Machinist

Associated Materials, LLC•Ennis, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Manual Machinist / Tooling Specialist is responsible for the fabrication, repair, modification, maintenance, and sharpening of tooling and components used in the vinyl siding extrusion manufacturing process. This position provides direct machining and tool-room support to Production and Maintenance, with a primary focus on maintaining cut-off dies, knives, blades, tooling, fixtures, and other equipment components necessary to keep extrusion lines operating safely and efficiently. The Manual Machinist / Tooling Specialist must be capable of independently determining machining methods, selecting appropriate tooling and materials, interpreting drawings and measurements, and producing accurate replacement parts and tooling to support plant operations.

Requirements

Minimum of 2 years of experience as a Manual Machinist, Tool & Die Machinist, Toolmaker, or similar position in a manufacturing or machine-shop environment.
Demonstrated ability to set up and operate engine lathes, manual milling machines, surface grinders, drill presses, radial drill presses, and other conventional machine-shop equipment.
Strong understanding of manual machining practices, including turning, milling, drilling, boring, grinding, threading, and precision measurement.
Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, sketches, dimensions, tolerances, and specifications.
Ability to use precision measuring equipment such as micrometers, calipers, dial indicators, depth gauges, and other inspection equipment.
Ability to determine machining processes and sequence operations with minimal supervision.
Ability to fabricate replacement parts from existing components, drawings, samples, or measurements.
Ability to sharpen and maintain production knives, blades, and cutting tools.
Ability to work independently while also supporting Maintenance and Production as part of a team.
Strong mechanical aptitude and troubleshooting skills.
Ability to work safely in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.

Nice To Haves

Experience with extrusion equipment and downstream equipment.
Experience maintaining or repairing cut-off dies and extrusion tooling.
Experience with precision surface grinding and knife/blade sharpening.
Experience working with hardened tool steels and other common tooling materials.
Experience with CNC equipment or CNC programming.
Experience with welding and basic fabrication.
Experience with tool and die repair or manufacturing.
Experience using CAD drawings or basic CAD software.

Responsibilities

Maintain, repair, modify, and rebuild cut-off dies, cut-off tooling, knives, and related components used on vinyl siding extrusion lines.
Sharpen and maintain cut-off knives, grinder blades, saw blades, and other production tooling to specified dimensions and edge conditions.
Manufacture replacement parts for extrusion equipment, cut-off systems, tooling, fixtures, guides, shafts, bushings, spacers, pins, sleeves, and other machine components.
Perform machining and repair work to restore worn or damaged tooling and equipment components to proper operating condition.
Set up and operate manual engine lathes, mills, surface grinders, drill presses, radial drill presses, and other machine-shop equipment.
Perform precision grinding operations to maintain required dimensions, surface finish, clearances, and cutting-edge geometry.
Inspect completed parts and tooling using appropriate measuring equipment, including micrometers, calipers, indicators, height gauges, gauges, and other precision measuring instruments.
Read and interpret engineering drawings, sketches, specifications, and measurements to determine machining requirements.
Reverse-engineer existing parts when drawings are unavailable by accurately measuring components and determining appropriate materials, dimensions, and machining processes.
Determine machining sequences and select appropriate tooling, speeds, feeds, grinding methods, and work-holding techniques.
Assist Maintenance and Production personnel with troubleshooting and repair of extrusion equipment and downstream machinery.
Support the repair and improvement of cut-off presses, cut-off assemblies, tooling, pullers, cooling tables, pack tables, and other extrusion-line equipment as required.
Fabricate and modify jigs, fixtures, templates, gauges, and special tooling used in plant operations.
Make emergency replacement parts and tooling when necessary to minimize production downtime.
Evaluate worn tooling and components and recommend repair, replacement, or modification based on condition and operating requirements.
Work closely with Maintenance, Production, Tool & Die, Engineering, and Quality personnel to resolve tooling and equipment problems.
Maintain accurate dimensions and tolerances to ensure tooling and replacement components perform properly in production.
Identify abnormal wear, damage, defective material, or equipment conditions and communicate findings to the appropriate Supervisor or Maintenance personnel.
Assist with development and documentation of machining procedures, tooling standards, maintenance practices, and setup information.
Maintain machine tools, grinders, tooling, measuring equipment, and the tool-room area in safe and serviceable condition.
Maintain a clean, organized, and safe work area and follow all plant safety requirements, including applicable Lockout/Tagout procedures.
Perform other machining, fabrication, tooling, and maintenance duties as assigned.