Machinist
Machinist, operating a metal lathe | |
| Occupation | |
|---|---|
Occupation type | Vocational |
Activity sectors | Industrial manufacturing |
| Description | |
| Competencies | Patience, steady hand, ability to read plans, attention to detail, physically strong |
Education required | Industrial Training Institute, Apprenticeship |
Fields of employment | Industrial manufacturing |
Related jobs | Millwright |
A machinist is a tradesperson or trained professional who operates machine tools, and has the ability to set up tools such as milling machines, grinders, lathes, and drilling machines.
A competent machinist will generally have a strong mechanical aptitude, the ability to correctly use precision measuring instruments and to interpret blueprints, and a working knowledge of the proper parameters required for successfully utilizing the various tools commonly used in machining operations. CNC (computer numerical control) comprises one of the most recent advances in manufacturing, in which a machinist uses specialized software to generate programmatic instructions (most commonly G-code) which are in turn interpreted by the machine to make components for a wide variety of industries. CNC programming is a skilled position which requires knowledge of math, speeds and feeds, machine tooling, work holding, and the different ways various materials react to stress and heat in the machining process.