The Design of Jigs for Metal Aeroplanes: A German Engineer's Notes on the Development of Jigging Available to Purchase

WHEN, in recent years, the German all‐metal aircraft industry entered a new stage of development, the problems concerning the arrangement of jigs had to be examined anew or pushed forward to a much greater extent by a large number of the firms entering this sphere for the first time, or by those subject to very rapid expansion. Naturally, the basic principles learned during a long period of development were partly utilized, but they were also partly neglected. This development process includes the years up to 1933, particular attention being given to inter‐changeability. The possibilities of the present much larger production have had the result of ideas, often previously considered for other reasons (and in particular the repeated use of the same part and mobility of the jig‐units), appearing in a new light. It is necessary to obtain a fresh general view of the technical principles underlying the vast modern sphere of operations. For this purpose, the points of importance in the modern arrangement of large jigs will be dealt with briefly. The illustrations used in this explanation originate from the first years of the development of aeroplane production. They are taken from the records of the Junkers Flugzeug und Motorenwcrke A.G. and include basic designs protected by patents.