Tool & Die Repair Technician

Position Summary

Sets up and operates standard tool room equipment, such as lathes, milling machine and grinders to machine parts for die casting tools and equipment. Makes repairs and changes to die cast tooling. Works from blueprints and drawing; uses precision measuring tools; makes slides cores, ejector pins and cores. Cleans tooling, makes gate changes; removes drag, straighten cores, drills water lines, etc. Analyzes tooling problems and diagnoses repairs needed.  May repair dies while still set in the casting machine. May stress temper small tool parts. Removes stuck castings; dismantles and reassembles tools. May make the more complicated repairs on trimming tools. May die prep cast and trim tooling. May include light EDM work.

Responsibilities/Duties/Tasks

• Study blueprints, sketches, models, or specifications to plan sequences of operations for fabricating tools, dies, or assemblies.
• Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauge blocks, micrometers, and dial indicators.
• Visualize and compute dimensions, sizes, shapes, and tolerances of assemblies, based on specifications.
• Set up and operate conventional or computer numerically controlled machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, and grinders to cut, bore, grind, or otherwise shape parts to prescribed dimensions and finishes.
• File, grind, shim, and adjust different parts to properly fit them together.
• Fit and assemble parts to make, repair, or modify dies, jigs, gauges, and tools, using machine tools and hand tools.
• Conduct test runs with completed tools or dies to ensure that parts meet specifications, making adjustments as necessary.
• Inspect finished dies for smoothness, contour conformity, and defects.
• Smooth and polish flat and contoured surfaces of parts or tools, using scrapers, abrasive stones, files, emery cloths, or power grinders.
• Lift, position, and secure machined parts on surface plates or worktables, using hoists, vises, v-blocks, or angle plates.
• All other duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

• Two-year machine technology degree  (close-tolerance environments such as milling, turning, grinding preferred).
• Knowledge of CNC equipment, die cast equipment, and machine maintenance preferred.
• Ability to read and interpret blueprints, engineering drawings, and specifications.
• Experience using machinist hand tools and precision measurement equipment.
• 2-3 years experience in tooling and die repair preferred (close-tolerance environments such as milling, turning, grinding preferred)