How to Find the Best Tool and Die Maker

How to Find the Best Tool and Die Maker

Designing a tool requires accuracy and skill to be able to construct tools that are in line with the given specifications. There is the need to verify the tolerance level, shapes, sizes, and dimensions of the workpiece to avoid any defects with the workpiece. 

This is why getting a skilled die maker is vital to getting the job done properly. This means someone well versed in the production of cutting tools, dies, machine tools, and molds. Apart from building tools, they equally maintain and repair fixtures by following safety rules, regulations, and production standards. 

A tool and die maker is a person responsible for setting up and handling various computer and mechanically operated equipment that manufactures instruments, tools, and precision metal parts. They construct devices that can hold an iron in place and metal molds used for molding plastic, composite materials, and ceramics. 

You can read more about tool and die makers here: https://www.careerexplorer.com/careers/tool-and-die-maker/.

Duties of a Tool and Die Maker

The following are some of their duties :

Read Blueprints and Sketches

Tool and die makers read blueprints, sketches, specifications, and models to produce new dies, fixtures, tools, and machine parts. They also read Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) and Computer-Aided Design (CAD) files that are used in the manufacturing of tools and die.

Build Fixtures

Machinists construct fixtures using material-shaping devices also known as a tool and dies. They also make the dies used to build new fixtures.

Disassemble and Reassemble Tools

A die maker should know how to dismantle tools, jigs, fixtures as well as molds and be able to use hand and machine tools to assemble them. They also check the finished tool for any flaw or damage that could hamper functionality.

Troubleshoot and Repair

To diagnose, troubleshoot, and carry out repairs on equipment, modifying jigs, gauges and dies is one of the duties of the machinist. They are equally tasked with ensuring that regular tests are performed on all tools and machines used in production.

How to Find a Good Tool and Die Maker

Die makers are often stable, practical, and inquisitive persons who enjoy physical, mechanical, and athletic tasks. However, certain qualities enable one to be an excellent die builder and helps to improve productivity and efficiency. Some of these qualities are : 

Technical and Mechanical Skills

Asides from having traditional skills, IT skills are compulsory for the toolmaker, since their work sometimes demands the use of computer-aided technology. These digital skills will aid the maker to meet up with the challenges experienced in the field. You will often find that reputable companies prioritize these skills in a bid to give their clients the best. You can go to CNC parts manufacturing to learn more.

Adequate Training

Most machinists start the job as apprentice to a master in the field taking on mostly on-the-job training for up to 5 years but prior classroom training in science, engineering, design, and technology or even in mathematics can be of huge benefit.

Communication Skills

Good communication skills are essential to enable the exchange of ideas and information, it is equally vital in presenting verbal and written reports from time to time. Without this skill, there won’t be proper communication between the consumer and the professional.

Creativity

Being able to create new things according to the specifications laid out and being able to visualize this while making adjustments to suit the demands is a unique trait. Creativity allows the die maker to easily understand the graphics which are usually drawn in an engineering format.

Metallurgic knowledge

Knowing and understanding the properties of metal is an added advantage for the toolmaker since the work largely involves a wide range of metallic objects.

Independence 

Although die makers often work with machinists and engineers, they should be capable of functioning independently with little to no monitoring in completing their everyday duty. 

Mathematical Skills

The production of machines requires a lot of complex calculations therefore knowledge in the areas of algebra, trigonometry, and geometry will aid in the success of the job.

Customer Satisfaction

The tool machinist is successful when he manufactures an acceptable product. With this, he should be able to make needed corrections and alterations to manufacture the tool according to the customer’s specification without mismatch, flashes, or sharp edges. 

These are some of the tips to help you with finding a good manufacturer. If you need a visual representation of how the tool and die process works, you can check out this video. 

Conclusion

Tool design requires a good level of accuracy, intellectual dexterity, and persistence to achieve the desired result. With this, one needs to check the tolerance level, dimensions, and sizes of work tools to prevent any defects. We have outlined some tips to help you find good tool and die manufacturers. Please feel free to check them out.