Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Tool Maker

🎯 Role Definition

A Tool Maker is a skilled manufacturing technician responsible for designing, fabricating, modifying, maintaining and repairing precision tooling, dies, jigs and fixtures used in production. This role blends hands-on machining, precision measuring, blueprint interpretation and continuous improvement to ensure manufacturing equipment and tools meet stringent dimensional tolerances, surface finish requirements and repeatable production performance. The Tool Maker works closely with manufacturing engineers, maintenance teams and production operators to minimize downtime, optimize tool life and support new product introductions.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Apprentice Tool Maker / Trade School Graduate
CNC Operator or Machinist (Milling/Turning)
Maintenance Technician with machining experience

Advancement To:

Senior Tool Maker / Toolroom Supervisor
Tool & Die Designer or Die Maker
Manufacturing Engineer or Process Engineer
Maintenance Manager or Plant Engineering Lead

Lateral Moves:

CNC Programmer / CNC Setup Specialist
Fixture & Jig Designer (CAD/CAM Specialist)
Quality Technician with metrology focus

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Fabricate, assemble and finish precision tooling, dies, molds, fixtures and gauges using manual machines (mills, lathes, grinders) and CNC equipment, ensuring all parts conform to blueprint specifications and dimensional tolerances.
Read, interpret and act on engineering drawings, CAD models and GD&T callouts to develop machining sequences, selecting proper cutting tools, speeds and feeds for ferrous and non-ferrous materials.
Program, setup and operate CNC milling and turning centers (including 3-, 4-, and 5-axis) and perform first-article machining to validate tool geometry, surface finish and fit.
Perform wire EDM and sinker EDM operations for intricate profiles, tight radii and hard materials; develop EDM parameters and maintain electrode/filament management.
Grind, lap and polish critical surfaces to achieve specified surface finishes and geometrical tolerances on punches, dies and inserts using surface, cylindrical and centerless grinders.
Design, build and maintain jigs and fixtures for workholding, assembly and inspection to improve repeatability, cycle time and operator ergonomics in production processes.
Conduct corrective tool repairs and modifications on press tools, progressive dies, stamping dies and injection molds to restore form, fit and function and extend tool life.
Install and inspect hardened inserts, bushings, guide pins and wear components; perform rework and replace components while minimizing tool downtime and preserving alignment.
Perform precise hand fitting, shimming and benchwork on assembled dies and fixtures to ensure accurate part ejection, strip layouts and die clearances for proper part formation.
Collaborate with design and process engineering to provide tooling input for new product introductions, feasibility analysis, DFMA (design for manufacturability) and tooling cost estimates.
Validate tooling performance through trial runs, pilot production and measurement of statistical process control (SPC) features to ensure consistent part quality and repeatability.
Use coordinate measuring machines (CMM), optical comparators, micrometers, calipers, height gauges and surface roughness equipment to inspect, document and release tooling and machined parts.
Maintain accurate tooling documentation, setup sheets, revision histories and preventive maintenance schedules to support traceability and continuous improvement programs.
Troubleshoot complex tooling issues (e.g., die cracking, misfeeds, burr formation, tool chatter) and implement corrective actions involving metallurgical, geometrical or process adjustments.
Apply heat-treating knowledge and post-process operations (hardening, tempering, nitriding) to optimize tool and die life while coordinating with external heat-treat vendors when required.
Program and use CAD/CAM software (e.g., SolidWorks, Mastercam, Fusion 360) to create and modify tool geometry, generate NC code and simulate machining operations for efficiency and collision avoidance.
Maintain toolroom safety standards, enforce lockout/tagout procedures, and ensure all tooling and machining operations comply with company and regulatory safety requirements.
Train production and apprentice staff on proper tool handling, setup procedures, preventive maintenance and best practices to reduce scrap and improve uptime.
Estimate tooling lead times, material needs and outside processing requirements; coordinate with purchasing and vendors for specialty materials, coatings and precision services.
Lead root-cause analysis for recurring tooling failures and participate in Kaizen, 5S and Lean manufacturing initiatives to reduce waste and improve tooling utilization.
Manage spare tool inventories, critical wear items and replacement inserts to ensure production readiness and minimize tool changeover delays.

