9417 – Machining tool operators

Machining tool operators set up and operate or tend metal-cutting machines designed for repetitive machining work. They are employed by metal products and other manufacturing companies and in machine shops. This unit group also includes workers who etch or chemically mill metal pieces.

Profile

Index of titles

Example titles

Aircraft engine parts machine tool set-up operator

Aircraft parts etcher

Automated machine tool set-up operator

Automatic screw machine operator

Automatic transfer machine operator – metal machining

Axle lathe operator

Barrel rifler

Bearing borer

Bearing grinder

Bench machine tool set-up operator

Bolt threader

Bolt-threading machine operator

Borer – metal machining

Boring machine operator – metal machining

Boring mill operator – metal machining

Boring mill set-up operator – metal machining

Brake drum lathe operator

Broaching machine operator – metal machining

Broaching machine set-up operator – metal machining

Bullard multiple-spindle lathe operator

Camming machine operator – metal machining

Centreless cylindrical grinder set-up operator

Centreless cylindrical-grinder operator

Centreless grinder operator

Centreless grinder set-up operator

Chucking machine set-up operator

Computer numerical control (CNC) lathe operator – metal machining

Computer numerical control (CNC) machining tool operator

Computer numerical control (CNC) profile mill operator

Computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine set-up operator – metal machining

