Common Occupational Skills — Tool and Die Maker (430A) Practice Questions

Free Common Occupational Skills practice questions

1. 1.What is the first action when a coworker is injured by a press?

   • A.Move them away from the press
   • B.Stop the press, call for help, and assess without moving the victim unless in immediate danger✓
   • C.Resume production
   • D.Fill out paperwork

   Why: Stop the hazard source, call for emergency help, and assess the victim. Don't move them unless they're in immediate danger (fire, further crush risk). Spinal injuries can be worsened by moving.

2. 2.A grinding wheel must be ring-tested before mounting. What indicates a cracked wheel?

   • A.A clear ringing tone
   • B.A dull thud instead of a clear ring✓
   • C.No sound at all
   • D.A very high pitch

   Why: A sound wheel produces a clear metallic ring when tapped. A cracked wheel produces a dull, dead thud. Never mount a cracked wheel — it can explode at operating speed.

3. 3.What is the purpose of regularly checking machine tool way oil levels?

   • A.Aesthetic appearance
   • B.Prevent metal-to-metal contact on slideways, reducing wear and maintaining accuracy✓
   • C.Cool the cutting tool
   • D.Lubricate the workpiece

   Why: Way oil lubricates the sliding surfaces (ways) of machine tools. Without it, metal-to-metal contact causes rapid wear, stick-slip motion, and loss of precision.

4. 4.A backlash compensator on a milling machine corrects:

   • A.Spindle runout
   • B.The play (lost motion) in the leadscrew and nut✓
   • C.Table leveling
   • D.Coolant flow

   Why: Backlash is the clearance between the leadscrew and nut. When reversing direction, this play causes positioning error. Compensators (mechanical or electronic) take up this slack.

5. 5.What does MMC (Maximum Material Condition) mean in GD&T?

   • A.Minimum material
   • B.The condition where a feature contains the most material (largest shaft, smallest hole)✓
   • C.Maximum clearance
   • D.Minimum tolerance

   Why: MMC: largest shaft OD, smallest hole ID — the most material is present. Used with position tolerances to allow bonus tolerance as the feature departs from MMC.

6. 6.What CAD/CAM file format is standard for transferring 3D models between systems?

   • A.PDF
   • B.STEP (STP) or IGES✓
   • C.JPEG
   • D.DOC

   Why: STEP (.stp) and IGES (.igs) are universal 3D file exchange formats. STEP is newer and preserves more data. Used to transfer models between different CAD/CAM systems.

7. 7.What is stoning used for in die making?

   • A.Sharpening drill bits
   • B.Removing small burrs and high spots from machined surfaces to achieve proper fit✓
   • C.Cutting metal
   • D.Measuring flatness

   Why: Stoning with precision stones removes burrs, raised edges, and high spots on machined die components. This is critical for proper shut height and component mating.

8. 8.What type of file is used for finishing hardened steel die components?

   • A.Bastard file
   • B.Mill file (smooth or dead-smooth, single-cut)✓
   • C.Rasp
   • D.Double-cut file

   Why: Hardened steel requires a smooth or dead-smooth single-cut file. Coarser files skip and chatter on hardened surfaces. Diamond files are also used for extremely hard materials.

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