fixturers

Fixturer is a professional who designs, builds, and maintains fixtures and workholding devices used to secure and locate workpieces during manufacturing, assembly, inspection, or testing. The term covers roles such as fixture designer, fixturing engineer, and workholding specialist. Fixturers work across industries including automotive, aerospace, electronics, and general machining.

Their objective is to ensure repeatable part location and stable clamping with minimal deformation, enabling accurate machining while minimizing cycle times and operator handling. They analyze part geometry, determine locating points and datum references, select appropriate materials, and create robust clamping and release mechanisms. They often design modular fixturing systems that can be reconfigured for different parts and automate integration with machines and conveyors. The process typically involves concept development, CAD modeling, tolerance and stack-up analysis, prototyping, testing, and documentation of drawings and bill of materials. Prototyping may use CNC machining, 3D printing, or off-the-shelf tooling.

Skills include knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, manufacturing processes, metrology, materials, fixture standards, and CAD/CAM. Proficiency in evaluating fixturing for cycle time, accessibility, safety, and automation compatibility is important.

Educational paths vary; many fixturers come from mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, or skilled machining backgrounds, often progressing from machinist roles through on-the-job training or formal education. The role is sometimes labeled fixture design or workholding engineering, reflecting its emphasis on stabilizing and locating workpieces for reliable production.