Tool & Die Maker Trade Career Profile

ROLE OVERVIEW:
A Tool & Die Maker is a highly skilled technician who designs, fabricates, and repairs custom tools, jigs, fixtures, press tools, and plastic injection molds.

SKILLS REQUIRED:
- Precision machining and surface grinding
- Spark EDM and wire cut operations
- Press tool assembly and die maintenance
- Blueprint interpretation and basic CAD modeling

TOOLS USED:
- Die sinker EDM, wire EDM, and CNC milling machines
- Micrometers, slip gauges, and toolmaker microscopes
- Files, files-lapping tools, and hand polishers

GROWTH PROSPECTS:
Premium specialization with high demand in export manufacturing tooling corridors.

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
1. Q: What is a progressive die?
A: A progressive die performs multiple operations (blanking, piercing, bending) at different stations in a single stroke of the press.
2. Q: Why is draft angle provided in a plastic injection mold?
A: A draft angle is a slight taper that allows easy ejection of the molded plastic part from the mold cavity.