Custom Machined Fixturing Arm
This custom fixturing arm was machined in-house to support a manufacturing operation requiring a dedicated method of locating and supporting a component during setup.
Unlike production parts, fixtures exist to make other work easier. They may never leave the shop, but they’re often used long before the finished product begins taking shape.
Most shops don’t build custom fixturing unless there’s a reason to. It may be because a component is difficult to hold, a setup takes longer than it should, or the same client job or operation is being repeated often enough that building dedicated tooling just makes sense. This fixturing arm was manufactured as part of a solution tailored to the work it would be used for.
Holding the Part Is Part of the Job
Machining and fabrication both depend on the workpiece staying where it’s supposed to. If a component shifts during setup or while work is being carried out, it can affect everything that follows. Sometimes the difference this makes is obvious, while other times it’s only discovered later when another component no longer fits the way it should or wears sooner than it’s supposed to.
Depending on the operation, a fixturing arm may be used to:
support part of a workpiece
establish a consistent locating point
maintain alignment during setup
hold a component while additional work is completed
assist with repeat operations
Custom Tooling is Built Around the Work
Standard clamps and workholding equipment solve many everyday jobs, but they aren’t intended to suit every project that comes through a machine shop.
Some parts have unusual shapes. Others need to be accessed from several directions or positioned in a way that standard tooling can’t easily accommodate. Rather than spending time working around those limitations every time the job comes back, shops will often manufacture tooling that better suits the way the work is actually performed.
Good Fixtures Usually Save Time Later
Building custom tooling takes time, which is why it generally isn’t done without good reason.
If a fixture makes setup easier, reduces unnecessary adjustments, or helps position a component the same way each time it’s used, that time can often be recovered over the course of future jobs. For repeat work especially, investing time in the setup can make the production process smoother and turnaround faster.
This fixturing arm was machined from 1018 steel, a material commonly used for shop-built tooling because it machines well and is practical to fabricate or modify if the fixture evolves over time.
Material selection always depends on how a tool will be used, but for many fixtures, it’s just as important that the material can be worked with efficiently as it is that it provides the strength needed for the job.
Why 1018 Steel Was Used
Frequently Asked Questions
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It can, but not because the fixture machines the part. Its role is to help position or support the workpiece consistently so the operator can carry out the machining or fabrication process as intended. The fixture becomes one part of a setup that’s designed to produce accurate, reliable results.
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No. Many jobs can be completed using standard vises, clamps, and workholding equipment. Custom fixturing generally becomes worthwhile when a part is produced repeatedly, has unusual geometry, or requires a setup that standard tooling doesn’t accommodate particularly well.
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In many cases, yes. Shops often develop fixtures after a job has already been in production for some time. As a process evolves, custom tooling can be manufactured to simplify setups, improve accessibility, or better suit the way the work is being performed.
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Let’s Get Started on Your Project
Need a custom fixture, workholding solution, or shop tool manufactured for a specific process?
Send drawings, sketches, photos, or details about the operation through this secure form. We’ll review the application and determine whether custom tooling could help simplify the job or better support the way the work is being performed.