Careers > Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

$46.87K Median Salary 1.2K Job Openings (Annual Projection) -15.3% Job Growth

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About This Career

Set up, operate, or tend milling or planing machines to mill, plane, shape, groove, or profile metal or plastic work pieces.

Reported Job Titles

CNC Licensed Mill Operator (Computer Numerical Control Licensed Mill Operator), CNC Mill Operator (Computer Numerical Control Mill Operator), CNC Mill Operator (Computerized Numerical Control Mill Operator), CNC Mill Set Up Operator (Computerized Numerical Control Mill Set Up Operator), Machine Operator, Machine Set Up Operator, Mill Operator, Miller, Milling Operator, Setup Man

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Skills You'll Need

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Abilities

Manual Dexterity

Near Vision

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Control Precision

Multilimb Coordination

Problem Sensitivity

Reaction Time

Deductive Reasoning

Finger Dexterity

Information Ordering

Oral Comprehension

Selective Attention

Trunk Strength

Visualization

Inductive Reasoning

Oral Expression

Speech Recognition

Written Comprehension

Knowledge

Mechanical

Production and Processing

English Language

Mathematics

Computers and Electronics

Education and Training

Skills

Operations Monitoring

Operation and Control

Critical Thinking

Monitoring

Active Listening

Technology Skills

Computer aided design CAD software

Presentation software

Object or component oriented development software

Spreadsheet software

Computer aided manufacturing CAM software

Enterprise application integration software

Office suite software

Word processing software

Computer aided design CAD and computer aided manufacturing CAM system

Analytical or scientific software

Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software

Industrial control software

Tools

Tool template sets

Calipers

Dial indicator or dial gauge

Micrometers

Horizontal boring machine

Universal milling machine

Planer style milling machine

Track cranes

Unit cooler

Bench grinder

Screwdrivers

Drill press or radial drill

Grease guns

Radius gauge

Hoists

Comparators

Safety glasses

Vertical machining center

Forklifts

Compasses

Allen wrench

Rulers

Height gauges

Pin gauge

Milling vise

Turret lathe

Metal polishing machine

Grinders

Deburring tool

Spanner wrenches

Setting jig

Bench scales

Sawing and cut-off machine

Adjustable wrenches

Chucks

Wire brushes

Hole gauge

Collets

Hand lapper

Turret milling machine

Tool holders

Tinners snips

Coordinate measuring machines CMM

End mills

Desktop computers

Abilities

Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Multilimb Coordination: The ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Information Ordering: The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Trunk Strength: The ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without "giving out" or fatiguing.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Knowledge

Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
English Language: Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Computers and Electronics: Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
Education and Training: Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Skills

Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Technology Skills

Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD; Autodesk Revit
Presentation software: Microsoft PowerPoint
Object or component oriented development software: Oracle Java
Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Computer aided manufacturing CAM software: 1CadCam Unigraphics; Geometric CAMWorks; Siemens NX
Enterprise application integration software: Electronic Data Interchange EDI systems
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Computer aided design CAD and computer aided manufacturing CAM system: Computer aided design and computer aided manufacturing CAD/CAM engraving software
Analytical or scientific software: Statistical analysis software; TapRooT
Materials requirements planning logistics and supply chain software: Production scheduling software
Industrial control software: Industrial Scientific iNET; QuestSuite Professional

Tools

Tool template sets: Center finders; Electronic edge finders; Mechanical edge finders; Tool probes
Calipers: Dial calipers; Digital calipers; Vernier calipers
Dial indicator or dial gauge: Dial indicators
Micrometers:
Horizontal boring machine: Boring bars; Horizontal boring mills
Universal milling machine: Horizontal milling machines
Planer style milling machine: Metal planers
Track cranes: Overhead cranes
Unit cooler: Coolant chillers
Bench grinder: Bench grinders
Screwdrivers: Mini screwdriver sets
Drill press or radial drill: Drill presses; Punch presses; Radial drills
Grease guns:
Radius gauge: Diameter gauges; Digital radius gauges
Hoists: Hoisting equipment
Comparators: Optical comparators
Safety glasses: Protective safety glasses
Vertical machining center: Vertical machining centers
Forklifts:
Compasses:
Allen wrench: Allen wrench sets
Rulers: Precision rulers; Steel rules
Height gauges:
Pin gauge: Pin gauges
Milling vise: Precision milling vises
Turret lathe: Turret lathes
Metal polishing machine: Polishing machines
Grinders: Lapping wheels
Deburring tool: Deburring tools
Spanner wrenches:
Setting jig: Setting jigs
Bench scales: Digital bench scales
Sawing and cut-off machine: Metal cutters
Adjustable wrenches: Adjustable hand wrenches
Chucks: Angled air chucks
Wire brushes: Wire cleaning brushes
Hole gauge: Small hole gauges
Collets: Collet chucks
Hand lapper: Lapping tools
Turret milling machine: Vertical milling machines
Tool holders: Hexagon bit adaptors
Tinners snips: Compound snips; Snips; Straight snips; Tin snips
Coordinate measuring machines CMM: Verisurf 3Dgage; Verisurf CMM Master
End mills:
Desktop computers: