Metalworking and Forging Machine Operators

Nature of work

Light metalworking machine operators use metalworking machines that shape and form sheet or other light metal into parts or products. They work for sheet metal products manufacturing companies, sheet metal shops and other light metal products manufacturing companies.

Heavy metalworking machine operators use metalworking machines that shape and form steel or other heavy metal into parts or products. Forging machine operators use forging machines to form and shape metal into various shapes and sizes and impart desired strength, hardness or other characteristics. They work for structural steel fabrication, boiler and platework manufacturing companies, heavy machinery manufacturing companies and in the shipbuilding industry. Forging machine operators work in the metal products, machinery and transportation equipment manufacturing industries.

Job duties

Metalworking machine operators:

• Read specifications or follow spoken instructions.
• Lay out, set up and use one or more light or heavy metalworking machines.
• Use machines or equipment that weld, solder, bolt, screw or rivet metal parts together.
• Check products for correct shapes, dimensions and other specifications.
• Investigate problems and fix or make minor repairs.
• May select and transport material to work area manually or using crane or hoist.
• May document work completed.
• May build staging or scaffolding as required for heavy metalworking jobs.
• May clean or lubricate equipment and replace parts as required.

Forging machine operators:

• Use gas or oil furnaces to heat metal to proper temperature before forging.
• Place metal pieces in furnace using hand tongs or overhead cranes and remove from furnace when colour of metal indicates proper forging temperature, or load and unload furnace with automatic conveyor.
• Position heated or cold metal pieces, on die of press or other forging machinery.
• Use presses or other forging machines to perform hot or cold forging to shape or form metal.
• Position and adjust dies on anvil of forging machinery using overhead cranes or other hoisting devices and hand tools.

Sample job titles

• bending press operator
• cold press operator
• disk flange operator
• drop hammer operator
• electric arc cutter
• forging press operator
• metalworking machine operator
• power brake operator
• power press operator
• punch press setter
• roll operator
• saw operator
• shear setter
• sheet metal roll operator

Skills

• You should be responsible, alert, and in good physical health. Coordination, agility, and a mechanical ability are important. You must be accurate and pay attention to detail. You must also be able to take direction and carry out instructions given by a supervisor.

Job requirements

• High school may be necessary.
• On-the-job training is provided.
• Experience as a labourer or helper in the same company may be required.

Other considerations

• Shiftwork is common in these jobs. There is little or no movement between operators of light and heavy metalworking machines.
• Movement to structural metal fabricator or supervisory positions is possible with experience for metalworking machine operators.
• Movement to blacksmith, die setting, or supervisory positions is possible with experience for forging machine operators.

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