Top 15 Tool And Die Maker Skills (2024)

15 tool and die maker skills for your resume and career

1. CNC

CNC, or computer numerical control, is a computer-controlled machine tool used for various purposes, such as drilling, milling, and grinding. Tool and die makers use CNC to set up, program, and operate CNC milling machines and lathes. They also use CNC to produce parts according to engineered drawing specifications, and to create fixtures for CNC machines. Additionally, they use CNC to machine small-lot production and prototype parts.

Here's how tool and die makers use cnc:

Job duties include but not limited to; Set up, program and operate Haas VF3 and VF6 CNC milling machines.
Completed Tool and Die Maker Apprenticeship 2001 - CNC and Manual machining experience - Heat treatment, metallurgy and welding process.

2. Grinders

Grinders are tools used to sharpen or shape metal. Tool and die makers use grinders to make or repair metal parts according to specifications. They read blueprints and use grinders to make parts such as dies and precision surfaces. They also use grinders to sharpen tooling parts like drill bits.

Here's how tool and die makers use grinders:

Interpreted specifications and blueprints, set up/operated precision surface grinders.
Created CAD drawings to fabricate and repair dies with machine tools such as mills, lathes, surface grinders, etc.

3. Jigs

A jig is a device used to guide or hold a material in place. Tool and die makers use jigs to create products. They fabricate and repair machine parts, dies, jigs, fixtures, and form tools to produce these products. They also use jigs to assist production workers. Tool and die makers build and troubleshoot the construction of jigs, fixtures, precision dies, and new or prototype machines. They also develop tooling for plastic injection, jigs, and fixtures for prototype applications.

Here's how tool and die makers use jigs:

Manufactured numerous jigs fixtures and production aids to assist production workers.
Developed tooling for plastic injection, jigs and fixtures for prototype applications

4. Hand Tools

Hand tools are instruments used for shaping, cutting, and fastening materials. Tool and die makers use hand tools to optimize, build, and repair cross-bar transfer press automation. They use hand tools to file, grind, shim, and adjust parts to fit accordingly. Tool and die makers also use hand tools for inspection, disassembling dies for sharpening or repair, and constructing gauges and hand tools.

Here's how tool and die makers use hand tools:

Optimize, build and repair cross-bar transfer press automation, using machine tools, hand tools, welding equipment.
Use of hand tools, computerized equipment and precision instruments for machine tooling used for mass production of parts.

5. Machine Tools

Machine tools are machines that manufacture or refine the surface of a material using cutting or other operations. Tool and die makers use machine tools in various ways. They set up, adjust, and operate these tools to perform precision machining operations. They also use machine tools to shape the stock, fabricate dies, and create special machine tools. They may program computers and electronic instruments to control machining or processing of parts by automatic machine tools or equipment.

Here's how tool and die makers use machine tools:

Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.
Set up and operate all types of machine tools common to the trade.

6. Calipers

Calipers are measuring instruments used to measure the dimensions of objects. Tool and die makers use calipers to inspect their work and ensure it meets specifications. They use calipers to measure the dimensions of tools, dies, and other parts. They also use other measuring instruments, such as micrometers, telescopic gauges, and height gauges, to check the alignment and dimensions of their work. Tool and die makers rely on these instruments to ensure that their work is accurate and meets the required standards.

Here's how tool and die makers use calipers:

Utilized calipers, micrometers, and other measuring instruments to inspect carbide die to determine changes in dimensional requirements of dies.
Read measuring instruments of Various kinds such as micrometers, telescopic Gauges, height gauges, Dial calipers.

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7. Stamping Dies

Stamping dies are metal molds used to create metal parts and components. Tool and die makers use stamping dies in various ways, such as troubleshooting, repairing, and maintaining them to ensure smooth production. They also use them to fabricate components, like room air conditioners and dehumidifiers, and to manufacture automotive parts. Tool and die makers may also construct and retrofit stamping dies for the automotive industry and perform preventive maintenance to improve efficiency and reliability.

