Machinists

People in this career often know a lot about:

• Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

People in this career often have talent in:

• Arm-Hand Steadiness - The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• Manual Dexterity - The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
• Finger Dexterity - The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
• Control Precision - The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

People in this career often do these activities:

• Calculate dimensions of workpieces, products, or equipment.
• Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
• Operate grinding equipment.
• Operate cutting equipment.
• Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.

• Program equipment to perform production tasks.
• Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
• Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
• Maintain production or processing equipment.
• Assemble machine tools, parts, or fixtures.
• Determine metal or plastic production methods.
• Prepare fabrics or materials for processing or production.
• Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
• Exchange information with colleagues.
• Conduct test runs of production equipment.
• Advise others on ways to improve processes or products.
• Install mechanical components in production equipment.
• Diagnose equipment malfunctions.
• Design tools, fixtures, or other devices for production equipment.
• Dispose of trash or waste materials.
• Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.
• Replace worn equipment components.
• Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators.
• Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
• Sort recyclable materials.
• Test materials, solutions, or samples.
• Operate welding equipment.
• Monitor lubrication of equipment or workpieces.
• Create diagrams or blueprints for workpieces or products.
• Plan production or operational procedures or sequences.
• Assemble electromechanical or hydraulic systems.

• Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

• Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

• Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

• Tool and Die Makers

• Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators

• Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

• Cabinetmakers and Bench Carpenters

• Glass Blowers, Molders, Benders, and Finishers

• Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic