Stone planer

Stone planers operate and maintain planing machines that are used for stone blocks and slabs finishing. They manipulate the stone and ensure that the required parameters are according to specifications.

Stone planers typically work in the oil and gas industry. They typically work a two-week on/two-week off schedule, which means they work for 12 hours a day, 7 days a week while they are on duty. When they are off duty, they have two weeks to rest and relax before their next shift.

Stone planers must be able to work in a variety of weather conditions and be able to tolerate long periods of time away from family and friends.

The following job titles also refer to stone planer:

planer of stones
stone planing machine operator
stone slab planer
stone planing machine setter
stone planing machine tender
stone planing machine operative

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as a stone planer. Some employers may prefer an associate’s or bachelor’s degree in a related field. On-the-job training is usually provided by the employers.

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.

Stone planer is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to stone planer.

stone splitter
stone driller
stone polisher
mineral crushing operator
nailing machine operator

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

automated assembly line operator
pulp control operator
plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor
industrial robot controller
desalination technician

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of stone planer.

• Types of stone for working: Different types of stone that stonemasons and other stone workers use to process into building materials. The mechanical properties of stone, such as their weight, tensile strength, durability. Economical properties such as cost, transport and sourcing.
• 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.
• Types of sawing blades: Types of cutting blades used in the sawing process, such as band saw blades, crosscut blades, plytooth blades and others, made from tool steel, carbide, diamond or other materials.

These skills are necessary for the role of stone planer.

• Supply machine with appropriate tools: Supply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose. Monitor the stock and replenish when needed.
• Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
• Use traditional stone splitting techniques: Drill holes in a large stone and insert the plugs and feathers. Strike the plugs several times until a crack appears.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Regulate cutting speed: Regulate the speed and depth of stone cutting by pulling the levers and turning the wheels.
• Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
• Prepare stone for smoothing: Prepare the stone for the smoothing process by wetting it with the hose.
• Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
• Inspect stone surface: Inspect the surface of the stone to identify any uneven areas.
• Tend planing machine: Tend and monitor the planing machine used to shape and smooth the stone blocks and slabs according to specifications.
• 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.
• Measure flatness of a surface: Measure the evenness of a workpiece’s surface after it has been processed by checking for deviations from the desired perpendicular state.
• Maneuver stone blocks: Place blocks of stone in the correct position of the machine bed using electric hoist, wooden blocks and wedges.
• Mark stone workpieces: Mark planes, lines and points onto a stone workpiece to show where material will be removed.
• Measure materials: Measure the raw materials prior to their loading in the mixer or in machines, ensuring they conform with the specifications.

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

• Mechanical tools: Understand machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
• 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.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of stone planer. 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.
• Lubricate engines: Apply motor oil to engines to lubricate internal combustion engines in order to reduce wear, to clean and to cool the engine.
• 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.
• Maintain equipment: Regularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.
• 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.
• Sharpen edged tools: Identify dull edges to sharp tools, or any defect in the edge. Use appropriate equipment to safely and effectively sharpen the tool. Maintain and protect sharpened tools. Report irreparable faults to the appropriate person.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Polish stone by hand: Polish by hand the stone parts which cannot be polished by a machine, rubbing it with abrasive blocks.
• Operate grinding hand tools: Operate a variety of hand tools designed for grinding production materials, such as angle grinders, die grinders, grindstones, bench grinders, and others.
• Polish stone surfaces: Polish stone using polishing tools and machines in order to obtained a smooth and lustrous product.
• Use stonemason’s chisel: Use a stonemason’s chisel with a mallet to chisel away stone and create a straight edge on the workpiece.

8112 – Mineral and stone processing plant operators

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References

1. ESCO
2. Drill Operator Job Description: Salary, Duties, & More – ClimbtheLadder