Tool Maker/Tool and Die Maker Apprenticeship
Starting January 2008

Tool and die professionals build, maintain and repair dies, molds, jigs, fixtures and gauges in industrial settings. Many shops offer training in the areas of metal forming and stamping, metal die-casting, plastic injection and compression molding, gauges for parts inspection and work-holding fixtures.

Apprentices learn proficient use of hand tools, machine tools and measuring instruments. They also may receive extensive training in troubleshooting techniques for adjustment and repair. You will work under the supervision of a journeyman tool and die maker while on the job at an industrial plant or publicly owned facility. Employers determine the length of apprenticeships, but they normally take four to five years.

Courses taught at ECAM:

TDMKG-560, Die Making Technology, Basic (2 credits/64 hours)
You will learn about primary die components such as punches, die blocks, strippers and shedders as individual entities, as well as their functions in a complete die. The conventional, EOM, and CNC tooling required to produce these die components is presented. Formulas necessary to compute press tonnage, stripping and cutting forces and bend allowances are explained. Various methods of achieving efficient stock strip layouts are discussed.

TDMKG-562, Cavity Die Technology (2 credits/64 hours)
Covers mold construction, thermoset and thermoplastic plastics, plastic molds (compression, transfer, and injection), die cast (pressure molding of nonferrous alloys) molds and rubber molds. You will become familiar with a wide variety of piece parts, blueprints and production techniques for industry. Conventional, EOM and CNC tooling required to produce these mold components is presented.

TDMKG-565, CNC Programming 1 (2 credits/64 hours)
Introduces you to the techniques necessary for proper manual computerized numerical control programming as they relate to the field of tool and die making.

TDMKG-566, CNC Programming 2 (1 credit/32 hours)
Covers the techniques necessary for proper construction and transmission of a computerized numerical control program via a computer-aided graphics system as it is used in the field of tool and die making. Prerequisite: TDMKG-565.