Secondary Functions

Support production by quickly responding to urgent tool changeovers, die repairs and on-floor troubleshooting during high-priority production runs.
Contribute to continuous improvement projects focused on cycle time reduction, scrap reduction and tooling cost optimization.
Assist quality and engineering teams with sample inspections, corrective action implementation and measurement system analysis when tooling is implicated in nonconforming parts.
Participate in cross-functional design review meetings to offer practical tooling and fixturing recommendations that reduce manufacturing complexity.
Help document standard operating procedures (SOPs) for tool setup, preventative maintenance and safe operation of toolroom equipment.
Evaluate and recommend tooling upgrades, coatings (TiN, TiAlN), and hardfacing options to extend life of cutting edges and mould surfaces.
Support inventory control and vendor relationships by specifying critical tool materials, heat treat requirements and precision finishing tolerances for outsourced work.
Assist in estimating repair vs. replace decisions based on tool condition assessment, cost analysis, and expected remaining useful life.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Proficient reading and interpreting of mechanical drawings, blueprints and geometric dimensioning & tolerancing (GD&T) symbols.
Hands-on experience programming, setting up and operating CNC milling and turning machines (3-, 4-, and 5-axis).
Proven ability with manual machining equipment: vertical/horizontal mills, engine lathes, surface/cylindrical/centerless grinders.
Skilled in EDM (wire and sinker) operations and programming for precision feature generation.
Competent with CAD/CAM software workflows (e.g., SolidWorks, Mastercam, Fusion 360) to generate NC code and toolpaths.
Experience with tool and die assembly, bench work, fitting, and precision hand-finishing techniques.
Metrology proficiency: CMM operation, optical comparator use, micrometers, height gauges, calipers and surface roughness measurement.
Knowledge of heat treating, hardening, tempering, and finishing processes for tooling steels and alloys.
Practical understanding of materials science as it relates to tool wear, tool coatings and selection of cutting tool materials (HSS, carbide).
Ability to develop and follow preventive maintenance schedules and tooling lifecycle management.
Basic PLC or press control familiarity for troubleshooting die-set alignment and sensor-related issues.
Experience with press tooling, progressive dies, stamping operations, or injection mold tool maintenance (if applicable).
Competency in using hand tools, indexing fixtures, broaching, reaming, EDM electrodes and precision welding for tooling repair.
Familiarity with Lean manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement tools as they apply to toolroom operations.

Soft Skills

Exceptional attention to detail and commitment to achieving tight tolerances and high-quality finishes.
Strong problem-solving capability with methodical troubleshooting and root-cause analysis aptitude.
Effective verbal and written communication skills to collaborate with engineering, production and vendors.
Time management and prioritization skills to handle multiple tooling requests and urgent production needs.
Ability to mentor apprentices and share best practices across cross-functional teams.
Adaptability and continuous learning mindset for evolving machining technologies and materials.
Customer-service orientation to respond promptly to production and maintenance requirements.
Safety-first attitude with consistent adherence to PPE, lockout/tagout and machine guarding standards.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma or GED with vocational training in machining, toolmaking or manufacturing technology.

Preferred Education:

Associate degree or technical diploma in Tool and Die, Precision Machining, Manufacturing Technology, or related field.
Formal apprenticeship completion or industry-recognized machining certification.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Precision Machining / Tool & Die Technology
Manufacturing Engineering Technology
Mechanical Engineering Technology
CNC Programming and Operation

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3 to 8 years of hands-on experience in toolroom, tool & die, or precision machining roles.

Preferred:

5+ years of progressive toolmaking experience including CNC programming, EDM operations and toolroom project ownership.
Prior experience supporting high-volume production environments, die repair, and new product tooling introductions.