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The machine tools have undergone a dramatic shift in the last 20 years. Manual machines have given way to computer numerically controlled machines (CNCs). For clarity's sake a categorization based on the historical groupings will be offered. Each of these groupings has been altered by the advent of
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machines which are common today, but still require such professionals to set up and calibrate the machines. Other more specialised machinists produce custom-made parts for prototyping, repair, or research. A machinist may work on manufacturing something relatively simple like a bracket, or a shaft,
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A machinist is usually called upon when a part needs to be produced from a stock material by cutting. Such a part may be unique or may be needed in the thousands. The part could be anything made from metal or plastic, though machined parts are usually ones that require high precision and cannot be
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Additive machining means 3D printing to create industrial components, prototypes, tooling, and end-use production parts. Additive machining comes into its own in the manufacturing of very small intricate parts, which could not be produced through any other manufacturing process. There are several
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Large commercial organizations often staff machinists on site in a maintenance mode to ensure continuing operations of the production machinery. Such machinists can often make replacement parts the same day. Because of this, the labor cost for this role are significantly lower than costs involved
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use blueprints and engineering drawings to produce detailed specifications of the part, especially its geometry (shape), then decide on a strategy to make it. Machine tools are then configured by the machinist and production commences. The machinist works with the quality department to ensure the
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operations. CNC (computer numerical control) is the modern manufacturing method in which machinist use a form of programming called G-code to make components for a wide variety of industries. CNC programming is a highly skilled position. Programmers are usually machinist as well. A CNC programmer
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The machine trade is an extremely broad field with a wide variety of workplaces, job duties, and types of work. Most machinists work in machine shops and factories where they operate machinery that produce precision component parts. In general, the occupation is exacting, and requires extensive
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A competent machinist should have a well-developed mechanical aptitude, the ability to correctly use precision measuring instruments, interpret blueprints, and a working knowledge of the proper parameters required for successfully utilizing the various tools commonly used in
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creates programs using software called CAM (computer aided manufacturing). The programmer must be proficient in math, speeds and feeds, machine tooling, work holding, and the different ways various materials react to stress and heat in the machining process.
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CNC machines are becoming the standard due to their speed, precision, flexibility, repeatability, and reduced downtime while changing jobs. Production runs consisting of large numbers of parts are more cost effective and commonly referred to as
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While the foregoing were primarily the materials that a machinist would be cutting, the cutters that the machinist uses must be harder and tougher than the materials to be cut. The materials in the cutters a machinist uses are most commonly
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The hand tools are the usual complement of tools found in a complete auto mechanic's set except that auto specialty tools would be absent and some outsized tools would likely be present, such as 1 1/2" (38 mm) open end
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Good machinists are highly sought after and respected skilled trades persons and are generally well-paid. In utility, medical, and military use companies, experienced machinists can earn over $ 100 000 per year.
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is one who is called on to fix a problem with a part or to create a new one using metals, plastics, or rarely, wood. Depending on the company, a machinist can be any or all of the titles listed above.
412:. The term exotic metals is a general term describing out of the ordinary, rare or special purpose metals. A synonym might be space-age. A list of exotic metals might include, but is not limited to,
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300:. Producing a part will often require several steps and more than one machine tool. Each machine tool plays a specific role in cutting away excess material. When large numbers of parts are needed,
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processes in additive manufacturing which include direct metal deposition: electron beam melting, fused filament fabrication, select laser sintering, and variations of them.
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Under the machinist title are other specialty titles that refer to specific skills that may be more highly developed to meet the needs of a particular job position, such as
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248:. A fitter and turner is the tradesperson who fits, assembles, grinds and shapes metal parts and subassemblies to fabricate production machines and other equipment.
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machines are computer-driven tools that can machine a large variety of shapes, and whose use in the workflow depends on the part to be machined.
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CNCs and the CNCs meld some groups and blur the lines between others. The most common machine tools fall into five categories:
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The tools that a machinist is expected to be proficient with fall into broad categories:
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918:"10 Must-See Ideas for Cutting, Tooling, Programming, Machining, and Shop Management"
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in the trade. Conversely, small production runs are sometimes referred to as
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Machinery repairman creates helicopter part aboard an aircraft carrier
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Some titles reflect further development of machinist skills such as
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International
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
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Many women worked as machinists in the United States during
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Machine Tool Hall of Fame: The
American Precision Museum
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of these materials. Other less common materials such as
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specifications are maintained in the finished product.
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Cutting tools include various milling cutters such as
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The measuring tools come in several basic varieties:
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813:"Fitter and Turners – JobOutlook"
899:from the original on May 6, 2016
863:Fagerlund, Jaakko (2010-12-08).
778:List of metalworking occupations
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841:ESI Engineering Specialties Inc
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1274:Electrical discharge machining
1063:Numerical control (NC and CNC)
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558:tools based on screw threads,
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101:Industrial Training Institute
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1121:List of drill and tap sizes
945:The Machinists Union: IAMAW
667:Electric Discharge Machines
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1437:Magnetic switchable device
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1427:Lathe center
1314:Machine tool
1146:Grinding and
986:Metalworking
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87:Competencies
1525:Fabrication
1461:Terminology
1397:Angle plate
1324:Metal lathe
1216:Jig grinder
1126:Tap and die
1035:engineering
893:CNCCookbook
818:12 February
743:core drills
715:shell mills
656:Swiss lathe
604:Hand tools:
573:transducers
521:drill press
442:superalloys
231:Millwrights
82:Description
1586:Machinists
1575:Categories
1545:Metallurgy
1339:Pantograph
1131:Tap wrench
927:2016-02-04
903:2016-02-04
874:2016-02-04
846:2016-02-04
799:References
745:; various
711:face mills
617:, stones,
556:Micrometer
541:and plain
497:keyseating
473:tolerances
426:molybdenum
216:programmer
212:mold maker
176:tolerances
129:Millwright
114:employment
66:Vocational
55:Occupation
27:Technician
1540:Machining
1535:Jewellery
1503:Workpiece
1498:Tramp oil
1488:Tolerance
1319:Machining
1309:Jig borer
1294:Engraving
1269:Broaching
1256:Machining
1136:Threading
1101:Drill bit
1083:threading
1024:Machining
793:Machining
751:threading
566:clockwork
562:Indicator
539:parallels
505:polishing
438:Hastelloy
418:beryllium
390:manganese
362:aluminium
318:prototype
261:mill hand
224:machinist
162:machining
146:machinist
112:Fields of
38:Machinist
1550:Smithing
1289:End mill
1196:Grinding
1156:Abrasive
1116:Drilling
1091:Die head
1078:Drilling
897:Archived
772:See also
719:endmills
683:fixtures
543:calipers
489:grinding
481:drilling
458:ceramics
430:tungsten
422:chromium
414:titanium
398:plastics
378:vanadium
220:operator
1560:Welding
1530:Forming
1520:Casting
1452:Wiggler
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1412:Fixture
1374:Turning
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727:reamers
701:collets
607:wrench.
589:drawing
577:caliper
523:in 1917
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1349:Planer
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723:drills
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693:chucks
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296:or a
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428:and
386:lead
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