Jigs and fixtures for aligning, guiding, and/or holding a workpiece on woodworking machinery during a woodworking operation are described, as well as methods of making, modifying, and using jigs and fixtures.

A drilling method for forming a plurality of through-holes in a plate member includes: a first step of fixing at least one jig, which has a clearance hole, on a bed of a machine tool; a second step of placing the plate member on the at least one jig and fixing the plate member on the bed; a third step of operating the machine tool so that a leading end portion of a drilling tool of the machine tool is inserted into the clearance hole, and forming a first through-hole at a position of the plate member corresponding to the clearance hole; a fourth step of passing a fixing member through the first through-hole, and fixing the plate member on the at least one jig using the fixing member; and a fifth step of operating the machine tool to form a second through-hole other than the first through-hole.

Devices and methods for stabilizing a structural component are provided. The devices may include a main body component, a pair of opposed stabilization feet engageable with opposed regions of the structural component, a pair of coaxially disposed and reciprocal rectilinearly movable support shafts coupling the stabilization feet to the main body component, and an actuator assembly for rectilinearly moving the support shafts opposite to one another which in turn moves the stabilization feet between retracted and extended positions relative to the main body component. In use, the device may be positioned between opposed flanges of a structural component so as to stabilize the component and facilitate automated assembly processes.

A drilling method for forming a plurality of through-holes in a plate member includes: a first step of fixing at least one jig, which has a clearance hole, on a bed of a machine tool; a second step of placing the plate member on the at least one jig and fixing the plate member on the bed; a third step of operating the machine tool so that a leading end portion of a drilling tool of the machine tool is inserted into the clearance hole, and forming a first through-hole at a position of the plate member corresponding to the clearance hole; a fourth step of passing a fixing member through the first through-hole, and fixing the plate member on the at least one jig using the fixing member; and a fifth step of operating the machine tool to form a second through-hole other than the first through-hole.

An adjustable holding device having a pair of adjustment drill grooves and a transverse exhaust channel. Attached to the base is a vertical support member having guide supports. At least one of the guide supports is horizontally adjustable. Drill guides are removably attached to the guide support for both vertical and horizontal adjustment.

A quick adjust ratcheting pocket hole jig is presented. The pocket hole jig has a base with a removable upright connected thereto. A guide assembly is slidably received within the upright. Removable and replaceable side supports are connected to the base by way of a dove tail joint. Removable and replaceable adjustable stops are connected to the base by way of key holes. A clamp assembly is connected to the base having a handle portion and a clamp follower. The clamp follower has a ratcheting mechanism and a compressible plunger assembly. The clamp follower can quickly be adjusted using a button on the clamp follower that disengages the ratcheting member such that it can be quickly adjusted. When the handle is operated, it draws the clamp follower towards the upright and guide assembly compressing the spring loaded plunger assembly thereby quickly and tightly and adjustably holding a workpiece therebetween.

An improved pocket hole drill guide fixture. The fixture may be retrofitted onto a vise or incorporated as an integral part thereof. The fixture provides a broad clamping surface and a long top edge providing linear area for drill guide bores housed therein. Each bore enters the top edge at a known angle and exits towards the work contacting surface of the fixture. One or more workpieces per clamping cycle can be efficiently produced.

A self-adjusting pocket hole jig includes a base having a clamp end and a toggle end, a guide carried by the base and reciprocally movable between a raised position and a lowered position. A clamp assembly is carried by the base and reciprocally movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position. An adjustment mechanism is coupled between the guide and the clamp assembly. The adjustment mechanism is arranged to move the clamp assembly in a forward direction to the engaged position and correspondingly move the guide in a downward direction to the lowered position, and arranged to move the clamp assembly in a rearward direction to the disengaged position and correspondingly move the guide in an upward direction to the raised position.

A fastener for fastening a drill jig to overlapping work pieces and clamping the overlapping work pieces for facilitating accurate drilling of the overlapping work pieces including a fastener body and a damper assembly operatively connected to the fastener body. The damper assembly is configured to enable application of a first load to the drill jig, and the fastener body is configured to enable application of a second load to the overlapping work pieces when the fastener fastens the drill jig to the overlapping work pieces. The first load is less than the second load. The first load is sufficient to hold the drill jig to the overlapping work pieces during drilling but without causing significant deformation of the drill jig. The second load is sufficient to reduce the formation of burrs during drilling of a hole through the overlapping working pieces.

There is provided a tool assembly for transferring locations and dimensions of a pattern of holes from a first structure to a second structure. The tool assembly has a transfer plate with a transfer plate pattern of transfer plate holes that include a plurality of oversize holes and two transfer plate index holes. The transfer plate pattern is substantially identical to the pattern in the first structure. The tool assembly has one or more alignment elements installed in the plurality of oversize holes. Each alignment element has a through opening in a coaxial alignment with the oversize hole. The oversize hole allows formation of an alignment variation gap between an exterior of the alignment element and an inner wall of the oversize hole. The tool assembly has one or more holding elements coupled to the transfer plate, each with a central through opening in coaxial alignment with the oversize hole.