Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Go Back

Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.

tasks jobzones knowledge skills abilities work_activities work_context interests work_styles work_values

Tasks

  • Mount attachments and tools such as pantographs, engravers, or routers to perform other operations such as drilling or boring.

  • Make templates or cutting tools.

  • Turn valves or pull levers to start and regulate the flow of coolant or lubricant to work areas.

  • Record production output.

  • Select and install cutting tools and other accessories according to specifications, using hand tools or power tools.

  • Replace worn tools, using hand tools, and sharpen dull tools, using bench grinders.

  • Move cutters or material manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to mill workpieces to specifications.

  • Select cutting speeds, feed rates, and depths of cuts, applying knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.

  • Verify alignment of workpieces on machines, using measuring instruments such as rules, gauges, or calipers.

  • Compute dimensions, tolerances, and angles of workpieces or machines, according to specifications and knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.

Back to top

Job Zone

  • Name: Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

  • 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.

  • Job 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.

  • Examples: These occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include funeral directors, electricians, forest and conservation technicians, legal secretaries, interviewers, and insurance sales agents.

  • Svp range: (6.0 to < 7.0)

Back to top

Knowledge

Browse Knowledge
  • Mechanical
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

  • Mathematics
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

  • Production and Processing
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

  • Design
    Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

  • Engineering and Technology
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

  • Customer and Personal Service
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

  • Education and Training
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • Computers and Electronics
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • English Language
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • Clerical
    Knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology.

Back to top

Skills

Browse Skills
  • Equipment Selection
    Determining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.

  • Mathematics
    Using mathematics to solve problems.

  • Quality Control Analysis
    Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

  • Installation
    Installing equipment, machines, wiring, or programs to meet specifications.

  • Equipment Maintenance
    Performing routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.

  • Operation and Control
    Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

  • Operation Monitoring
    Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

  • 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.

  • Instructing
    Teaching others how to do something.

  • Technology Design
    Generating or adapting equipment and technology to serve user needs.

Back to top

Abilities

Browse Abilities
  • Control Precision
    The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

  • Oral Comprehension
    The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

  • Selective Attention
    The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

  • Arm-Hand Steadiness
    The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

  • Written Comprehension
    The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

  • Finger Dexterity
    The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

  • Near Vision
    The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

  • Reaction Time
    The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

  • Oral Expression
    The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.

  • Manual Dexterity
    The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

Back to top

Work Activities

Browse Work Activities Back to top

Work Context

  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
    How much does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hard hats or life jackets?

  • Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
    How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?

  • Face-to-Face Discussions
    How often do you have to have face-to-face discussions with individuals or teams in this job?

  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
    How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?

  • Sounds, Noise Levels Are Distracting or Uncomfortable
    How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?

  • Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
    How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?

  • Spend Time Standing
    How much does this job require standing?

  • Time Pressure
    How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?

  • Contact With Others
    How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

  • Exposed to Contaminants
    How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

Back to top

Interests

Browse Interests
  • Realistic
    Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

  • Conventional
    Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

  • Investigative
    Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

  • Enterprising
    Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • Artistic
    Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

  • Social
    Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Back to top

Work Styles

  • Attention to Detail
    Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.

  • Dependability
    Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.

  • Achievement/Effort
    Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.

  • Persistence
    Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.

  • Stress Tolerance
    Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high stress situations.

  • Cooperation
    Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.

  • Initiative
    Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.

  • Analytical Thinking
    Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.

  • Independence
    Job requires developing one's own ways of doing things, guiding oneself with little or no supervision, and depending on oneself to get things done.

  • Integrity
    Job requires being honest and ethical.

Back to top

Work Values

Browse Work Values
  • Moral Values
    Workers on this job are never pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • Independence
    Workers on this job do their work alone.

  • Activity
    Workers on this job are busy all the time.

  • Company Policies and Practices
    Workers on this job are treated fairly by the company.

  • Support-Mean Extent
    Occupations that satisfy this work value offer supportive management that stands behind employees. Corresponding needs are Company Policies, Supervision: Human Relations and Supervision: Technical.

  • Supervision, Human Relations
    Workers on this job have supervisors who back up their workers with management.

  • Supervision, Technical
    Workers on this job have supervisors who train their workers well.

  • Security
    Workers on this job have steady employment.

  • Advancement
    Workers on this job have opportunities for advancement.

  • Working Conditions-Mean Extent
    Occupations that satisfy this work value offer job security and good working conditions. Corresponding needs are Activity, Compensation, Independence, Security, Variety and Working Conditions.

Back to top




Email This Page!




Job Search