Custom Fixtures & Jigs
Fixtures hold your part precisely in place; jigs guide the tool that works on it. Whether you need a test fixture for electronics validation or a production jig for line assembly, we design and machine both to the tolerance your process actually needs.
Get a Free QuoteFixture vs. Jig: What’s the Difference?
| Fixture | Jig | |
|---|---|---|
| Primary function | Secures and locates the part in a fixed position on a machine or test bench | Secures the part and guides the cutting or assembly tool through the operation |
| Typical material | Metal, often locating with mechanical clamping or magnetic force | Industrial plastics such as bakelite — strong, non-conductive, and heat-resistant |
| Typical use | Test fixtures, inspection setups, machining setups | Assembly jigs, drilling and routing guides, repeatable positioning aids |
In practice, the line between the two has blurred — most tooling today combines locating and guiding functions in a single fixture, and the terms are often used interchangeably on the shop floor. What matters is the underlying engineering: the tool has to hold the part precisely enough, and repeatably enough, for the operation you’re running.
Design Principles: Keeping the Part Where You Put It
Every fixture or jig has to overcome the same problem — keeping a workpiece from shifting under cutting forces, test probes, or assembly pressure. We design around two approaches, chosen based on the application:
- Geometric constraint — the fixture’s shape matches the part’s contours so it physically cannot move out of position, without relying on clamping force.
- Friction and clamping force — the more common approach, where calculated clamping pressure overcomes the inertial and machining forces acting on the part during the operation.
Getting this right matters: a fixture that lets the part shift even slightly can throw off a machining tolerance or produce a false reading on a test bench.
Test Fixtures & Production Jigs
We build tooling for two main use cases:
- Test fixtures — hold PCBs, connectors, or assemblies in a fixed, repeatable position for electronics testing, functional testing, or inspection against a CMM. Consistent positioning is what makes test results comparable from unit to unit.
- Production jigs — guide assembly line operations such as component placement, drilling, or bonding, so every unit is positioned identically regardless of which operator is running the line.
Both are typically one-off or small-batch builds designed around your specific part geometry and process — we machine them in-house alongside our prototyping work, so the same quality control that applies to your product parts applies to your tooling.
Our Custom Process
You send us the part or assembly the fixture needs to hold, along with the operation it needs to support — electronics test, machining, inspection, or line assembly. We review the geometry, recommend geometric constraint or clamping-based locating, and design the fixture or jig accordingly. Fixtures and jigs are machined in the same materials and to the same quality control process as our prototype and production parts, on the same in-house CNC equipment used for your prototype build.
Why Buyers Trust JIERCHEN’s Tooling Shop
ISO 9001
Cert No. 10319/0, issued by AFNOR
D-U-N-S 65-774-7101
Verified business identity
Since 1985
41 years of precision manufacturing
1,000+ Clients
Across 10+ countries
Common Questions
Do I need a fixture or a jig?
If you just need to hold a part still — for testing or inspection — that’s a fixture. If you also need to guide a tool through a repeatable operation, such as drilling or assembly, that’s a jig. In practice most builds do both, so tell us the operation and we’ll design around it.
What material do you build fixtures and jigs from?
Metal for most fixtures, and industrial plastics such as bakelite for jigs where non-conductive, heat-resistant material is needed. We’ll recommend the material based on your application. See our material guide for the full list of options.
Can you build a fixture for electronics testing?
Yes — test fixtures for PCBs, connectors, and assemblies are one of our most common builds, designed to hold the unit in a fixed, repeatable position for reliable test results.
Is there a minimum order for custom fixtures or jigs?
No. Most fixtures and jigs are one-off or small-batch builds designed around a single production line or test setup.
What tolerance can a fixture hold?
We machine fixtures and jigs to ISO 2768-f general tolerances and verify critical locating dimensions to ±0.01mm on a Keyence CMM, the same standard we apply to production parts.
Need a Custom Fixture or Jig?
Tell us what the tooling needs to hold and what operation it supports. An engineer will recommend the right design and material.
Get a Free QuoteJIERCHEN Enterprise Co., Ltd. · ISO 9001 Cert No. 10319/0 · D-U-N-S 65-774-7101 · No. 5, Alley 19, Lane 49, Guoqing Rd., Banqiao Dist., New Taipei City 220, Taiwan · +886-2-7728-5122 · sales@jierchen.com.tw · Mon–Fri 08:30–17:30 (GMT+8)
