Electronic Parts Holding Jig

A holding jig we designed and printed for a client who needed to measure a batch of small electronic connectors, the same way, every time. Each part drops into a pocket cut to its exact shape, a clamp locks it in place, and the whole tray presents a row of parts held in identical, repeatable positions ready for inspection.

Why a jig like this matters

When you measure a part by hand it can sit slightly differently each time, and those small shifts show up as noise in the readings. A fixture removes that: the pocket only lets the part seat one way, so the datum faces land in the same spot on every cycle and the measurements stay comparable across the whole batch. The oval windows and open sides keep the reference features and probe points reachable while the part stays locked down.

How we made it

We modelled a cavity around each connector, following its real geometry so it seats snugly with no play, then added a small clamp and a threaded insert at each station to hold it firm. The trays are FDM printed in carbon-fibre reinforced PETG, chosen because it is stiff and dimensionally stable, so the jig itself keeps its shape and does not flex under handling, which is exactly what a measurement fixture needs. Built as a modular set of trays, it scales to however many parts need checking at once.

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