What Do Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender Do?
Job 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.
List of Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator Job Duties
- Inspect sample workpieces to verify conformance with specifications, using instruments such as gauges, micrometers, and dial indicators.
- Move controls to set cutting speeds and depths and feed rates, and to position tools in relation to workpieces.
- Start lathe or turning machines and observe operations to ensure that specifications are met.
- Position, secure, and align cutting tools in toolholders on machines, using hand tools, and verify their positions with measuring instruments.
- Mount attachments, such as relieving or tracing attachments, to perform operations, such as duplicating contours of templates or trimming workpieces.
- Refill, change, and monitor the level of fluids, such as oil and coolant, in machines.
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What Every Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator Should Know
Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Related Job Titles for this Occupation:
- Planer Operator
- Barrel Turner
- Turn Operator
- Nut Threader
- Lathe Machine Operator
Job Demand for Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders
In the United States, there were 33,700 jobs for Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 2,900 job openings in this field each year.
The states with the most job growth for Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator are Alabama, Utah, and Texas. Watch out if you plan on working in Delaware, West Virginia, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
How Much Does a Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator Make?
The typical yearly salary for Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders is somewhere between $26,000 and $59,960.
Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Massachusetts, Oregon, or Arizona, make the highest salaries.
How much do Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $35,440 |
| Arizona | $47,100 |
| Arkansas | $36,310 |
| California | $40,280 |
| Colorado | $34,110 |
| Connecticut | $46,110 |
| Florida | $37,560 |
| Georgia | $36,310 |
| Illinois | $42,540 |
| Indiana | $41,180 |
| Iowa | $41,340 |
| Kansas | $39,560 |
| Kentucky | $43,950 |
| Louisiana | $43,650 |
| Maine | $33,760 |
| Maryland | $36,060 |
| Massachusetts | $50,760 |
| Michigan | $38,830 |
| Minnesota | $41,440 |
| Mississippi | $34,760 |
| Missouri | $42,720 |
| Montana | $31,790 |
| Nebraska | $39,500 |
| Nevada | $41,430 |
| New Hampshire | $38,980 |
| New Jersey | $44,030 |
| New York | $40,720 |
| North Carolina | $47,200 |
| Ohio | $40,190 |
| Oklahoma | $41,100 |
| Oregon | $54,150 |
| Pennsylvania | $41,390 |
| Rhode Island | $44,830 |
| South Carolina | $45,310 |
| South Dakota | $37,310 |
| Tennessee | $36,040 |
| Texas | $40,200 |
| Utah | $47,130 |
| Vermont | $38,570 |
| Virginia | $38,470 |
| Washington | $45,070 |
| West Virginia | $42,270 |
| Wisconsin | $41,710 |
What Tools & Technology do Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders may use on a daily basis:
- Inventory tracking software
- G-code
- M-code
- Autodesk HSMWorks
How to Become a Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator
Are there Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders education requirements?
What work experience do I need to become a Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator?
Where Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Are Employed
Below are examples of industries where Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders work:
Related Careers
Those thinking about becoming a Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender might also be interested in the following careers:
Those who work as a Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
References:
Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain
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