Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Set up, operate, or tend forging machines to taper, shape, or form metal or plastic parts.
What you’d do
- Start machines to produce sample workpieces, and observe operations to detect machine malfunctions and to verify that machine setups conform to specifications.
- Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup.
- Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications.
- Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product specifications.
- Turn handles or knobs to set pressures and depths of ram strokes and to synchronize machine operations.
- Set up, operate, or tend presses and forging machines to perform hot or cold forging by flattening, straightening, bending, cutting, piercing, or other operations to taper, shape, or form metal.
- Trim and compress finished forgings to specified tolerances.
Skills that matter
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Critical Thinking
- Equipment Maintenance
How to get there
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Also called
- Blacksmith
- Hammer Operator
- Machine Operator
- Process Technician (Process Tech)
- Forge Operator
- Forge Press Operator
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