Objectives of Tool Design and Duties of Tool Design Engineer

Responsibilities of a tool engineers

A tool design engineer conceptualizes, oversee the design of new tools and modification of existing tools. They should always be familiar with various kinds of manufacturing process to make a component. They should know about a vast variety of engineering material, their properties, and their application to meet the requirement of component. The primary responsibilities of a tool engineers are

1. Research and development of new tools or modify existing tooling to improve the manufacturing process from quantity to quality and while considering facility to safety.
2. Make sure the tooling required for a job is ready to begin the production.
3. Documentation of tooling development
4. Review the performance of tools – inspect and evaluate the tool from time to time.
5. Train operators on new equipment and its process.
6. Provide a guideline to the technician on maintenance and repair procedure of new tool.
7. Assist the designer and provide a detailed drawing of tools that include a list of parts and assembly drawing.
8. Support and cooperate with another department, such as planning.

Tool design objectives

The primary objectives of tool design to reduce the expenditure of manufacturing and improve quality. Common objectives of tool design are given below

1. Design Tools that can withstand all forces acting on them.
2. Design tools which reduce downtime and hence increase production.
3. Select the tool material that increases the tool life.
4. Provide simple and smooth, easy operation machine tools to maximize the efficiency.
5. To produce the components of high quality that required fewer secondary operations on them.
6. Designing tools to maintain precision accuracy of the component produced.
7. For safety – provide a foolproof tool, maximize the safety of operation.
8. Less amount of input power. 
9. Tool should maintain the shape of cutting edge during machining, and it should have sufficient hardness to avoid picking up the chips.
10. Design Tools that convenient for operators, locate levers, handles, etc. within easy reach of the operator, large enough to reduce hand fatigue.
11. Overall minimum cost.

Read: Factors affecting the design of tools
- Types of Tool Wear
- Cutting tool design procedure