Tool and die work: fixtures, dies, punches and gauges

Tooling earns its keep by repeating the same operation, which means it has to hold its shape under force and wear. That is why tool steel is the usual choice, and why tooling needs its own approach to machining and finishing. The shop makes new tools and reworks tools that have worn past their useful size.

At a glance

• Fixtures and jigs that hold parts for the next operation
• Punches, dies and wear parts in tool steel
• Gauges and check fixtures
• Repair of worn or damaged tooling

What makes tooling different from an ordinary part?

A bracket only has to fit. A die has to cut or form the same shape thousands of times, and a gauge has to give the same answer every day. So the requirements are tighter on dimensions, on surface finish and on the material itself.

Tool steels are chosen for hardness, wear resistance and the ability to hold an edge. Because they are hard materials, they take more care to machine and finish, and the print should state the material and the condition the tool must be in when it is put to work. See the glossary entry on Rockwell hardness for how hardness is described.

Fixtures and jigs from your idea

Many tooling jobs start with a part that needs to be held the same way every time: a weldment that must be clamped square, a bracket that must be drilled in the same place on each unit. The shop will help you design a fixture from the part itself, then build it. For fixtures that run in a welding cell or a production line, see automated machines and fixtures.

Bring the part the fixture will hold, or a drawing of it, and explain the operation it supports. A simple fixture can often be sketched from that conversation.

Reworking a worn die or punch

Dies and punches wear at the working edges and on guide surfaces. When the wear is modest, the tool can be resurfaced or reworked to restore the shape. When it is severe, a new component is made from the old one as the pattern. Either way, measuring the worn tool and the part it produces tells us where it has moved from the original.

Asking for a tooling quote

Send the drawing or the worn tool, the material, the quantity of parts the tool will make and any hardness the tool needs. Add photos of the working surfaces. Attach it to the quote request or call (775) 359-5570, Monday to Friday, 7:00 am to 3:30 pm. Free consultations are part of how the shop works.