Modular Jig and Fixture Systems and Methods

Abstract

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.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A miter gauge head, comprising:
 a first plate portion having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end;   a second plate portion that is positioned near the second end of the first plate portion and is skewed relative to the first plate portion;   a first curved slot through the first plate portion; and   a first group of holes through the first plate portion and positioned between the first curved slot and the second end of the first plate portion.   
     
     
         2 . The miter gauge head of  claim 1 , wherein the first group of holes comprises multiple holes that are spaced apart between the first curved slot and the second end of the first plate portion to define a collinear arrangement of the first group of holes. 
     
     
         3 . The miter gauge head of  claim 2 , wherein at least some of the multiple holes are equally spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the second plate portion. 
     
     
         4 . The miter gauge head of  claim 3 , further comprising a second group of holes through the first plate portion, wherein the second group of holes is positioned between the first curved slot and the first end of the first plate portion. 
     
     
         5 . The miter gauge head of  claim 4 , wherein the second group of holes comprises multiple holes that are spaced apart to define a curved arrangement of the second group of holes. 
     
     
         6 . The miter gauge head of  claim 1 , wherein the first group of holes comprises multiple holes that are spaced apart to define a triangular arrangement of the first group of holes. 
     
     
         7 . The miter gauge head of  claim 6 , wherein the multiples holes include a first hole, a second hole offset from the first hole in a first direction and a second direction, and a third hole offset from the first hole in the first direction and a third direction that is opposite to the second direction. 
     
     
         8 . The miter gauge head of  claim 6 , further comprising a second group of holes through the first plate portion, wherein the second group of holes is positioned between the first curved slot and the first end of the first plate portion. 
     
     
         9 . The miter gauge head of  claim 8 , wherein the second group of holes comprise multiple holes that are spaced apart to define a curved arrangement of the second group of holes. 
     
     
         10 . The miter gauge head of  claim 6 , further comprising a second curved slot through the first plate portion. 
     
     
         11 . The miter gauge head of  claim 10 , wherein the second curved slot is partially located between the first end of the first plate portion and the first curved slot. 
     
     
         12 . The miter gauge head of  claim 10 , further comprising a third curved slot through the first plate portion. 
     
     
         13 . The miter gauge head of  claim 12 , wherein the second curved slot and the third curved slot are partially located between the first end of the first plate portion and the first curved slot. 
     
     
         14 . The miter gauge head of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a second curved slot through the first plate portion;   a third curved slot through the first plate portion; and   wherein the second curved slot and the third curved slot are mirrored across an axis extending between the first end and the second end of the first plate portion.   
     
     
         15 . A miter gauge assembly, comprising:
 a miter head, comprising:
 a first plate portion having a first end and a second end opposite to the first end; 
 a second plate portion that is positioned near the second end of the first plate portion and is skewed relative to the first plate portion; 
 a first curved slot through the first plate portion; and 
 a first group of holes through the first plate portion and positioned between the first curved slot and the second end of the first plate portion; and 
   a miter bar having multiple receptacles formed along the miter bar;   wherein the first group of holes and the multiple receptacles are configured such that, when the miter head is aligned with the miter bar, a miter head hole of the first group of holes aligns with a first miter bar receptacle of the multiple receptacles and the first curved slot aligns with a second miter bar receptable of the multiple receptacles.   
     
     
         16 . The miter gauge assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first group of holes comprises at least one of multiple holes that are spaced apart between the first curved slot and the second end of the first plate portion to define a collinear arrangement of the first group of holes and multiple holes that are spaced apart to define a triangular arrangement. 
     
     
         17 . The miter gauge assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the miter head further comprises a second group of holes through the first plate portion, wherein the second group of holes is positioned between the first curved slot and the first end of the first plate portion. 
     
     
         18 . The miter gauge assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the miter head further comprises:
 a second curved slot through the first plate portion; and   a third curved slot through the first plate portion;   wherein the second curved slot and the third curved slot are partially located between the first end of the first plate portion and the first curved slot.