Toolmaker

Position Summary

This position is responsible for the construction and troubleshooting of progressive die tooling and fixtures for welding, soldering, and assembly, working from specified design prints and verbal instructions.

Essential Functions

• Study blueprints, sketches, models, or specifications to plan sequences of operations for fabricating tools, dies, or assemblies.
• Work from specified design prints and verbal instructions to manufacture die components, tooling, and fixtures for welding, soldering, and assembly.
• Collaborate with Tool Designer to help develop and design new tools and dies.
• Setup and operate conventional or computer numerically controlled machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, drill presses, and grinders to cut, bore, grind, or otherwise shape parts to prescribed dimensions and finishes.
• Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauge blocks, micrometers, and dial indicators.
• Inspect finished dies for smoothness, contour conformity, and defects.
• Fit and assemble parts to make, repair, or modify dies, jigs, gauges, and tools using machine tools and hand tools.
• Use layout and assembly drawings to determine fit and function of components and fully assemble dies and fixtures.
• Conduct test runs with completed tools or dies to ensure that parts meet specifications, making adjustments as necessary.
• Select metals to be used from a range of metals and alloys, based on properties such as hardness and heat tolerance.
• Grind and adjust various parts to properly fit them together.
• Lift, position, and secure machined parts on surface plates or worktables using hoists, vises, v-blocks, or angle plates.
• Smooth and polish flat and contoured surfaces of parts or tools using scrapers, abrasive stones, files, and emery cloths.
• Measure, mark, and scribe metal or plastic stock to layout machining using instruments such as protractors, micrometers, scribes, and rulers.
• Setup heat-treating furnaces and feed or place parts, tools, or assemblies into furnaces to harden.
• Adhere to all safety policies and procedures and keep work area clean in accordance with specified rules and regulations.
• Adhere to EMS and IATF 16949 Policies and Procedures.
• Perform all other related duties as assigned by the supervisor.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Ability to work effectively with internal/external personnel.
• Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing.
• Ability to read and comprehend instructions, blueprints, design specifications, correspondence, work orders, and production schedules.
• Knowledge and good understanding of metals to be used from a range of metals and alloys based on properties such as hardness and heat tolerance.
• Knowledge of proper shimming techniques to fit parts when required.
• Knowledge of proper use of tool fabricating accessories such as vises, v-blocks, angle plates, and edge/center finders.
• Ability to operate hoists.
• Knowledge of machines and tools, including designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or GED equivalent; or graduation from a technical/trade school.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience as a Tool Maker working in a metal stamping environment.
• Must be able to read, write, and speak English proficiently.
• Must be proficient with computers.
• Must have good basic math skills and the ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficient with Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) milling machines.

Physical Demands

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee must be able to work in a variety of physical positions, including standing, sitting, bending, reaching, stooping, walking, and stretching.
• The employee is regularly required to talk and/or hear.
• The employee is frequently required to use hands, handle or feel.
• The employee must be able to perform physical activities such as, but not limited to, lifting objects up to seventy-five (75) pounds.
• Specific vision abilities include close vision.
• Employee may be exposed to hazardous materials and chemicals.

Work Environment

• The work environment characteristics described are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.
• The employee typically works in an industrial manufacturing environment.
• The employee may work near moving mechanical machinery and/or vehicles, and the noise level in the work environment may range from moderate to loud.