What Do Welding and Brazing Machine Operators Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Welding and Brazing Machine Operators set up, operate, or tend welding, soldering, or brazing machines or robots that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products, components, or assemblies. Includes workers who operate laser cutters or laser-beam machines. They also inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.

Other tasks include:

• Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
• Load or feed workpieces into welding machines to join or bond components.
• Observe meters, gauges, or machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications.
• Assemble, align, and clamp workpieces into holding fixtures to bond, heat-treat, or solder fabricated metal components.
• Set up, operate, or tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies.
• Lay out, fit, or connect parts to be bonded, calculating production measurements, as necessary.

We asked Welding and Brazing Machine Operators how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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63% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 26% 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, Welding and Brazing Machine Operators select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records. They set up, operate, or tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies.

A typical day for a Welding, Soldering and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator and Tender will also include:

• Assemble, align, and clamp workpieces into holding fixtures to bond, heat-treat, or solder fabricated metal components.
• Set dials and timing controls to regulate electrical current, gas flow pressure, heating or cooling cycles, or shut-off.
• Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
• Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.
• Lay out, fit, or connect parts to be bonded, calculating production measurements, as necessary.

We asked some Welding and Brazing Machine 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?	17% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	16% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	52% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	0% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	6% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	24% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Welding and Brazing Machine Operators also give directions to other workers regarding machine set-up and use. They may also devise or build fixtures or jigs used to hold parts in place during welding, brazing, or soldering.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Welding and Brazing Machine Operators Dress electrodes, using tip dressers, files, emery cloths, or dressing wheels. They might also Remove completed workpieces or parts from machinery, using hand tools.

In addition, they Add chemicals or materials to workpieces or machines to facilitate bonding or to cool workpieces.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Conduct trial runs before welding, soldering, or brazing, and make necessary adjustments to equipment.

To some Welding and Brazing Machine Operators, it is also their responsibility to Immerse completed workpieces into water or acid baths to cool and clean components.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Welding, Soldering and Brazing Machine Setter, Operator and Tender, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per 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 following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

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/