Work Holding Methods - Year 2 Tool & Die

This 11-week, 33-hour course introduces students to the principles and practices involved in the design, selection, and application of work holding tools and devices used in machining. Students will study the fundamentals of jigs, fixtures, clamps, and other custom tooling necessary for precise and safe metal removal operations. Emphasis is placed on industrial print creation, component selection, design safety, and mechanical analysis. Students will research and develop optimized work holding solutions using appropriate calculations and engineering methods.

Award Type:

Iowa Western Certificate of Completion

Learning Outcomes:

Explain the principles of work holding and its role in machining accuracy and efficiency
Identify and differentiate between jigs, fixtures, clamps, vises, and custom tooling
Create detailed industrial drawings of work holding devices using accepted drafting standards
Select appropriate mechanical components for fixtures and tooling
Perform basic engineering calculations for fixture design, including clamping force, deflection, and tolerance control
Analyze existing work holding solutions and recommend improvements
Apply safety, reliability, and functionality criteria in the design of fixtures and tooling

Educational Objective:

Vocational - This course prepares students for careers in precision machining, tool design, and manufacturing engineering by developing practical skills in fixture development and mechanical tooling design.

Tuition:

$1,257.15

Fees: Books and Testing

Length of Course:

11 Weeks (33 Hours Total)

Course Outline:

Introduction to Work Holding in Manufacturing - 2 hours
- Overview of metal removal processes and fixture design principles
- Importance of work holding for productivity, safety, and accuracy
Classification and Function of Jigs and Fixtures - 3 hours
- Types of fixtures (milling, drilling, turning) and jigs (drill jigs, templates)
- Functional elements (locators, clamps, supports)
Work Holding Device Components - 3 hours
- Clamps, bushings, pins, vises, T-slot setups
- Quick-release mechanisms and mechanical actuators
Safety and Ergonomics in Fixture Design - 2 hours
- Safe loading/unloading practices
- Risk mitigation through proper design
Mechanical Design and Component Selection - 4 hours
- Calculating clamping force, deflection, and positioning repeatability
- Material selection for fixture construction
Introduction to Industrial Drawings - 3 hours
- Blueprint standards, dimensions, symbols, tolerances
- Orthographic projection and exploded views
CAD Drafting for Tooling and Fixtures - 4 hours
- Creating accurate 2D and 3D representations of work holding devices
- Annotation, revision management, and BOMs
Applied Fixture Design Project - 4 hours
- Design of a fixture or jig for a real-world machining scenario
- Presentation and review of design decisions
Research and Analysis Methods - 3 hours
- Investigating existing commercial fixture systems
- Cost-benefit and feasibility analysis
Design Review and Optimization - 3 hours
- Peer critiques and instructor feedback
- Design refinement and safety verification
Final Submission and Reflection - 2 hours
- Submission of final design package and drawings
- Discussion of industry applications and career connections

Admissions Requirements:

N/A

Attendance Requirements:

If a student misses two or more classes their employer will be notified that they have missed two classes. IWCC will also notify the company every time that same individual misses any other classes. The student can work with the instructor to make up the class work and class time.

Instructor Qualification:

Instructor is registered, certified, or licensed in the occupational area in which the state requires registration, certification or licensure for the occupational area in which the instructor is teaching.