Here's how tool and die makers use stamping dies:

Performed maintenance and troubleshooting of close tolerance, high speed carbide stamping dies in electronics manufacturing facility.
Maintained production stamping dies used to fabricate components to manufacture room air conditioners and dehumidifiers.

8. Manual Lathes

A manual lathe is a machine tool used to rotate a workpiece to perform various operations such as cutting, drilling, and shaping. Tool and die makers use manual lathes to create precision parts. They set up and operate manual lathes, mills, and surface grinders to manufacture tooling and precision parts. They also use these machines to perform maintenance on molds and compression tools.

Here's how tool and die makers use manual lathes:

Required to weld, operate manual lathes, mills, surface grinder.
Set up and operate manual lathes and mills - Leblonde, Monarch, Summit, Bridgeport.

9. Math

Math is the study of numbers, quantities, and shapes. Tool and die makers use math in various ways. They calculate requirements using basic math, geometry, and trigonometry. They also use math to achieve exact blueprint requirements, even holding tolerances as precise as 0.00005. They interpret complex blueprints and use good math skills for making simple calculations used in product research and design. They also assist with engineering design and improve math skills and machine operations to accuracies of .0002 tolerances.

Here's how tool and die makers use math:

10. Apprenticeship Program

Apprenticeship programs are structured learning opportunities that provide people with the knowledge and skills needed for a specific career. Tool and die makers use apprenticeship programs to gain the necessary training and certification to enter the field. They complete classroom and on-the-job training, which helps them develop the skills needed to design and build tools and dies used in manufacturing processes.

Here's how tool and die makers use apprenticeship program:

Completed apprenticeship program and received Tool & Die Maker Certification.
Completed state department of labor apprenticeship program.

11. Assembly Fixtures

Assembly fixtures are customized tools that help ensure precision manufacturing. Tool and die makers use assembly fixtures to build and repair specialized tooling components, troubleshoot new fixtures, and maintain and repair progressive dies. They design and build fixtures to ensure a precise fit, and use them to assemble products, build inspection gages, and calibrate fixtures.

Here's how tool and die makers use assembly fixtures:

Repaired custom production machining and assembly fixtures and performed troubleshooting of new fixtures in assembly and production precision machining environment.
Related tasks include building and repair of specialized tooling components for assembly fixtures and automation equipment.

12. Drill Presses

A drill press is a machine that drills precise holes in metal and wood. Tool and die makers use drill presses to make tools and dies. They may run various machines like drill presses, lathes, and mills to perform tasks like precision grinding. They also use drill presses to do tasks like jig boring.

Here's how tool and die makers use drill presses:

Operated precision equipment and lathe, mills, cutoff saws, drill presses, and welding equipment.
Run all necessary machines such as grinder, lathes, mills, and drill presses.

13. Dial Indicators

A dial indicator is a device that shows the amount of movement of a machine part. Tool and die makers use dial indicators to inspect work-in-progress and perform final inspections. They verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances using dial indicators and other measuring instruments. They also use these instruments to verify position. Tool and die makers utilize micrometers, dial indicators, and surface gages to meet tolerance requirements.

Here's how tool and die makers use dial indicators:

Inspected work-in-progress and performed final inspection utilizing optical comparators, dial indicators and other inspection tools and gauges.
Verified dimensions, alignments and clearances, using measuringinstruments, such as dial indicators, gauge blocks, thickness gauges andmicrometers.

14. Wire EDM

Here's how tool and die makers use wire edm:

Performed the programming function of wire EDM and machine operation in making/repairing tool & die per shop order planning.
Programmed and setup and ran Wire EDM and CNC Mills to remake die sections from blue prints.

15. Preventive Maintenance

Here's how tool and die makers use preventive maintenance:

Order machine consumables, train apprentice machinists and monitor machine preventive maintenance to assure machine performance and accuracy.
Provided engineering change updates and preventive maintenance.

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