Life As a Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender
Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator 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.
What Do Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Do On a Daily Basis?
- Install holding fixtures, cams, gears, and stops to control stock and tool movement, using hand tools, power tools, and measuring instruments.
- Move toolholders manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to feed tools to and along workpieces.
- Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.
- Move controls to set cutting speeds and depths and feed rates, and to position tools in relation to workpieces.
- Position, secure, and align cutting tools in toolholders on machines, using hand tools, and verify their positions with measuring instruments.
- Compute unspecified dimensions and machine settings, using knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
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Qualities of a Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator
When polled, Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Other Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator Job Titles
- Rubber Turner
- V-Groove Cutter
- Balance Wheel Facer
- Nut Tapper
- Lap Cutter Truer Operator
What Kind of Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator Job Opportunities Are There?
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. The BLS estimates 2,900 yearly job openings in this field.
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.
Average Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Salary
The salary for Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders ranges between about $26,000 and $59,960 a year.
Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Massachusetts, Oregon, or Arizona, make the highest salaries.
Below is a list of the median annual salaries for Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders 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 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders:
- 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?
How Long Does it Take to Become a Lathe & Turning Machine Tool Operator?
Where Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Work
The table below shows the approximate number of Metal and Plastic Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders employed by various industries.
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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