Kenneth Mabena

To apply my machinist experience and knowledge; to further develop my knowledge and skills across the different areas in tooling industry and to maximize my expertise and efficiency.

Toolroom Technician - PLASTI PROFILE

(2024-09)

• Supervise and coordinate tool room team
• Manage tools and equipment
• Assign task, monitor performance and provide technical support
• Diagnose breakdowns and implement corrective actions
• Inspecting and measuring tools and equipment for defects/wear
• Repairing, servicing and lubricating tools and equipment
• Marking and identifying tools and equipment
• Maintaining inventory of tools and equipment
• Operating toolroom equipment such as milling, lathe, and surface grinding machine
• Set up and operate conventional lathe, milling and surface grinding
• Perform task such as drilling, reaming and threading
• Read and interpret drawing (Blueprint)
• Inspect finished part using measuring instruments and tools such as vernier calliper, micro meter and height gauge to ensure they meet required tolerances
• Troubleshoot problems that may arise during the machining process and make necessary adjustment to machines or tooling to achieve desired results
• Perform PCD drilling holes on a flanges and die bodies
• Operating precision tools and equipment for dimensional inspection
• Preparing jobs and tear downs
• Supporting production as needed
• Maintaining safety and housekeeping practices in assigned areas
• Ensuring equipment is safe before use and is left safe for the next user

Machine Setter and Operator - FRENCH ENGINEERING WORKS

(2022-03 - 2024-09)

Stress relieving, steam treatment, and surface grinding operations on metal components.

• Stress relieving is a heat treatment process in which a metal is subjected to a constant temperature that is below the metal critical temperature, following by controlled cooling
• Drawing, forming and machining induce stress in metal
• Put the thread rolling dies in the pot for two hours for stress relief
• Stress relief operation is typically used to remove internal stress that have accumulated in the material
• Steam treatment is a thermal process that creates a thin controlled oxide layer on the surface of an iron based metal component
• Put the cutting tools in steam temping furnace for four hours process
• As in thermal treatment, time, temperature and atmosphere are controlled to provide the optimal condition for the expected finish
• Inspect machinery and workpieces to ensure that they remain compliant with specifications to reduce any malfunctions and associated loss of production
• Ensure grinding wheels are dressed according to specifications so that the machines remain at peak working capability
• Stop any machines upon discovery of a problem and makes the required adjustment as quickly as possible to minimize downtime
• Operate machinery, including polishing and grinding equipment, to grind any metal workpieces to their prescribed specifications to ensure high quality products
• Finish products hand using hand tools to ensure the surfaces are filed or finished accordingly
• Keep all equipment running by inspecting and performing basic maintenance, including lubricant and cleaning, and scheduling repairs when needed
• Perform basic repairs, including replacing parts when they are worn down or broken, within the scope of expected knowledge and expertise

CNC Operator and Setter - LUCCHINI SA

(2019-11 - 2022-03)

• CNC Operator and Setter (Vertical Boring Mill)
• Read and understand the drawing (Blueprint)
• Setting the machine for every new wheel that needs to be machined
• Do concentricity on a three jaw chuck
• Execute the program to the machine
• Operate a boring mill to cut, shape and drill metal parts/railway wheels
• Monitor cutting tools and adjust settings/offsets as necessary
• Perform quality checks on wheels to ensure they meet specifications
• Maintain and clean the boring mill and report any maintenance issues
• Conduct health and safety audits
• Identify potential hazards, risks and dangers
• Investigate incidents
• Make recommendation regarding health and safety
• Conduct inspection
• Attend health and safety committee meetings

CNC Operator - RHEINMETAL DENEL MUNITION

(2019-03 - 2019-10)

Operating CNC machines to produce machine shells and verifying machined parts using measuring instruments.

• Operating CNC machine by producing machine shells
• Verifying machined shells by measuring instruments such as Vernier caliper, micrometer

CNC Operator and Setter - Chain Connection

(2015-10 - 2018-06)

• CNC Operator and setter
• Setting various CNC machinery including Turning, Milling and Surface Grinding
• Read and understand blue print (engineering drawing)
• Using measuring equipment such as Vernier and Micrometers
• Changing tools and ensuring that machinery is fully optimized at all times
• Maintaining quality and safety standards
• Setting up mills and lathes by installing and adjusting three and four jaw chuck
• Verify settings by measuring positions, first run part and sample work pieces adjusting
• Taking measurements and detecting malfunctions, troubleshooting process, offsets and sharpening and replacing worn tools, adhering to quality assurance procedures
• Performed basic arithmetic, geometric and algebraic calculation
• Supervising the tool room team, ensuring efficient maintenance and repair of tools, and managing tool room operations
• Precision machining on manual milling, manual turning and surface grinding machine
• Read and understand engineering drawing
• Building tools and jigs
• Cut, shape and trim blanks / blocks to specified lengths and shapes
• File, grind, shim and adjust different parts to properly fit together
• Select, set up and operate all machine tools and specialized tools to perform precision machining operations
• Fit and assemble parts to make repair jigs, gauges and tools using machines tools and hand tools
• Lift position and secure machine parts on surface plate or work tables using hoist, vices, V-blocks and angle plates
• Measure, mark and scribe metal stock to lay out machining, using instrument such as protractors, Vernier, micrometers, scribers and rulers
• Select metals to be used from a range of metals and alloys, based on properties such as hardness and heat tolerances
• Perform regular quality assessment on all incoming materials from vendors and outgoing products
• Inspecting the first component of each production run, making sure that the product is within specification and conforms to the latest revision drawing against calibrated measuring instrument
• Doing spot checks throughout the shift in order to verify that the product has not deviated from the required specification and drawing
• Reject all products and materials that fail to meet quality expectations
• Perform first off, set up, hardness testing as per established procedure, inspection on assembling work procedure
• Calibrating measuring instruments such as Vernier caliper, micrometer etc.
• Read blue print, plans and specification to understand the requirements of product and services
• Measure product dimensions, examine functionality and compare final product to the specifications
• Through inspection reports, identify problem areas regarding quality and put in place the required preventative measures that will reduce non-conforming components and unnecessary cost to the company
• Recommend improvement to the production process to insure quality control
• Inspection outcomes by completing detailed reports and performance record
• Teach the production team about quality control concerns to improve product excellence
• Resolve quality related issues in a timely manner
• Inspection of ISO 9001 implementation and report

Machine Operator - Feltex Automotive Rosslyn

(2014-10 - 2014-12)

• Experience obtained: Grinding, Welding, Polishing
• Set up and operate variety of machine tools and assemble parts to fabricate or repair machine tools and maintain industrial machines
• Weld parts using arc and CO2 welding

Occupational Certificate - Toolmaker - T. L. M. A. Campus - Tshwane (2025-11)

Course - Total quality management - Lyceum College (2025-11)

Certified - Machinist - T. L. M. A. Campus - Tshwane (2017-11 - 2017-11)

National Certificate - N3 - Tshwane South College (2006-09 - 2006-09)