The thing that I run across the most that takes extra time and aggravation are for things that do not have parallel sides such as a flat letter opener or blade of a knife.
A basic flat jig like (left center of photo but maybe 3-5" long instead of the long one shown)those for holding plates would work a lot
if they could be swiveled at one end similar to the new hermes knife holder like this or the attachment below. The thick holding area of theirs will often twist and let loose of thin items like blades and most often block the cutter from getting where it needs to be.
It has oblong slots with a tightening nut on one end so you can close it at different angles. But I have not seen a basic plate jig like that. Sometimes a little thicker things would require some similar to the flat side of the new hermes watch jig.See attachment below.
The silver peg holders can be used sometimes but often there is no place that the pegs fit that perfectly match the slant of the item.
I assume you just want ideas for jigs and not a whole clamping system.
I use the allgraphics vice (shown here with some blocks I added for clamping very thick items which might be another idea) or here and a new hermes vice from a pantograph clamped to the rotary table. Both accept standard jigs like newhermes makes.
For the laser an economical slant riser would be nice. Such as to level an oblisque or crystal that is tapered thinner at the top. Their is one design available is about $800. Worth the money in the long run but hard to spend that much on $20 worth of metal when there are always other needs. It could accomplish the same thing but work in a different way to not ingringe on patents. Here is a way I commonly do it now.
