8466.20.80.40 - Jigs and fixtures

This HTS subcategory, 8466.20.80.40, specifically covers "Jigs and fixtures." Jigs are devices used to guide and support tools during machining operations, ensuring accuracy and repeatability. Fixtures are similar but are primarily used to hold a workpiece in a fixed position while it is being machined. These items are essential for mass production and precision manufacturing across various industries.

While both this category and its sibling, 8466.20.80.65 (Other), fall under the broader classification of "Other work holders," the distinction lies in their specific function. "Jigs and fixtures" are characterized by their design to actively guide tools or rigidly secure workpieces for specific manufacturing processes. The "Other" category at this level is a residual classification for work holders that do not meet the specific definition of jigs and fixtures, nor other more narrowly defined categories within 8466.20.

As this is a leaf node, there are no further subcategories. The classification of an item as a jig or fixture under this heading will depend on its demonstrable use in guiding a tool or holding a workpiece in a precise, predetermined manner for machining operations performed by machines of headings 8456 to 8465. The material, complexity, and whether it is designed for a specific machine or a general purpose will all be considered in its classification.