Computer numerically controlled (CNC) machining centre operator

Connecting rod borer

Countersinker – metal machining

Custom screw machine operator

Cutlery and tool etcher

Cylinder grinder – metal machining

Cylinder honer – metal machining

Diesinking machine set-up operator

Drill press operator – metal machining

Drill press set-up operator – metal machining

Drilling and milling machine operator – metal machining

Drilling machine operator – metal machining

Electrical discharge machine (EDM) operator

Electrical discharge machine (EDM) set-up operator

Electrical discharge machine (EDM) tender

Electrochemical machining tool operator

Electrolytic etcher – metal machining

Engine lathe set-up operator

External cylindrical grinder set-up operator

External cylindrical-grinder operator

File cutter – metal machining

File maker – metal machining

Firearms etcher

Gear cutter

Gear grinder

Gear hobber set-up operator

Gear roller grinder

Gear-cutting machine set-up operator

Gear-cutting machine tender

Gear-grinding machine set-up operator

Gear-hobbing machine set-up operator

Gear-hob-milling machine set-up operator

Gear-lapping machine operator

Gear-lapping machine set-up operator

Gear-milling machine operator

Gear-milling machine set-up operator

Gear-rolling machine operator

Gear-shaper operator

Gear-shaving machine set-up operator

General machine tool set-up operator

Grinder set-up operator – metal machining

Grooving machine set-up operator – metal machining

Hand lapper – metal machining

Hand tool filer – metal machining

Heavy chucking lathe operator – metal machining

Honing machine operator – metal machining

Honing machine set-up operator – metal machining

Horizontal boring and milling machine set-up operator

Impressing machine tender – metal machining

Jig grinder set-up operator

Keyseater operator

Keyseater set-up operator

Keyseating machine operator

Lapping machine operator

Lapping machine set-up operator

Lapping machine tender

Lathe hand – metal machining

Lathe machining operator

Lathe operator – metal machining

Machine operator – metal machining

Machine router – metal machining

Machine shop layer-out

Machine shop layout marker

Machine tool operator – metal machining

Machine tool setter

Machine tool set-up man/woman

Machine tool set-up operator

Machine-tool setter – metal machining

Machining equipment set-up operator

Machining tool operator

Main bearing borer – metal machining

Metal band saw operator

Metal saw tooth grinder

Milling machine operator – metal machining

Milling machine setter

Milling machine set-up operator

Milling machine set-up operator – metal machining

Motor vehicle cylinder grinder

Multi-function metal-cutting tool operator

Multi-function metal-cutting tool operator trainee

Multiple-spindle drill press operator – metal machining

Multiple-spindle drill press set-up operator – metal machining

Multiple-spindle screw machine operator

Multiple-spindle vertical boring mill set-up operator

Multiple-spindle vertical turret lathe set-up operator

Name plate stamper

Numerical control (NC) drilling machine operator – metal machining

Numerical control (NC) machining tool operator

Numerical control/computer numerical control (NC/CNC) machining tool operator

Numerically controlled (NC) machine operator – metal machining

Numerically controlled (NC) machine tool operator

Numerically controlled (NC) machine tool set-up operator

Numerically controlled (NC) tracer operator – metal machining

Pantograph milling machine set-up operator

Pedestal drill operator – metal machining

Pipe threader

Pipe-threading machine operator

Planer operator – metal machining

Planer set-up operator – metal machining

Precision grinder operator – metal machining

Precision grinder set-up operator

Precision grinder set-up operator – metal machining

Precision honing machine operator – metal machining

Precision lapper – metal machining

Precision lathe operator – metal machining

Printing-roller finisher

Printing-roller grinder

Printing-roller polisher

Production borer – metal machining

Production boring machine operator – metal machining

Production broacher – metal machining

Production broaching machine operator – metal machining

Production broaching machine tender – metal machining

Production gear cutter

Production grinder – metal machining

Production grinder operator – metal machining

Production lapping machine operator

Production lapping machine tender

Production lathe operator – metal machining

Production machine tool operator

Production metal grinder operator

Production milling machine operator – metal machining

Production multiple-spindle screw machine set-up operator

Production surface-grinder operator

Profile milling machine operator – metal machining

Profile milling machine set-up operator

Profiling machine operator – metal machining

Profiling machine set-up operator

Radial drill operator – metal machining

Radial drill press operator – metal machining

Radial drill press set-up operator – metal machining

Radial drill set-up operator – metal machining

Rotary-head milling machine set-up operator

Router operator – metal machining

Screw machine operator – metal machining

Screw machine set-up operator

Screw threader

Set-up operator – metal machining

Shaper set-up operator

Single-spindle drill press set-up operator – metal machining

Small arms barrel threader

Spiral bevel-gear cutting machine set-up operator

Spiral bevel-gear generator set-up operator

Spiral gear-generator operator

Straight bevel-gear cutting machine set-up operator

Straight bevel-gear generator set-up operator

Surface grinder set-up operator

Thread cutter – metal machining

Thread grinder set-up operator

Threader – metal machining

Thread-grinder operator

Threading machine operator

Thread-milling machine set-up operator

Tool grinder – metal machining

Tool grinder set-up operator

Tool lapper – metal machining

Tool-dresser operator

Transfer machine tender – metal machining

Turret lathe operator – metal machining

Turret lathe set-up operator

Universal grinder set-up operator

Vertical boring machine operator

Vertical boring mill operator

Vertical boring mill set-up operator – metal machining

Vertical machining centre operator

Vertical milling machine set-up operator – metal machining

Vertical-spindle milling machine set-up operator – metal machining

Main duties

This group performs some or all of the following duties:

Study job orders and interpret blueprints to determine machining operations to be performed

Set up and operate machine tools to perform repetitive machining operations, such as turning, milling, drilling, boring, planing, honing, broaching, grinding or other machining operations

Verify dimensions of parts machined using micrometers, callipers and other precision measuring instruments

Prepare etching solution and immerse metal parts or workpiece in etching solution to remove unwanted portions

Perform routine maintenance on equipment and machinery

May enter codes specifying speed, feed and cut of the toolpath for computer numerical controlled (CNC) machine tools.

Employment requirements

Some secondary school education is required.

College or other courses in machining may be required.

Several months of on-the-job training are provided.

Senior positions in this unit group, such as set-up operator, require experience as a machine operator.

Additional information

Experienced machining tool operators may become machinists or tool and die makers through apprenticeship training.

Exclusions

CAD/CAM and CNC programmers (in 2233 Industrial engineering and manufacturing technologists and technicians)

Contractors and supervisors, machining, metal forming, shaping and erecting trades and related occupations (7201)

Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors (7231)

Tool and die makers (7232)