Stamping press operator

Stamping press operators set up and tend stamping presses designed to form metal workpieces in their desired shape by applying pressure through the up and down movement of a bolster plate and a die attached to a stamping ram on the metal, resulting in the die producing smaller metal parts of the workpiece fed to the press.

The following job titles also refer to stamping press operator:

stamp press operative
press shop operator
punch machine operative
die-stamping press operative
metal press tender
die-stamping press worker
metal press setter
press shop worker
stamping press worker
stamping press operative
stamping press tender
die-stamping press operator
metal press operative
metal press operator
die-stamping press setter
metal die cutter
metal press worker
punch machine hand
press shop setter
punch operator
press shop operative
die-stamping press tender
stamping press setter
stamp press operator
metal die-cutter
press shop tender
punch press setter

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as stamping press 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.

Stamping press operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

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

thread rolling machine operator
straightening machine operator
metal rolling mill operator
riveter
oxy fuel burning machine operator

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

automated assembly line operator
pulp control operator
metal production supervisor
industrial robot controller
product development engineering technician

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of stamping press operator.

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.
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.
Stamping press parts: Components of a stamping press, such as bolster plate, ram, automatic feeder and tonnage monitor, their qualities and applications.

These skills are necessary for the role of stamping press operator.

Tend stamping press: Tend an automated or semi-automated stamping press, monitor and operate it, according to regulations.
Monitor gauge: Oversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.
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.
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.
Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
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.
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.
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 stamping press 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.
Manufacturing of metal structures: The production of metal structures for construction.
Quality and cycle time optimisation: The most optimal rotation or cycle time and over-all quality of a tool or a machine’s processes.
Ferrous metal processing: Various processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.
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 steel drums and similar containers: The manufacture of pails, cans, drums, buckets, boxes, through metalworking processes.
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.
Manufacturing of doors from metal: The manufacture of metal doors, windows and their frames, shutters and gates, and the metal room partitions for floor attachment.
Coining: The process of shaping metal parts with a high relief or very fine features, such as coins, medals, badges or buttons, by pressing the surface of the metal between two dies.
Mechanics: Theoretical and practical applications of the science studying the action of displacements and forces on physical bodies to the development of machinery and mechanical devices.
Types of stamping press: Types of stamping press with similar applications but different propulsion, such as the direct drive press, single gear reduction press and double gear reduction press.
Manufacturing of steam generators: The manufacture of steam or other vapour generators, the manufacture of auxiliary plant for use with steam generators: condensers, economisers, superheaters, steam collectors and accumulators. The manufacture of nuclear reactors, parts for marine or power boilers. Also the production of pipe system construction comprising further processing of tubes generally to make pressure pipes or pipe systems together with the associated design and construction work.

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

Work ergonomically: Apply ergonomy principles in the organisation of the workplace while manually handling equipment and materials.
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.
Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
Perform product testing: Test processed workpieces or products for basic faults.
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.
Apply cross-reference tools for product identification: Employ cross-reference tools and programmes, listing file names and line numbers, to identify part numbers, descriptions, and the vendor as source of origin.
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.
Mark processed workpiece: Inspect and mark parts of the workpiece to indicate how they will fit into the finished product.
Check quality of raw materials: Check the quality of basic materials used for the production of semi-finished and finished goods by assessing some of its characteristics and, if needed, select samples to be analysed.
Program a cnc controller: Set up the desired product design in the CNC controller of the CNC machine for product manufacturing.
Operate lifting equipment: Transport heavy objects using lifting equipment such as cranes, forklifts etc.
Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
Interpret geometric dimensions and tolerances: Understand and assess the models and symbolic language of the GD&T system indicating engineering tolerances.
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.

7223 – Metal working machine tool setters and operators

References

1. Stamping press operator – ESCO