Extruding Machine Operators Career: Everything You Need To Know In One Min

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What they do
What is it like working as one
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Should you become one

Extruding And Drawing Machine Setters, Operators And Tenders, Metal And Plastic

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators and Tenders, Metal and Plastic set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.

Salary: $36620

Education: No degree required

Job Satisfaction: Low

Personality: The Builder

What they do

Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.
Reel extruded products into rolls of specified lengths and weights.

Typical day

On a daily basis, Extruding Machine Operators maintain an inventory of materials. They measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.

A typical day for an Extruding and Drawing Machine Setter, Operator and Tender, Metal and Plastic will also include:

Clean work areas.
Reel extruded products into rolls of specified lengths and weights.
Load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
Test physical properties of products with testing devices such as acid-bath testers, burst testers, and impact testers.
Adjust controls to draw or press metal into specified shapes and diameters.

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Extruding Machine Operators also operate shearing mechanisms to cut rods to specified lengths. They may also replace worn dies when products vary from specifications.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Extruding Machine Operators weigh and mix pelletized, granular, or powdered thermoplastic materials and coloring pigments. They might also reel extruded products into rolls of specified lengths and weights.

In addition, they load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.

To some Extruding Machine Operators, it is also their responsibility to determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.

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What is it like working as one

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Pros

Suitable for people who like practical and hands-on work.

Suitable for people who want to work in a supportive work environment.

It is easy to get into this career. Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required to get started.

Normal working hours (40 hours per week).

Cons

Not suitable for people who like to help and teach others.

One of the lowest paying jobs.

Demand for this career is declining.

How to become one

Should you become one

People who are suitable for this job tend 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.

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