Tool Maker

Description

Responsible for the repair, maintenance, and enhancement of all tooling, dies, jigs, fixtures, and fittings for press tools and CNC equipment, ensuring alignment with production and customer requirements to support business objectives. Provide support for new tooling during product introductions to guarantee the robustness of production builds. Engage in various phases or sub-tasks of projects or entire projects of moderate complexity, with outcomes impacting project completion. Work under general supervision, with progress reviewed at project milestones and upon project completion by Senior Management.

Versatile Mold and Design, Inc. (VMD) designs and builds molds and dies for numerous multi-national companies in a wide variety of industries. Versatile also acts as a product development partner with our customers by offering prototyping services, design support and part production. Since our inception, Versatile has been committed to improving the long-term competitive edge of our customers through innovative engineering. We are a full-service molding facility capable of providing support through all phases of the development process. We have extensive experience with both thermoset and thermoplastic materials. We design and build tooling for injection molding, compression molding, transfer molding, and metal stamping. Versatile also offers general machining, wire and sinker EDM services as well as tool maintenance, repair and refurbishment.

Job Description 

Primary Responsibilities  

• Performs scheduled preventative maintenance on all tooling; familiar with work orders and troubleshoots tooling problems impacting production. 
• Assess, build, and repair damage to molds and other production tooling.  
• Make-to-suit complex drill jigs, holding fixtures, and templates. 
• Proficiency in setting up and operating CNC machines, including knowledge of various machining techniques and tooling; Strong programming skills with the ability to write and edit code programs. Familiar with CAM software.  
• Performs setup, calibration, maintenance, programming and operation on a variety of machining equipment including lathes, surface grinders, drill presses, milling machines, computer numerically controlled and hydraulic presses to assemble and/or fabricate parts and complex assemblies. 
• Performs Welding (TIG, MIG, and Stick) 
• Implement sound PM program on Molds and tools.  This includes organizing the toolroom, so all work activities are scheduled, well-structured and documented. 
• Computes dimensions and tolerances and measures and lays out work pieces. 
• Verifies dimensions of products for accuracy and conformance to specifications using precision measuring instruments such as calipers, gauges and micrometers troubleshoots, debugs and modifies to achieve expected performance 
• Reads and interprets specification manuals, blueprints, templates and layouts to determine machining operation to be performed including interpreting geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) symbols. 
• Assist in new tool startups and tool validation 
• Maintain full documentation related to production mold revisions, procurement, vendor and customer qualifications.  
• Participates in DFM reviews.  
• Organize pins and molds and keep updated 
• Participates in continuous improvement projects 
• Cross trains in other complementary skills and seeks endorsements for those skills as needed to support production requirements. 
• Responsible for observing all applicable safety requirements, reporting immediately any unsafe practices/conditions and correct use of appropriate personal protective equipment. 
• Willingness to provide leadership and work in a team-oriented environment. 
• Provide technical support and plastic expertise to support smooth operation of equipment and processes.  
• Communicate effectively with supervisors, managers, and sales team with progress of scheduled projects. 
• Work with various departments and managers to maintain quality and improve processes. 
• Perform sample experiments of mold processes in order to perfect operations.  Test and debug final tools prior to run off with customers. 

Job Requirements  

Education 

• Completion of an Apprentice or Journeymen Toolmaking program or 4 years of equivalent work experience.  

Skills & Relevant Work Experience 

• Knowledge of high cavitation molding of precision small parts. Specific experience in compression and injection molding is preferred. 
• Computer proficiency in 3D and 2D CAD, Microsoft Office.  
• Experience as a CNC Machinist/Programmer. 
• Good understanding of measuring instruments (calipers, micrometers, height gauges, depth mics, indicators). 
• Excellent attention to detail and problem-solving skills. 
• Strong written and verbal communication skills. 
• Knowledge of plastic processing and plastic materials. 
• Knowledge of tool design and molding principles.  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills 
• Strong organizational skills and ability to prioritize multiple tasks seamlessly with a strong attention to detail. 
• Strong time-management skills and an ability to organize and coordinate multiple concurrent projects. 
• Proficient in HRM Systems, Microsoft 365 (Word, PowerPoint, and Excel) and Adobe Acrobat 
• Very strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build relationships with key stakeholders. 
• Demonstrates discretion, professionalism, and decorum in all interactions. 
• Bilingual skills in Spanish and English a plus. 

Physical Requirements 

• Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs. 
• Requires excellent mobility and the use of proper lifting techniques to avoid injury.  
• Must be able to stand for 8 hours per day. 
• Must have very good manual dexterity, use of hand and eye coordination and fine motor skills.  
• May be exposed to high levels of heat.  
• Must be able to stoop, bend, crouch, walk and sit.