Screw machine operator

Screw machine operators set up and tend mechanical screw machines designed to manufacture (threaded) screws out of processed metal workpieces, specifically small- to medium-sized ones that have been turned by a lathe and turn machine.

The following job titles also refer to screw machine operator:

screw machine tuning operator
screw machine turner
turret lathe turner
multiple spindle lathe turner
automatic lathe machine operator

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as screw machine operator. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

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.

Screw machine operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

riveter
spring maker
wire weaving machine operator
thread rolling machine operator
metal nibbling operator

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

automated assembly line operator
pulp control operator
metal production supervisor
machine operator supervisor
industrial robot controller

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of screw machine operator.

Quality and cycle time optimisation: The most optimal rotation or cycle time and over-all quality of a tool or a machine’s processes.
Screw manufacturing processes: The various manufacturing processes performed to produce metal screws, such as cold heading, thread rolling, thread cutting, and others.
Screw types: The various types of screws that can be manufactured, such as a cap screw, setscrew with hollow head, machine screw with oval head, machine screw with Philips head, flat-head wood screw, lag screw, self-tapping screw, and others.
Types of metal: Qualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.
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.
Screw machine parts: The various parts of a machine designed to manufacture screws, such as the spindle, spindle drive motor, spindle speed change gear, lead cam, front cross slide cam, turret, turret feed dog carrier, and others.

These skills are necessary for the role of screw machine operator.

Supply machine with appropriate tools: Supply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose.
Remove inadequate workpieces: Evaluate which deficient processed workpieces do not meet the set-up standard and should be removed and sort the waste according to regulations.
Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
Remove processed workpiece: Remove individual workpieces after processing, from the manufacturing machine or the machine tool. In case of a conveyor belt this involves quick, continuous movement.
Monitor moving workpiece in a machine: Monitor the processing of a workpiece in motion, such as a piece of metal or wood moved linearly over a static manufacturing machine.
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.
Dispose of cutting waste material: Dispose of possibly hazardous waste material created in the cutting process, such as swarf, scrap and slugs, sort according to regulations, and clean up workplace.
Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
Monitor automated machines: Continuously check up on the automated machine’s set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in order to identify abnormalities.
Supply machine: Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.
Tend screw machine: Tend a metalworking machine designed to produce metal screws, by process of cold heading and thread rolling, monitor and operate it according to regulations.
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.

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

Statistical process control: Method of quality control that uses statistics to monitor processes.
Cutting technologies: The variety of cutting technologies, such as software or mechanics, guiding cutting processes through lasering, sawing, milling etc.
Ferrous metal processing: Various processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.
Metal forming technologies: The variety of technologies and techniques, such as forging, pressing, stamping, rolling and others, used for the forming processes of metal product manufacturing.
Manufacturing of metal containers: The manufacture of reservoirs, tanks and similar containers of metal, of types normally installed as fixtures for storage or manufacturing use. The manufacture of metal containers for compressed or liquefied gas.
Manufacturing of metal assembly products: The manufacture of rivets, washers and similar non-threaded products, screw machine products, screws, nuts and similar threaded products.
Dies: The qualities and applications of various kinds of dies, the different components of a die (such as the die block, punch plate, pierce punch and others) and the types of die used in specialised manufacturing processes ( such as extrusion dies, drawing dies, forming dies, cutting dies, compound dies, and others).
Manufacturing of heating equipment: The manufacture of electrical ovens and water heaters by metalworking processes.
Types of metal manufacturing processes: Metal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.
Metal smoothing technologies: The various technologies used for the smoothening, polishing and buffing of fabricated metal workpieces.

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

Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
Apply preliminary treatment to workpieces: Apply preparatory treatment, through mechanical or chemical processes, to the workpiece preceding the main operation.
Perform product testing: Test processed workpieces or products for basic faults.
Operate precision measuring equipment: Measure the size of a processed part when checking and marking it to check if it is up to standard by use of two and three dimensional precision measuring equipment such as a caliper, a micrometer, and a measuring gauge.
Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
Monitor conveyor belt: Monitor the flow of the work pieces on the conveyor belt as they are processed by the machine to ensure optimal productivity.
Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
Use cam software: Use computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) programmes to control machinery and machine tools in the creation, modification, analysis, or optimisation as part of the manufacturing processes of workpieces.
Perform machine maintenance: Perform regular maintenance, possibly including corrections and alterations, on a machine or machine tool to ensure it remains in a proper productive state.
Provide advice to technicians: Offer help and advice to service technicians in case of machine malfunctions and other repair tasks.
Consult technical resources: Read and interpret such 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.
Program a cnc controller: Set up the desired product design in the CNC controller of the CNC machine for product manufacturing.
Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
Set up automotive robot: Set up and programme an automotive robot working on machine processes and substituting or collaboratively supporting human labour, such as the six-axis automotive robot.
Replace die: Evaluate if a replacement of the die of a machine is deemed beneficial and take the necessary actions for replacing it either manually (depending on its size, by the use of a manual lifting tackle) or mechanically.

7223 – Metal working machine tool setters and operators

References

1. Screw machine operator – ESCO