Machinists and Machining and Tooling Inspectors

Nature of work

Machinists set up and operate a variety of machine tools to cut or grind metal, plastic or other materials to make or modify parts or products with precise dimensions. Machining and tooling inspectors inspect machined parts and tooling in order to maintain quality control standards. They are employed by machinery, equipment, motor vehicle, automotive parts, aircraft and other metal products manufacturing companies and by machine shops.

Job duties

Machinists perform some or all of the following duties:

• Read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, charts and tables or study sample parts to determine machining operation to be performed, and plan best sequence of operations.
• Compute dimensions and tolerances and measure and lay out work pieces.
• Set up, operate and maintain a variety of machine tools including computer numerically controlled (CNC) tools to perform precision, non-repetitive machining operations such as sawing, turning, milling, boring, planing, drilling, precision grinding and other operations.
• Fit and assemble machined metal parts and subassemblies using hand and power tools.
• Verify dimensions of products for accuracy and conformance to specifications using precision measuring instruments.
• May set up and program machine tools for use by machining tool operators.

Machining and tooling inspectors perform some or all of the following duties:

• Verify dimensions of machined parts or tooling using micrometers, verniers, calipers, height gauges, optical comparators, coordinate measuring machines (CMM) or other specialized measuring instruments.
• Maintain, repair and calibrate precision measuring instruments such as dial indicators, fixed gauges, height gauges and other measuring devices.
• Report deviations from specifications and tolerances to supervisor.
• Complete and maintain inspection reports.

Sample job titles

• computer numerical control (CNC) machinist
• machine shop inspector
• machining and tooling inspector
• machinist
• machinist apprentice
• maintenance machinist
• tool and die inspector
• tooling inspector

Skills

For these jobs, you should have an interest in machines, precision techniques, and processes. Good hand-eye coordination and agility are needed. You should be comfortable working with tools and able to read mechanical drawings. You must have the ability to work systematically, think analytically, and perform basic mathematical calculations. Employees in automated shops must be comfortable using computer equipment.

Job requirements

• Completion of high school is usually required.
• Completion of a four-year apprenticeship program or a combination of over four years of work experience in the trade and some college or industry courses in machining is usually required to be eligible for trade certification.
• Trade certification for machinists is available, but voluntary, in Nova Scotia.
• Red Seal Endorsement (RSE) is available to qualified machinists upon successful completion of the interprovincial Red Seal examination.

Other considerations

To maintain employment, workers will have to keep abreast of changing technology. In particular, the use of sophisticated computer-controlled equipment has transformed the work of machinists and will continue to do so. The wage rate for apprentices is usually a percentage of the journeyperson rate, increasing upon completion of each stage of the apprenticeship program. Familiarity with exotic and composite materials may be required for machinists in aviation and other advanced manufacturing sectors. Several years of experience as a machinist, tool and die maker or machining tool operator may be required for machining and tooling inspectors. Progression to supervisory positions is possible with experience.

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