Extruding / Drawing Machine Setter / Operator / Tender (Metal/Plastic)

Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Equipment Technician (Equipment Tech); Extruder Operator; Extrusion Line Operator; Extrusion Operator; Extrusion Press Operator; Machine Operator; Metal Inspector; Setup Operator; Wire Mill Operator; Wire Mill Rover

Tasks

• Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
• Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.
• Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
• Troubleshoot, maintain, and make minor repairs to equipment.
• Change dies on extruding machines, according to production line changes.
• Load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
• Install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.
• Operate shearing mechanisms to cut rods to specified lengths.
• Maintain an inventory of materials.
• Clean work areas.
• Adjust controls to draw or press metal into specified shapes and diameters.
• Replace worn dies when products vary from specifications.
• Test physical properties of products with testing devices such as acid-bath testers, burst testers, and impact testers.

Knowledge

• Production and Processing
• Public Safety and Security
• Mechanical
• English Language

Skills

• Monitoring
• Speaking
• Critical Thinking

Abilities

• Control Precision
• Manual Dexterity
• Multilimb Coordination
• Reaction Time
• Rate Control
• Near Vision
• Problem Sensitivity
• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Trunk Strength
• Information Ordering
• Perceptual Speed
• Finger Dexterity
• Static Strength
• Oral Comprehension
• Oral Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Selective Attention
• Visual Color Discrimination
• Auditory Attention