Career Details :: Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Metal and Plastic
Description
Set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.
Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.
Tasks
- Replaces worn tools and sharpens dull cutting tools and dies.
- Positions, secures, and aligns cutting tools in toolholders on machine, using hand tools, and verifies their position with measuring instruments.
- Installs holding fixtures, cams, gears, and stops to control stock and tool movement, using hand tools, power tools, and measuring instruments.
- Moves controls to set cutting speeds and depths, feed rates, and to position tool in relation to workplace.
- Computes unspecified dimensions and machine settings, using knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
- Cranks machine through cycle, stopping to adjust tool positions and machine controls, to ensure specified timing, clearance, and tolerances.
- Observes operation and stops machine to inspect finished workpiece and verify conformance with specifications of first run, using measuring instruments.
- Lifts metal stock or workpiece manually or using hoist, and positions and secures it in machine, using fasteners and hand tools.
- Selects cutting tools and tooling instructions, according to knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics, or written specifications.
- Starts machine and turns valve handle to direct flow of coolant on work area or coats disk with spinning compound.
- Mounts attachments, such as relieving or tracing attachments, to perform operations, such as duplicating contours of template or trimming workpiece.
- Moves toolholder manually or by turning handwheel, or engages automatic feeding mechanism, to feed tools to and along workpiece.
- Studies blueprint, layout, or chart to visualize work and determine materials needed, sequence of operations, dimensions, and tooling instructions.
Related Careers
- Engraver Set-Up Operators
- Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters and Set-Up Operators
- Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
- Grinding, Honing, Lapping, and Deburring Machine Set-Up Operators
- Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Numerical Control Machine Tool Operators and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Semiconductor Processors
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Tool and Die Makers
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Monitor Processes, Material, Surroundings
- Performing General Physical Activities
- Evaluating Information Against Standards
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Degree of Automation
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Consequence of Error
- Indoors
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.