What Do CNC Lathe Operators Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

CNC Lathe Operators 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. They also adjust machine controls and change tool settings to keep dimensions within specified tolerances.

Other tasks include:

• Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.
• Inspect sample workpieces to verify conformance with specifications, using instruments such as gauges, micrometers, and dial indicators.
• Start lathe or turning machines and observe operations to ensure that specifications are met.
• Position, secure, and align cutting tools in toolholders on machines, using hand tools, and verify their positions with measuring instruments.
• Crank machines through cycles, stopping to adjust tool positions and machine controls to ensure specified timing, clearances, and tolerances.
• Study blueprints, layouts or charts, and job orders for information on specifications and tooling instructions, and to determine material requirements and operational sequences.

We asked CNC Lathe Operators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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35% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 32% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, CNC Lathe Operators refill, change, and monitor the level of fluids, such as oil and coolant, in machines. They replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.

A typical day for a Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator and Tender, Metal and Plastic will also include:

• Turn valve handles to direct the flow of coolant onto work areas or to coat disks with spinning compounds.
• Install holding fixtures, cams, gears, and stops to control stock and tool movement, using hand tools, power tools, and measuring instruments.
• Select cutting tools and tooling instructions, according to written specifications or knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
• Adjust machine controls and change tool settings to keep dimensions within specified tolerances.
• Lift metal stock or workpieces manually or using hoists, and position and secure them in machines, using fasteners and hand tools.

We asked some CNC Lathe Operators a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	1% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	32% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	63% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	10% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	5% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	59% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, CNC Lathe Operators also mount attachments, such as relieving or tracing attachments, to perform operations, such as duplicating contours of templates or trimming workpieces. They may also turn valve handles to direct the flow of coolant onto work areas or to coat disks with spinning compounds.

On a weekly to monthly basis, CNC Lathe Operators Refill, change, and monitor the level of fluids, such as oil and coolant, in machines. They might also Install holding fixtures, cams, gears, and stops to control stock and tool movement, using hand tools, power tools, and measuring instruments.

In addition, they Move toolholders manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to feed tools to and along workpieces.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Compute unspecified dimensions and machine settings, using knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.

To some CNC Lathe Operators, it is also their responsibility to Move controls to set cutting speeds and depths and feed rates, and to position tools in relation to workpieces.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setter, Operator and Tender, Metal and Plastic, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. They like searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/production/metal-and-plastic-machine-workers.htm

http://www.fmanet.org/

http://www.amtonline.org/

http://www.ntma.org/