Heat Treating Equipment Setter / Operator / Tender (Metal/Plastic)

Set up, operate, or tend heating equipment, such as heat-treating furnaces, flame-hardening machines, induction machines, soaking pits, or vacuum equipment to temper, harden, anneal, or heat treat metal or plastic objects.

O*NET reports this occupation under titles such as: Batch Heat Treat Operator; Burner; Coating Line Worker; Furnace Operator; Heat Treat Furnace Operator; Heat Treat Operator; Heat Treat Technician; Heat Treater; Scarf and Anneal Operator

Tasks

• Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated.
• Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times.
• Adjust controls to maintain temperatures and heating times, using thermal instruments and charts, dials and gauges of furnaces, and color of stock in furnaces to make setting determinations.
• Start conveyors and open furnace doors to load stock, or signal crane operators to uncover soaking pits and lower ingots into them.
• Set up and operate or tend machines, such as furnaces, baths, flame-hardening machines, and electronic induction machines, that harden, anneal, and heat-treat metal.
• Remove parts from furnaces after specified times, and air dry or cool parts in water, oil brine, or other baths.
• Move controls to light gas burners and to adjust gas and water flow and flame temperature.
• Instruct new workers in machine operation.

Knowledge

• Production and Processing
• Mathematics

Skills

• Active Listening
• Speaking
• Monitoring
• Critical Thinking

Abilities

• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Multilimb Coordination
• Reaction Time
• Problem Sensitivity
• Manual Dexterity
• Near Vision
• Control Precision
• Static Strength
• Trunk Strength
• Information Ordering
• Perceptual Speed
• Selective Attention
• Finger Dexterity
• Stamina
• Oral Expression
• Deductive Reasoning
• Flexibility of Closure
• Visualization
• Rate Control
• Speech Recognition
• Speech Clarity
• Oral Comprehension
• Written Comprehension
• Category Flexibility
• Response Orientation
• Extent Flexibility
• Far Vision
• Depth Perception
• Auditory Attention