About This Career

Sets up, operates, or tends drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Production pathway.

A person in this career:

• Verifies conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges.
• Studies machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements.
• Moves machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds.
• Verifies that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindles.
• Establishes zero reference points on workpieces, such as at the intersections of two edges or over hole locations.
• Changes worn cutting tools, using wrenches.
• Selects and sets cutting speeds, feed rates, depths of cuts, and cutting tools, according to machining instructions or knowledge of metal properties.
• Positions and secures workpieces on tables, using bolts, jigs, clamps, shims, or other holding devices.
• Observes drilling or boring machine operations to detect any problems.
• Lifts workpieces onto work tables either manually or with hoists or directs crane operators to lift and position workpieces.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

• You would often handle loads up to 20 lbs., sometimes up to 50 lbs. You might do a lot of lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling.
• Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
• Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
• Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
• Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
• Work in this occupation requires being inside most of the time
• Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
• Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

• Seeing clearly at a distance
• Seeing clearly up close

Work Hours and Travel

• Overtime work
• Weekend work