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Metal Working Machine Operatives

Metal working machine operatives operate machines to cut, shape, abrade and otherwise machine metal, use hand and power tools to remove surplus metal and rough surfaces from castings, forgings or other metal parts, and clean, smooth and polish metal workpieces.

Tasks

  • Secures workpiece in drilling, boring, milling, planing, grinding, lapping, honing, electrochemical, or other shaping machines, or loads metal stock on to press
  • Sets controls, starts machine and operates controls to feed tool to workpiece or vice versa and repositions workpiece during machining as required
  • Withdraws workpiece and examines accuracy using measuring instruments
  • Operates burning, chipping and grinding equipment to remove defects from metal parts, and files, chisels, burns and saws off surplus metal
  • Smoothes rough surfaces with hand tools, abrasive belts and wheels, compressed air, jets of vapour, or blasting with shot, grit, sand or other abrasive material
  • Selects and secures polishing head to machine tool, prepares head with emery, grease or other substance, sets speed and angle of polishing head, and operates controls to feed polishing head to workpiece or vice versa.

Entry Requirements

There are no formal academic entry requirements. Training is typically received on-the-job. NVQs/SVQs in Engineering Machining are available.

What could I earn?

Salaries for this occupation tend to start at £24,000 per annum and can progress up to £28,000 per annum.

Is it in growth or decline?

There are currently 4,341 employed Metal Working Machine Operatives in the region.