Toolmaker Apprentice

Job Summary

The Toolmaker Apprentice position applies knowledge of tool and die design, construction, shop mathematics, metal properties and layout to analyze specifications and metal stock layout, set up and operate machine shop equipment, fit and assemble parts for the fabrication and repair of metalworking dies, cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gages and machinists’ hand tools.

Qualifications
To achieve success, a Toolmaker Apprentice should possess the following minimum requirements, knowledge, skills, and abilities:

Education and Experience: Two-year certificate from an accredited college or technical school is preferred; or, three to six months of related experience and/or training; or, an equivalent combination of education and experience. 

Comprehension/Communication skills:  Reads, analyzes, and interprets repair manuals, blueprints, schematics, shop drawings, engineering notes, drawings, procedural manuals and other mechanical reports. Presents information effectively, and responds to questions from groups of managers, supervisors, employees and others.

Mathematical Skills: Works with mathematical concepts such as decimal equivalents, inference, and the fundamentals of plane and solid geometry and trigonometry. Applies concepts such as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Reasoning Ability: Solves practical problems and deals with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Interprets written, oral, diagrammed, or schedule-form instructions.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Learns industrial mathematics, print reading, schematics, shop drawings and machining theory related to tool and die making operations.
• Learns basic and advanced theory related to tool and die making.
• Under the guidance and supervision of an experienced (Journeyman) tool & die maker, learns skills related to the trade of the Toolmaker according to the company apprentice program and job training schedule.
• Learns the basics of safety, sawing, drilling, filing, machining, materials, feeds and speeds.
• Learns safe operations of, receives practical experience on, and specifies materials for lathes, milling machines, surfaces grinders, jig borers, jig grinders, honing machines, cylindrical grinders, EDM machine and other operations.
• Receives experience in analyzing a variety of specifications, lays out metal stock, sets up and operates machine tools, and fits and assembles parts and assemblies to fabricate or repair cutting tools jigs, fixtures, gauges, or machinists’ hand tools.
• Receives practical experience in inspecting and plating materials and parts.
• Receives practical experience in the basics of tool & die making.
• Verifies dimensions and alignment using measuring instruments, such as micrometers, height gauges blocks, harness tools, etc.
• Other duties as required.

Physical Demands

• Ability to talk, hear, see, and use hands/fingers to handle or feel.
• Ability to regularly walk or stand for long periods of time for up to 10 hours a day.
• Ability to regularly bend, stoop, climb, crawl, or kneel.
• Ability to exert up to 50 pounds of force regularly and occasionally up to 100 pounds to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects.   If greater than 50 lbs, will require assistance or the use of lifting equipment. 

The term of the apprenticeship program shall be determined based on a minimum of 8000 worked hours of related instruction, training and competence in a 4-year period.

Minimum number of hours and competence areas are defined below:
    
Safety training and procedures..........................................20 
Wire machine....................................................................200 
Lathe ...............................................................................  600 
Drill press & Radial Drill……….......................................300 
Milling machines and jig borer ........................................2300 
Grinders (surface, external, internal ...............................1,200                                              
Heat treat ..............................................................................30 
Squaring Mill ……….........................................................500  
Bench polishing .................................................................100 
Assembling & mounting. .................................................2000 
CNC machining...................................................................300 
Press setup……...................................................................450