
Critical features CMM-verified, report issued, fixture packed and shipped worldwide.
Richconn holds ISO 9001:2015 and verifies fixtures with CMM, 2D optical projectors, and standard metrology. We machine locating and critical features to ±0.01 mm and harden/grind wear elements where the application needs it. If your fixture requires tolerances tighter than our standard process holds, or specialized gauging certification, we'll tell you up front what process route and lead time that requires — we quote what we can document, not a best-case number.
Why Engineers Source Jigs & Fixtures From Us
Plenty of shops will machine a fixture from your drawing. Fewer will engineer the locating logic so the fixture actually performs — and machine it to last. Here's what you get with Richconn.
We Engineer the Fixture, Not Just Cut It
Send us the part and the operation — we design the locating scheme, clamping, and foolproofing from scratch, or refine your existing concept. You don't need to arrive with a finished fixture design; you need the problem solved.
Locating Features to ±0.01 mm, Hardened to Last
The locators and bushings are what determine repeatability — so we machine them to ±0.01 mm, then harden and grind the wear-critical elements. A fixture that drifts after 500 cycles isn't a saving; it's a recall.
We Trial-Load Your Part Before It Leaves
Every fixture is assembled and trial-loaded with the actual part (or your supplied sample) before shipment, with critical features CMM-verified. You receive a working fixture and an inspection report — not a kit of parts to debug.
Design, Machining, Heat-Treat, Grinding, CMM
Fixtures need several processes — milling, turning, hardening, grinding, inspection. We run them under one ISO 9001:2015 system so reference surfaces stay consistent and you manage one supplier, not five.
Industries We Build Jigs & Fixtures For
Each industry below lists the specific tooling we build for it. Different operations demand different fixturing — and different documentation.
Automation & Robotics
Assembly jigs, product nests, CCD inspection stages, tab-welding fixtures, locating plates for machine cells
Automotive & EV
Welding fixtures, drilling jigs, check fixtures for body and battery parts, assembly tooling, GD&T gauges
Electronics & 3C
Product-holding nests (POM), test fixtures, dispensing jigs, alignment fixtures, small-part assembly tooling
Medical Devices
Precision assembly jigs, inspection fixtures, machining fixtures for instruments and implant components
Aerospace
Drilling jigs for large parts, assembly fixtures, machining fixtures, check fixtures with traceable records
Industrial Machinery
Heavy machining fixtures, weld fixtures, modular workholding, setup jigs for batch part families
How to Get a Jig or Fixture Quote
You don't need a finished fixture design — just the part and the problem. Your files are protected under NDA on request, and a quote comes back within 2 business hours.
Send Part & Operation
You send: Part 3D/2D, the operation (drill/mill/weld/assemble/inspect), tolerances, volume
We confirm: Receipt within 30 minutes in business hours
Free Design Review
You wait: No commitment, no charge
We propose: Jig vs fixture, locating scheme, clamping, foolproofing concept
Quote & Design
You receive: Fixture CAD concept, price, lead time within 2 business hours
We refine: Until the design is approved
Build & Harden
You issue: PO + design approval
We make: CNC machine, heat-treat, grind locating & wear elements
Try-Out & CMM
You get: Confidence it works before it ships
We verify: Trial-load the part, CMM-check critical features, issue report
Deliver
You receive: Working fixture + inspection report + export docs
We ship: Protected packaging, worldwide delivery
Bring the part and the operation — we engineer the fixture. NDA signed on request before any file is uploaded.
Automation Equipment Parts — FAQ
The questions automation builders and procurement engineers ask most. Each answer gives decision-useful detail, not marketing copy.
Q.01 What are custom automation equipment parts?
Q.02 Can you make a full machine's worth of mixed parts, not just one part number?
Q.03 What tolerances can you hold on automation parts?
Q.04 Do you machine robot joint housings and tool flanges?
Q.05 What materials do you use for automation components?
Q.06 What volumes and lead times do you support?
Q.07 Do you provide DFM and fixture-design feedback?
Q.08 Can you kit parts per our machine BOM?
Q.09 What quality system and inspection do you run?
Q.10 How do you protect our drawings and machine designs?
Q.11 Do you ship internationally?
Q.12 Why not just use an instant-quote online platform?
Send Us the Part — We'll Engineer the Fixture
Upload your part and tell us the operation. Our engineers design the locating scheme, foolproofing, and clamping, then return a fixture concept and quote within 2 business hours. No finished design needed, NDA on request, and your part stays confidential.
