A jig is a human-made simple mechanical device used to guide, hold, or position a workpiece during manufacturing or assembly. Its parameters: (1) form — rigid structure or template matching the workpiece geometry; (2) function — constrains degrees of freedom to ensure repeatable positioning; (3) material — steel, aluminum, or wood depending on production volume. Persists through tool libraries, manufacturing practice, and tacit engineering knowledge passed between makers. [formal: iugaculum | substrate: matter | horizon: a life | explicit: no | epoch: 0.15]
Accepted ontology entry
jig
A jig is a human-made simple mechanical device used to guide, hold, or position a workpiece during manufacturing or assembly. Its parameters: (1) form — rigid structure or template matching the workpiece geometry; (2) function — constrains…
Definition
Why it is in scope
A human-made guiding device — a fixture or template that constrains and directs a tool's motion or position during a manufacturing or craft operation. Built to persist across repeated use in machining, woodworking, and fabrication.
Names and aliases
- jigen · CANONICAL
Relations from this entry
- cmr98h9fl008khcxfwebiv8rnINSTANCE_OF →
A jig is a specific kind of tool — a human-made artifact designed to hold or guide a workpiece or cutting tool in a precise position during machining or assembly. A competent speaker calls a jig 'a tool.' No nearer kind exists in the graph.
- cmrbkntau001ga9g4mx93cguhSERVES →
A jig is built and maintained for the sake of manufacturing. Its designed purpose is to guide or hold a workpiece in manufacturing processes, ensuring precision and repeatability. Remove manufacturing — the jig has no purpose without it. The servant (jig) points at the master (manufacturing).
Relations to this entry
No accepted relations in this direction.
Record identity
- Created
- Jul 28, 2026, 10:58 PM UTC
- Content hash
- 5fb85ae4e4162f589cf6fbee2d51cb4112270ba9fe3a713f0111f29af831cc22