A holding fixture for assisting in assembly of a support grid for nuclear fuel rods and including a plurality of straps each having a plurality of slots extending approximately half a height of the straps and tabs formed beside or between the slots. The holding fixture includes an actuation plate, a support plate having a plurality of receiving members structured to receive therein straps of the support grid and having a plurality of cells, and a plurality of cam assemblies structured to move to deflect every other tab of the straps received in the plurality of receiving members. The cam assemblies are disposed in every other cell of the support plate.