Tool And Die Maker Metal, Machinery & Related Trades Workers
SaveWhat Does a Tool And Die Maker Do?
Tool and die makers operate a variety of equipment and machinery designed to create metal tools and dies, which are both needed in several areas of manufacturing, and produce these tools in all steps of the production process. They design the tools and dies, then cut and shape them to size and finish them by manually operated machine tools, power tools, hand tools, or programming and tending CNC tool and die making machines.
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Where Do I Start?
Dies
The qualities and applications of various kinds of dies, the different components of a die (such as the die block, punch plate, pierce punch and others) and the types of die used in specialised manufacturing processes ( such as extrusion dies, drawing dies, forming dies, cutting dies, compound dies, and others).
Sign up to trackReady to go deeper? Pick up to 3 skills to focus on from the list below.
These are common skills for this role. Real-world experience matters more than ticking every box — use this as a guide, not a checklist.
Skills You Need to Become a Tool And Die Maker
Essential Skills
Essential Skills
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EssentialDies knowledge
The qualities and applications of various kinds of dies, the different components of a die (such as the die block, punch plate, pierce punch and others) and the types of …
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialMechanical Tools knowledge
Understand machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialQuality Standards knowledge
The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialTypes Of Metal knowledge
Qualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialMachine Tools knowledge
The offered machine tools and products, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
No book recommendations available yet.
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EssentialAdjust Properties Of Cut skill
Adjust cut sizes and depths of cutting tools. Adjust heights of worktables and machine-arms.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialApply Precision Metalworking Techniques skill
Comply with precision standards specific to an organisation or product in metalworking, involved in processes such as engraving, precise cutting, welding.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialConsult Technical Resources skill
Read and interpret such technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialCut Metal Products skill
Operate cutting and measuring instruments in order to cut/shape pieces of metal into given dimensions.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialEnsure Equipment Availability skill
Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialJoin Metals skill
Join together pieces of metal using soldering and welding materials.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialOperate Grinding Hand Tools skill
Operate a variety of hand tools designed for grinding production materials, such as angle grinders, die grinders, grindstones, bench grinders, and others.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPerform Product Testing skill
Test processed workpieces or products for basic faults.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPerform Test Run skill
Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialPrepare Pieces For Joining skill
Prepare metal or other material workpieces for joining processes by cleaning the workpieces, checking their measurements with the technical plan and marking on the pieces where they'll be joined.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialRead Standard Blueprints skill
Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialSmooth Burred Surfaces skill
Inspect and smooth burred surfaces of steel and metal parts.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialTroubleshoot skill
Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialWear Appropriate Protective Gear skill
Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialMaintain Edged Hand Tools skill
Identify and repair defects in a hand tool handle or shaft. Ensure the tool is in safe working condition. Identify defective and dull cutting edges in tools and use appropriate …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialOperate File For Deburring skill
Operate various sizes and types of files used for removing burrs from and smoothening the edges of a workpiece.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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EssentialOperate Metal Polishing Equipment skill
Operate equipment designed to buff and polish metal workpieces, such as diamond solutions, silicon-made polishing pads, or working wheels with a leather polishing strop, and others.
Course recommendations coming soon.
Optional Skills (5 of 31 displayed)
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OptionalImitation Jewellery knowledge
The materials and processes used to create imitation jewellery, and how to manipulate the materials.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalMetal Joining Technologies knowledge
The various technologies used for the joining and assembling of fabricated metal workpieces.
Recommended Books
2 books -
OptionalCutting Technologies knowledge
The variety of cutting technologies, such as software or mechanics, guiding cutting processes through lasering, sawing, milling etc.
Recommended Books
1 book -
OptionalCAD Software knowledge
The computer-aided design (CAD) software for creating, modifying, analysing or optimising a design.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalCharacteristics Of Precious Metals knowledge
Variations of precious metals according to density, corrossion resistance, electrical conductivity, light reflectivity and quality.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalFerrous Metal Processing knowledge
Various processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalForging Processes knowledge
The various processes in the metalforming practices of forging, such as swaging, open-die forging, automatic hot forging, cogging, impression-die forging, roll forging, upsetting, press forging, and others.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalManufacturing Of Tools knowledge
The manufacture of knives and cutting blades for machines or for mechanical appliances, hand tools such as pliers, screwdrivers etc. The manufacture of non-power-driven agricultural hand tools, saws and saw …
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalMetal Forming Technologies knowledge
The variety of technologies and techniques, such as forging, pressing, stamping, rolling and others, used for the forming processes of metal product manufacturing.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalQuality And Cycle Time Optimisation knowledge
The most optimal rotation or cycle time and over-all quality of a tool or a machine's processes.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalTypes Of Metal Manufacturing Processes knowledge
Metal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.
No book recommendations available yet.
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OptionalDeburring Processes knowledge
The various types of processes removing burrs from fabricated workpieces, such as grinding, media blasting, sanding, mass-finishing, spindle finishing, electrochemical deburring, abrasive flow machining, manual deburring, and others.
Recommended Books
1 bookAdvances in Abrasive Based Machining and Finishing Processes -
OptionalAdjust Temperature Gauges skill
Operate temperature gauges to maintain food and drink items at appropriate temperatures.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalEnsure Correct Metal Temperature skill
Ensure the necessary, usually constant, temperature of processed metal workpieces during metal fabrication processes.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalKeep Records Of Work Progress skill
Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMonitor Automated Machines skill
Continuously check up on the automated machine's set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMonitor Gauge skill
Oversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalMonitor Moving Workpiece In A Machine skill
Monitor the processing of a workpiece in motion, such as a piece of metal or wood moved linearly over a static manufacturing machine.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalOperate Precision Measuring Equipment skill
Measure the size of a processed part when checking and marking it to check if it is up to standard by use of two and three dimensional precision measuring equipment …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalPerform Machine Maintenance skill
Perform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalProgram A CNC Controller skill
Set up the desired product design in the CNC controller of the CNC machine for product manufacturing.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalRecord Production Data For Quality Control skill
Keep records of the machine's faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalRemove Inadequate Workpieces skill
Evaluate which deficient processed workpieces do not meet the set-up standard and should be removed and sort the waste according to regulations.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalRemove Processed Workpiece skill
Remove individual workpieces after processing, from the manufacturing machine or the machine tool. In case of a conveyor belt this involves quick, continuous movement.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSet Up The Controller Of A Machine skill
Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSupply Machine skill
Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalSupply Machine With Appropriate Tools skill
Supply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalUse CAM Software skill
Use computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programmes to control machinery and machine tools in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation as part of the manufacturing processes of workpieces.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalApply Polishing Lubricants skill
Apply the appropriate lubricant matching the kind of metal of the processed metal workpiece during polishing processes, such as was or kerosene.
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalRemove Scale From Metal Workpiece skill
Remove the accumulated scale, or metal 'flakes', on the surface of the metal workpiece caused by oxidation after removal from the furnace by spraying it with an oil-based liquid that …
Course recommendations coming soon.
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OptionalTend Deburring Machine skill
Tend a metalworking machine designed to remove excessive edges from a workpiece by applying deburring, abrasive machine processes, monitor and operate it according to regulations.
Course recommendations coming soon.