Jig
Jig turns up in 2 fields: machine shop, mining. Here is what it means to the people in each one.
Jig in machine shop
A custom-made device that holds a workpiece and guides a cutting tool.
A specialized piece of tooling designed to hold a workpiece securely while physically guiding the cutting tool into the correct position. Unlike a standard fixture, which only holds the part, a jig directly controls the tool's path, most commonly using drill bushings to ensure holes are placed exactly right every time.
"Grab the drill jig off the shelf so we can pop these cross holes in the shafts without measuring each one."
Jig in mining
A mechanical device that separates crushed ore from waste rock using pulsating water.
This processing equipment relies on gravity and fluid dynamics to stratify crushed minerals based on their specific gravity. A pulsating bed of water lifts and drops the material, causing heavier valuable minerals to settle to the bottom while lighter gangue is washed over the top.
"Check the stroke length on the primary jig, we're losing too much heavy mineral to the tailings."