CNC Mill Setup Technician – Haas Mills
Range Precision Machining
Location: Blaine, Minnesota 55434
Job Type: Full-time
Schedule: Day shift, Monday through Friday
Pay: Competitive and based on experience
Job Summary
Range Precision Machining is seeking an experienced CNC Mill Setup Technician to set up, prove out, troubleshoot, and support production work on our Haas vertical machining centers.
This is a hands-on shop-floor position for someone comfortable working independently from engineering drawings, setup documentation, tooling lists, and CNC programs. The Setup Technician will prepare machines for production, establish work offsets and tooling, verify first-piece dimensions, and assist operators in maintaining consistent quality throughout the production run.
The ideal candidate has experience setting up Haas CNC mills, selecting cutting tools, adjusting speeds and feeds, troubleshooting machining problems, and producing close-tolerance precision components.
Primary Responsibilities
- Set up and prove out jobs on Haas vertical machining centers.
- Install and align vises, fixtures, jaws, tooling, rotary equipment, and workholding.
- Load CNC programs and verify that the correct program revision is being used.
- Set tool lengths, diameters, work offsets, fixture offsets, and other machine parameters.
- Read and interpret engineering drawings, setup sheets, process instructions, and job travelers.
- Review tolerances, GD&T requirements, surface finishes, materials, and customer notes before beginning a setup.
- Select appropriate cutting tools, holders, inserts, drills, end mills, and workholding methods.
- Verify raw-material size, condition, and orientation before machining.
- Perform program prove-outs using safe single-block, feed-hold, graphics, and distance-to-go procedures.
- Inspect first-piece components using micrometers, calipers, height gauges, pin gauges, bore gauges, thread gauges, and other inspection equipment.
- Make tool-offset and wear-offset adjustments to bring dimensions into specification.
- Troubleshoot chatter, tool wear, poor surface finish, dimensional variation, chip-control problems, and other machining issues.
- Optimize setups and machining processes as approved to improve quality, cycle time, and tool life.
- Provide operators with clear instructions regarding part loading, inspection frequency, tool monitoring, and offset adjustments.
- Monitor initial production pieces to confirm that the process is stable before releasing the job to an operator.
- Document setup information, tooling changes, offsets, process improvements, and lessons learned for future production runs.
- Maintain clean and organized machines, tooling, work areas, and setup equipment.
- Assist with preventive maintenance and report machine problems promptly.
- Follow company safety procedures and ISO 9001 quality requirements.
Equipment
The position may involve setup and production support on equipment, including:
- Haas VF vertical machining centers
- Haas rotary tables or fourth-axis equipment
- Standard milling fixtures, vises, soft jaws, and custom workholding
- EDM
Required Qualifications
- At least three years of CNC milling setup or machining experience.
- Hands-on experience setting up Haas vertical machining centers.
- Ability to independently complete setups from drawings, programs, and setup documentation.
- Ability to read and interpret mechanical drawings, tolerances, and basic GD&T.
- Experience setting work offsets, tool offsets, cutter compensation, and wear adjustments.
- Knowledge of milling tools, toolholders, inserts, speeds, feeds, and machining practices.
- Experience using common precision-measuring equipment.
- Ability to inspect close-tolerance machined components.
- Ability to troubleshoot machining, setup, tooling, and dimensional problems.
- Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing quality parts.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities in a high-mix manufacturing environment.
- Good communication and teamwork skills.
- Ability to work safely with minimal supervision.
Preferred Qualifications
- Five or more years of CNC milling experience.
- Experience with Haas VF machines.
- Experience with three-axis and four-axis machining.
- Familiarity with Mastercam-generated CNC programs.
- Ability to make minor G-code edits at the machine.
- Experience machining aluminum, stainless steel, alloy steel, copper, brass, and engineered plastics.
- Experience with prototype, short-run, and repeat-production work.
- Experience designing or modifying soft jaws and basic workholding.
- Knowledge of geometric dimensioning and tolerancing.
- Experience working under an ISO 9001 or AS9100 quality system.
- Experience performing first-piece and in-process inspections.
Successful Candidates Will Be Able To
- Complete, accurate, and efficient Haas mill setups.
- Recognize potential setup or programming problems before a crash or scrap condition occurs.
- Produce acceptable first-piece parts with minimal assistance.
- Communicate clearly with programmers, machinists, inspectors, and supervisors.
- Teach operators how to safely run and monitor established jobs.
- Reduce unnecessary setup time while maintaining quality.
- Maintain accurate setup documentation for future production runs.
- Take ownership of quality, productivity, and machine readiness.
Physical Requirements
- Ability to stand and walk for extended periods.
- Ability to bend, reach, and work inside CNC machine enclosures.
- Ability to lift and move tooling, fixtures, and materials weighing up to 50 pounds with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Ability to safely work around machine tools, cutting tools, metal chips, coolant, and material-handling equipment.
- Ability to visually inspect detailed components and measurement readings.
About Range Precision Machining
Range Precision Machining is an established precision-manufacturing company located in Blaine, Minnesota. Since 1983, we have provided CNC milling, CNC turning, prototype machining, and production support to customers across a variety of industries.
We are committed to quality, dependable delivery, continuous improvement, and maintaining a professional workplace where skilled employees can succeed. Hourly wage is depends on qualifications and ranges between $27 to 35 per hour.
Range Precision Machining is an equal-opportunity employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, experience, performance, and business needs without regard to legally protected status.
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) 4% Match
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
