Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.
What you’d do
- Remove workpieces from machines, and check to ensure that they conform to specifications, using measuring instruments such as microscopes, gauges, calipers, and micrometers.
- Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments such as rules, gauges, or calipers.
- Move controls to set cutting specifications, to position cutting tools and workpieces in relation to each other, and to start machines.
- Observe milling or planing machine operation, and adjust controls to ensure conformance with specified tolerances.
- Select and install cutting tools and other accessories according to specifications, using hand tools or power tools.
- Position and secure workpieces on machines, using holding devices, measuring instruments, hand tools, and hoists.
- Replace worn tools, using hand tools, and sharpen dull tools, using bench grinders.
- Study blueprints, layouts, sketches, or work orders to assess workpiece specifications and to determine tooling instructions, tools and materials needed, and sequences of operations.
Skills that matter
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Critical Thinking
- Monitoring
- Active Listening
- Quality Control Analysis
How to get there
Little to some preparation: usually a high school diploma or GED, though some jobs do not need one
Also called
- CNC Licensed Mill Operator (Computer Numerical Control Licensed Mill Operator)
- CNC Mill Operator (Computerized Numerical Control Mill Operator)
- Machine Operator
- Mill Operator
- CNC Mill Operator (Computer Numerical Control Mill Operator)
- CNC Mill Set Up Operator (Computerized Numerical Control Mill Set Up Operator)
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