Drill Press Hand Or Operator
Machines used for drilling holes are a familiar object even to those who have never been inside a machine shop. If you have ever done shop work in your school days, pursued some sort of hobby, or watched your car being repaired, you have probably used or seen a drill press. In the shop, these machines appear in a wide variety of types and sizes, such as the small sensitive drill mounted on a bench, the multiple spindle or gang drill, or the gigantic radial drill press used to drill holes in large castings or fittings.
Drill press work is largely repetitive. Once the job is set up, little skill is required to operate the machine. However, the drill press hand that can set up the machines must be able to clamp the work suitably on the drill press table or select the proper drill jig and select and set the necessary drills, reamers, counter bores, and countersinks as needed. He or she is then capable of choosing the correct speeds at which the drills are to rotate and the correct rate at which the drills are to feed into the work. The drill press hand must use the necessary measuring instruments, such as plug gauges, depth gauges, and micrometers, to check the work against the specifications. He or she must also set up for tapping or threading, using the right taps, tools, speeds, and feeds.
A machinist's helper may become a drill press operator. So may beginners who can be trained on the job. On the larger radial drills, however, where more skills are required, an apprentice may specialize in the work. Promotion may be to set up person or supervisor.
Cylindrical Grinding Machine Hand Or Operator
The cylindrical grinding machine is similar to a lathe in that the work is rotated against a cutting tool. However, instead of the single point tool that is used in a lathe, the work is revolved against a grinding wheel that also rotates. Smooth surface finishes and closely held dimensions can be obtained with this machine, which is usually used for finishing work that has been rough cut on a lathe. This type of grinder is made in many sizes and types, from the small machine found in tool rooms to the huge grinders used in finishing forgings, such as camshafts, crankshafts, and the like. There are many other specialized types of grinding machines. A person might become an expert on any one with adequate training and experience.
Grinder hands or operators should be able to operate and set up these machines. Working from blueprints and other specifications, they figure out the sequence of grinding operations needed for the particular part or parts. They then secure the part in the machine between centers, on a faceplate, in a chuck, or in any other device as needed and select the proper abrasive or grinding wheel to finish the part, depending upon its metallic composition and the kind of finish wanted.
Next, they choose the proper speeds needed for rotating the work and the grinding wheel. They also select the proper speed with which the work will feed past the grinding wheel or into it. After starting the machine and taking some cuts, the operators measure the result until they arrive at the dimensions called for, using such instruments as snap gauges, micrometers, and indicators. They perform such operations as grinding straight outside diameters, grinding to shoulders, and grinding angles and tapers. During the process, the grinding wheel wears away. In order to restore its shape and cutting qualities, the operators must dress the wheel with an attachment bearing a diamond cutting tool. As mentioned before, the operators usually hold dimensions to the thousandth of an inch and even finer.
The nature of the grinding operations may sometimes cause safety and health hazards. There may be considerable dust and there is always danger of wheels breaking while rotating. In addition, contact with the moving abrasive wheel may cause burns. These risks may be reduced by exhaust systems and safety guards.
Grinder hands are usually graduates of vocational and technical high schools or adult training courses, or they may be machinist apprentices from small shops where they may have received some training. They may advance to become set up persons or supervisors. Wages vary from $9.00 to $11.00 per hour. Those unusually skilled grinding experts might make up to $20.00 per hour.
Screw Machine Hand Or Operator
The screw machine is an automatic or semiautomatic lathe that is used as a mass production tool. It operates on the principle of the lathe with a multi tool turret which, once set up, can operate continually or automatically without further human aid until some change is required or more material is needed to be fed in. It is usually used for producing circular parts, such as screws of all types, which are machined from long metal rods or bar stock. The operator needs no special skills and can be trained quickly to watch a battery of such machines. We are concerned here, however, with the operator who learns how to set up the machine.
Setting up involves reading and interpreting blueprints of the part to be produced, figuring the sequences of operations, setting the bar stock in place for holding and feeding, selecting the tools for the job and arranging and clamping them on the turret and the machine, setting and adjusting the cams that control the automatic operation of the machine, selecting and setting the speed at which the machine is to revolve, and measuring the first finished part, making whatever adjustments are needed. The operator who, in addition to all this, can design, layout, and cut the cams is considered top grade. He or she should also be able to sharpen all the tools used.
The machinist apprentice may select this as a specialty. Graduates of technical and vocational high schools may also go into this line. A great deal of ingenuity and improvisation is required which may attract such people. Promotion may be to set up person for a battery of machines, to a supervisory position, or to similar responsibilities. Average wages range from $8.00 to $10.00 per hour. Those possessing top skills might command as much as $20.00 per hour.
