Mold Maker

Chemtech Plastics•Elgin, IL

4h•$38 - $40

About The Position

Tool Maker experience requires someone with deep machining expertise , advanced mold ‑ building skills, strong diagnostic ability, and a practical knowledge about how steel, tooling, and molding processes interact. Experienced Tool Maker with designing, building, and maintaining high ‑ precision plastic injection molds. Skilled in all phases of mold construction, including blueprint interpretation, CNC machining, EDM, fitting, polishing, troubleshooting, and mold repair. Capable of delivering durable, efficient tooling solutions that support high ‑ volume production and tight tolerances.

Requirements

Tool Maker experience requires someone with deep machining expertise , advanced mold ‑ building skills, strong diagnostic ability, and a practical knowledge about how steel, tooling, and molding processes interact.
Experienced Tool Maker with designing, building, and maintaining high ‑ precision plastic injection molds.
Skilled in all phases of mold construction, including blueprint interpretation, CNC machining, EDM, fitting, polishing, troubleshooting, and mold repair.
Capable of delivering durable, efficient tooling solutions that support high ‑ volume production and tight tolerances.

Responsibilities

Build complete plastic injection molds from start to finish, including CNC machining, programming, manual machining, EDM (wire and sinker), surface grinding, and bench work.
Quoting new tools and repairs.
I nterpret complex 2D and 3D engineering data, including tight ‑ tolerance detail prints, mold assemblies, and part models.
Fit, assemble, and hand ‑ work precision components to achieve proper shutoffs, parting lines, venting, and steel conditions.
Diagnose and correct tooling issues such as flash, short shots, sticking, venting problems, cooling inefficiencies, and wear.
Execute complex repairs, including welding (laser/TIG), spotting, reworking, and modifying existing tools without compromising steel integrity.
Understand mold steels, heat treatment, coatings, and material behavior to make informed decisions during build and repair.
Process & Manufacturing Knowledge Deep understanding of injection molding processes, including gating, runner systems, cooling strategies, venting, and ejection.
Ability to foresee manufacturability issues and recommend design changes before steel is cut.
Experience with hot runner systems, valve gates, manifold layouts, and troubleshooting.
Knowledge of mold life cycles, wear patterns, preventive maintenance, and long ‑ term reliability.
Problem ‑ Solving & Judgment Ability to “read the steel” — the intuitive understanding of how a mold will behave based on geometry, tolerances, and material flow.
Hands ‑ on troubleshooting-based on information provided from in house sampling/production run data.
Creative, practical solutions for complex or non ‑ standard tooling challenges.
Ability to work independently, making critical decisions without constant engineering oversight.