Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — Career Decision Dashboard

Typical tasks

• Start machines to produce sample workpieces, and observe operations to detect machine malfunctions and to verify that machine setups conform to specifications.
• Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup.
• Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications.
• Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product specifications.
• Turn handles or knobs to set pressures and depths of ram strokes and to synchronize machine operations.
• Set up, operate, or tend presses and forging machines to perform hot or cold forging by flattening, straightening, bending, cutting, piercing, or other operations to taper, shape, or form metal.
• Trim and compress finished forgings to specified tolerances.
• Install, adjust, and remove dies, synchronizing cams, forging hammers, and stop guides, using overhead cranes or other hoisting devices, and hand tools.