What Do Tool and Die Makers Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Tool and Die Makers analyze specifications, lay out metal stock, set up and operate machine tools, and fit and assemble parts to make and repair dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, and machinists’ hand tools. They also verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauge blocks, micrometers, or dial indicators.

Other tasks include:

• Study blueprints, sketches, models, or specifications to plan sequences of operations for fabricating tools, dies, or assemblies.
• Set up and operate conventional or computer numerically controlled machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, or grinders to cut, bore, grind, or otherwise shape parts to prescribed dimensions and finishes.
• Visualize and compute dimensions, sizes, shapes, and tolerances of assemblies, based on specifications.
• 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.
• Conduct test runs with completed tools or dies to ensure that parts meet specifications, making adjustments as necessary.

We asked Tool and Die Makers how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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63% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 42% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Tool and Die Makers visualize and compute dimensions, sizes, shapes, and tolerances of assemblies, based on specifications. They set up and operate drill presses to drill and tap holes in parts for assembly.

A typical day for a Tool and Die Maker will also include:

• Conduct test runs with completed tools or dies to ensure that parts meet specifications, making adjustments as necessary.
• Verify dimensions, alignments, and clearances of finished parts for conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauge blocks, micrometers, or dial indicators.
• 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.
• Set up and operate conventional or computer numerically controlled machine tools such as lathes, milling machines, or grinders to cut, bore, grind, or otherwise shape parts to prescribed dimensions and finishes.

We asked some Tool and Die Makers a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	2% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	38% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	80% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	18% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	2% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	24% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Tool and Die Makers also set pyrometer controls of heat-treating furnaces and feed or place parts, tools, or assemblies into furnaces to harden. They may also design jigs, fixtures, and templates for use as work aids in the fabrication of parts or products.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Tool and Die Makers Conduct test runs with completed tools or dies to ensure that parts meet specifications, making adjustments as necessary. They might also Develop and design new tools and dies, using computer-aided design software.

In addition, they Select metals to be used from a range of metals and alloys, based on properties such as hardness or heat tolerance.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Smooth and polish flat and contoured surfaces of parts or tools, using scrapers, abrasive stones, files, emery cloths, or power grinders.

To some Tool and Die Makers, it is also their responsibility to Set up and operate drill presses to drill and tap holes in parts for assembly.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Tool and Die Maker, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/production/machinists-and-tool-and-die-makers.htm

http://www.fmanet.org/

https://www.nims-skills.org/

http://www.ntma.org/