Filament winding operator

Filament winding operators tend, control and maintain machines that coat filament, usually fibreglass or carbon, in resin and wind them around a rotation mould to produce pipes, containers, tubes and other hollow cylindrical products.

The following job titles also refer to filament winding operator:

filament winder operator
fiberglass tank winding operator
fiberglass pipe winding operator
fiberglass container winding operator
fibreglass pipe winding operator
filament winding machine operative
GRP pipe winding operator
filament winder operative
winding machine operative
filament winding machine tender
fibreglass container winding operator
filament winding machine operator
fibreglass tank winding operator
FRP winding machine operator

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as a filament winding operator.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Filament winding operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to filament winding operator.

pultrusion machine operator
vacuum forming machine operator
fibre machine tender
fibreglass machine operator
mineral crushing operator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of filament winding operator. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of filament winding operator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor
automated assembly line operator
pulp control operator
air separation plant operator
gas station operator

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of filament winding operator.

• Types of fibre for polymer reinforcement: Fibres used to reinforce composite materials, such as glass fibre, carbon fibre and plastic fibre. Their usage cases, costs, advantages and disadvantages, and production techniques associated with their use.
• Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
• Coating substances: Have knowledge of various types of coating, providing a workpiece with one or more finishing layers of resins, sugars, powders, inactive and insoluble fillers, waxes, gums, plasticisers, colouring materials, lacquer, and others.

These skills are necessary for the role of filament winding operator.

• Optimise production processes parameters: Optimise and maintain the parameters of the production process such as flow, temperature or pressure.
• Monitor gauge: Oversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Remove filament composite workpiece from mandrel: After the filament has been wound onto the mandrel mould and cured enough, remove the mandrel if called for.
• Use personal protection equipment: Make use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.
• Monitor processing environment conditions: Verify that the overall conditions of the room where the process will take place, such as temperature or air humidity, meet the requirements, and adjust if necessary.
• Consult technical resources: Read and interpret technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.
• Cure composite workpiece: Take the necessary steps to let a composite workpiece cure. Switch on heating components like infrared lamps or heated moulds, or introduce the workpiece into a curing oven.
• Set up the controller of a machine: Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.
• Control temperature: Measure and adjust temperature of a given space or object.
• Prepare resin bath: Fill a reservoir with resin to be used in coating a variety of materials such as filament or glass wool. Make sure the quantity is correct and the resin is of the correct composition and temperature.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of filament winding operator. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Composite materials: The properties of different materials developed in a laboratory, their usage per type of products, and how to create them.
• Plastic resins: The process of heating hydrocarbons, forming and combining polymers to create plastic resins which are used to make different kinds of products.
• Synthetic resins: The types and characteristics of synthetic resins which are viscous liquids used for permanently hardening.
• Manufacturing of daily use goods: The manufacturing of items used in the daily life, personal use or daily practice. These products include protective safety equipment, drawing equipment, stamps, umbrellas, cigarette lighters, baskets, candles, and many other miscellaneous articles.
• Polymerisation: Polymerisation is a chemical process which has as output the creation of polymers or polymeric compounds by combining smaller molecules called monomers.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of filament winding operator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
• Saw off filament mandrel pins: After the filament workpiece has been removed from the winding machine, saw off the pins that keep the workpiece in place on the mandrel in order to facilitate removal of the workpiece.
• Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
• Adjust filament tension: Adjust the tension of the filament to be wound. Make sure the filament is not so lax as to produce unevenness in the workpiece, or so tight as to introduces deformations in the filament or lower the filament ratio to unacceptably low levels.
• Maintain equipment: Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
• Control production flow remotely: Control remotely the flow of production from the start-up operations to the shutdown of the equipments and systems, using the control panel.
• Manage waste: Manage or dispose of significant amounts of waste materials or hazardous materials. Ensure required licenses and permits are in place and reasonable management practices, industry standards, or commonly accepted farming practices followed.
• Clean equipment: Perform cleaning routines after equipment use.
• Report defective manufacturing materials: Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Measure materials: Measure the raw materials prior to their loading in the mixer or in machines, ensuring they conform with the specifications.
• Cut filament: After the filament workpiece has been wound, cut the filament to release the workpiece.

8142 – Plastic products machine operators

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References

1. Filament winding operator – ESCO