Lay the foundation for your fixturing setup. These plates have a grid with evenly spaced threaded holes to install angle brackets and other fixturing components. They’re often used to help secure workpieces for measuring and inspecting. Just like a battleship gameboard, the edges are labeled with letters and numbers, making it easy to identify holes. While these lightweight plates aren’t for machining, you can use them for light fabrication jobs, such as laser marking. All can be attached to your table with clamps (not included), making them easy to remove and swap.

Anodized aluminum plates are often used with coordinate measuring machines (CMMs) and optical comparators. The coating protects them from scratches and wear, even when you’re working with heavy parts.

Plates with mounting holes can be bolted down on fixture tables for more stability than those held down by clamps. Make sure the grid of your plate and table align for precise measurements.