Automated Jigs & Fixtures for Modern Manufacturing
RapidTools uses AI to go from part geometry to 3D-print-ready fixture design in hours
Fixturing Slows Down Every Production Line
Jigs and fixtures are essential for precise, repeatable manufacturing but designing them is slow, expensive.
Manual CAD Bottleneck
Every fixture starts with a CAD engineer: tickets, queues, revisions, and delays before a single part is even held.
Long Turnaround Times
From design request to approved fixture can take 1–4 weeks in traditional workflows.
Vendor Dependency
Outsourcing fixture fabrication adds cost, introduces communication overhead, and removes control from the people closest to the process. Changes mid-run require restarting the vendor cycle entirely.
From Intent to Print-Ready Fixture on the Same Day
Upload your part geometry, describe what needs to be held, and RapidTools AI generates a manufacturable fixture: no CAD skills needed.
- No CAD required
- Hours, not weeks: from upload to print-ready geometry.
- In-house fabrication
- Standard STL or STEP output works with any FDM, SLA, or SLS printer.
Four Steps from Geometry to Fixture
The workflow is designed to fit into existing shop-floor operations without requiring new infrastructure, training programs, or engineering headcount.
Upload Geometry
Import a 3D model of the part: CAD file, scan mesh, or STEP export. RapidTools reads part geometry and identifies key surfaces automatically.
AI Generates Fixture
The AI identifies datum faces, selects support geometry, and generates a complete fixture body with locating pins and rest pads configured for the process.
Review & Refine
Add or adjust clamp positions, modify clearance zones, or flag surfaces to avoid. Changes are applied in real time with no modeling knowledge required.
Print & Deploy
Export a print-ready STL or STEP file. Send to your in-house 3D printer. The fixture is on the floor the same day, ready for production.
Numbers That Change the Economics of Tooling
RapidTools doesn’t incrementally improve fixture design: it changes the cost structure and time horizon of the entire tooling operation.
Built for the Environments That Need It Most
RapidTools applies wherever precise part holding is required and the current fixture workflow is creating delays, cost overruns, or engineering bottlenecks.
Robotics Cells
Part presentation fixtures for pick-and-place cells require consistent orientation. RapidTools generates nest fixtures matched to robot reach envelopes and gripper geometry.
CNC Machining
Workholding for 3- and 4-axis mills must resist cutting forces and provide clean datum references. RapidTools generates fixtures with correct datum structure for the machine coordinate system.
Inspection Fixtures
CMM and gauge fixtures need to hold parts in a defined, repeatable position. RapidTools generates inspection nests that expose the critical measurement surfaces without interference.
Low-Volume, High-Mix
When part numbers change weekly, the cost of traditional tooling is unsustainable. RapidTools makes per-part-number fixtures economically viable even at volumes of 10–100 pieces.
Welding Jigs
Structural weld fixtures must constrain distortion while providing access for torch travel. RapidTools generates weld jigs with clearance zones and tack-point locators built in.
Assembly Aids
Holding fixtures during manual assembly reduce operator fatigue and error rates. RapidTools generates ergonomic assembly jigs that keep both hands free for the joining operation.
Beyond Fixtures: More Tooling, Same Approach
The same AI extends to adjacent tooling: manufacturing expertise as algorithms, not manual effort.
“Decades of shop-floor expertise, turned into algorithms anyone on the team can use.”
Fixture design logic: datum selection, tolerance reasoning, and support placement, embedded directly into the engine so knowledge scales with the team.
Ready to Cut Fixture Lead Times from Weeks to Hours?
Talk to the team and see RapidTools running on your part geometry.