Nqaba Sikoti

Toolmaker with 4 years 11 months workshop experience across Tool & Die, Die Maintenance, and CNC Machining. NIMS Level 3 Tool & Die Making – competent in surface grinding ±0.02mm, bench fitting H7/p6, scraping, jigs, fixtures, press tools, and die repair. CNC Miller/Turner holding ±0.01mm daily on Haas/Fanuc controls.

Automotive die maintenance experience at BORBET SA. MerSETA Section 28 Toolmaker Trade Test pending – affidavit + portfolio submitted October 2026. Own full Mitutoyo tooling. Targeting R35k-R45k toolroom positions.

Tool Setter / Die Maintenance Assistant at BORBET SA (2024-02 – 2025-08)

Aluminium Wheel Manufacturing - Maintained gravity and low-pressure die casting dies and trim tools for OEM automotive wheels

• Maintained gravity and low-pressure die casting dies and trim tools for OEM automotive wheels
• Surface ground die inserts, slides, and cores to ±0.02mm; hand fitted components to H7/p6 using engineering blue
• Diagnosed die defects: heat cracking, wear, water leaks – executed repairs reducing unplanned downtime 15%
• Set dies in CNC mills and presses, conducted 1st-off inspection to GD&T and CMM reports
• Worked with H13, D2 tool steels; assisted with heat treatment scheduling and hardness checking

CNC Machinist at JAFAR ENGINEERING (2022-01 – 2022-07)

Set and operated Haas CNC mills and lathes for component machining and production

• Set and operated Haas CNC mills and lathes, G54 work offsets, G43 tool length compensation, 4th axis
• Machined components to ±0.01mm, proved programs, optimised feeds/speeds for production batches 200+
• Performed conventional milling, turning, and surface grinding for one-off and prototype components
• Worked unsupervised night shift; responsible for machine setup, quality control, and tool life management
• Maintained <0.2% scrap rate through in-process probing and measurement

Toolmaker Apprentice – NIMS Level 3 at PTSA – PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGIES ASSOCIATION OF SA (2020-02 – 2022-12)

Completed comprehensive NIMS Level 3 Tool & Die Making apprenticeship with practical and theoretical training

• Completed NIMS Level 3 Tool & Die Making: press tools, jigs, fixtures, mould bases
• Surface grinding: blocks, angles, parallels square/parallel <0.02mm; wheel dressing and balancing
• Bench fitting: hand filing, scraping flat surfaces, fitting of slides, dowels, and die components to H7/p6
• CNC operations: Basic CNC lathe & milling operation, G-code programming, machine setting and editing
• Tool design: Manufactured jigs and fixtures from technical drawings using CAD and conventional methods
• Material knowledge: Machined 4140, EN8/EN9, D2, H13, Stainless 304/316, Aluminium; heat treat processes

NIMS Level 3 in Tool & Die Making – PTSA (2023)

NIMS Level 2 in Milling, Turning, Chucking – PTSA (2018)

N4 in Mechanical Engineering: Fitting & Turning – Iqhayiya TVET College

Matric Grade 12 – James Jolobe High School (2014)