National
| Median wages (2008) |
$11.89 hourly, $24,740 annual |
| Employment (2006) |
100,000 employees |
| Projected growth (2006-2016) |
Slower than average (3% to 6%)
|
| Projected need (2006-2016) |
31,000 additional employees |
51-7042.00 - Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
Set up, operate, or tend woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood nailing machines.
Sample of reported job titles:
Machine Operator, Sander Operator, Computer Numerical Control Operator (CNC Operator), Machinist, Knot Saw Operator, Lathe Operator, Molder Operator, Boring Machine Operator, Cabinet Maker, Custom Shop Worker
Tasks
- Start machines, adjust controls, and make trial cuts to ensure that machinery is operating properly.
- Determine product specifications and materials, work methods, and machine setup requirements, according to blueprints, oral or written instructions, drawings, or work orders.
- Feed stock through feed mechanisms or conveyors into planing, shaping, boring, mortising, or sanding machines to produce desired components.
- Adjust machine tables or cutting devices and set controls on machines to produce specified cuts or operations.
- Monitor operation of machines, and make adjustments to correct problems and ensure conformance to specifications.
- Set up, program, operate, or tend computerized or manual woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, and wood-nailing machines.
- Select knives, saws, blades, cutter heads, cams, bits, or belts, according to workpiece, machine functions, and product specifications.
- Examine finished workpieces for smoothness, shape, angle, depth-of-cut, and conformity to specifications, and verify dimensions, visually and using hands, rules, calipers, templates, or gauges.
- Install and adjust blades, cutterheads, boring-bits, or sanding-belts, using hand tools and rules.
- Inspect and mark completed workpieces and stack them on pallets, in boxes, or on conveyors so that they can be moved to the next workstation.
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Tools & Technology
Tools used in this occupation:
| Boring machines — Computerized numerical control CNC boring machines; Line boring machines; Screw pocket machines |
| Calipers — Dial calipers; Digital calipers; Vernier calipers |
| Cutting machines — Double end tenoners; Tenoners |
| Lathes — Hand lathes; Turning lathes |
| Sanding machines — Edge sanders; Wide belt sanders |
Technology used in this occupation:
| Industrial control software — Computerized numerical control CNC software |
| Inventory management software — Inventory control software |
| Spreadsheet software — Microsoft Excel |
| Time accounting software — Timekeeping software |
| Word processing software — Microsoft Word |
| 51-4011.00 |
Computer-Controlled Machine Tool Operators, Metal and Plastic 
|
| 51-4022.00 |
Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4031.00 |
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
|
| 51-4032.00 |
Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
|
| 51-4033.00 |
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4062.00 |
Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic |
| 51-4081.00 |
Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
|
| 51-5022.00 |
Prepress Technicians and Workers |
| 51-5023.00 |
Printing Machine Operators |
| 51-7041.00 |
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
|
