Machine tool operators have been engaged with machinist jobs in their profession. They shape metal and plastic to precise dimensions by using machine tools. They are usually known by the machine they operate, such as engine lathe operator, turret lathe set-up operator, or milling machine set-up operator.
The set-up operators are machinists who specialize in readying the necessary equipment and instructing in its use. The history of machine tools is relatively recent. When James Watt experimented with steam engines, he could not find anyone who could drills a perfect hole, thus this engines leaked steam. In 1775, John Wilkinson invented the boring machine. The growth of machine tools is partly responsible for the mass production methods found in the United States. The most rapid spurt in their development has come since World Wars I and II so as the worker jobs. It was necessary to build tanks, planes, jeeps, ships, and guns rapidly and accurately, so machines had to be advised that would turn out the thousands of pieces required. Since that time there has also been a steady increase in the amount of goods that Americans desire, so production methods learned for war have been converted and improved to make the countless products America manufactures today. The work of the machine tool operators differ from that of the all-around machinist or production machine operator, in that machine tool operators do not have the diversified knowledge necessary to set up and operate most machines in a machine shop. In their labor employment, the machine tool operator can generally do only the work connected with one particular specialty. In other words, a machinists knows about specialized machines such as grinders, shapers, honers, reamers, chippers, and planers, while the machine tool operator is limited to a single machine, usually does little or no hand fitting or assembly work, and depends on a set up machinist to ready, adjust, and maintain the equipment.
Duties of a Machinist
Part of the machinist employment, the machine tool operator receives a daily assignment, which, if the job is a large one, may last all day or for a number of days. The machine is preset so far as the speed and the amount of cutting, reaming, or drilling is concerned. This means that, in the case of a drill press, the machine is set to drill only so far and no more into the metal stock. No matter how much pressure is exerted on the handle, the drill will go no deeper than the preset stop will allow. If this stop loosens, the machine tool operator will generally call the set up machinist to re-measure the distance the drill should travel, and relock it into place. The typical operators push a starting button to start the drill, pick up a piece of metal stock, insert it into the guide that holds it during machining, pull down the lever of the drill press until the piece is drilled the prescribed distance, and release the lever. They remove the stock from the machine and place it in a bin for completed parts.
In the general labor jobs and from time to time during the drilling, they squirt oil from an oil can against the drill. Because the drill easily overheats from fiction, it is necessary to cool the drill in this way. Except in cases of machinery breakdown, or while new stock is being brought up for machining, the machine tool operator repeats the same process until the job is completed. With other machines the process is similar, that of lifting, placing the part into the machine, doing the machining, and removing the finished piece.
Skilled setup operators use micrometers and other gauges to set up their machines and possibly the machines of other workers in the shop. During the course of the day, they will replace worn and broken belts, change cutting tools on their machines, check measurements on their work to ensure their continued accuracy. If a major repair or replacement is needed, they may call a repairer, or do the repairs themselves if they are working in a small shop that has no repairer available. Many shops make no distinction between skilled machine tool operators and machine tool operators as far as job title is concerned, but the work generally differs because of the greater ability of the skilled worker. Likewise, in their labor jobs, as in the case of most other semiskilled and some skilled occupations, there are no special educational requirements for the job of machine operator. A student interested in this work should have better than average mechanical aptitude, an interest in machines, and some school or job experience in blueprint reading, shop mathematics, and use of simple hand tools.
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