Wood router operator

Description

Wood router operators work with industrial routers to cut wood into the desired shape. Routers have a routing head that moves over the wood, going up and down to regulate the depth of the incision. Contemporary industrial wood routers usually are computer controlled for extremely fine and consistent results.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to wood router operator:

wood routing machine tender
CNC wood router setter
wood router technician
wood carving machine tender
CNC wood router operator
wood router
CNC wood routing machine operative
wood carving machine technician
wood carving machine operator
CNC wood routing machine tender
wood carving machine operative
wood router specialist
CNC wood router operative
wood routing machine setter
wood carving machine setter
wood carving machine specialist
wood routing machine operative
CNC wood routing machine operator
CNC wood routing machine setter
wood routing machine operator

Minimum qualifications

A high school diploma is generally the minimum required to work as a wood router operator.

ISCO skill level

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.

Wood router operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

Wood router operator career path

Similar occupations

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

band saw operator
table saw operator
nailing machine operator
sawmill operator
wood boring machine operator

Long term prospects

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

automated assembly line operator
pulp control operator
wood production supervisor
metal production supervisor
wood assembly supervisor

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of wood router operator.

  • Sawing techniques: Various sawing techniques for using manual as well as electric saws.
  • Woodworking processes: Steps in the processing of wood for the manufacturing of wooden articles and types of machines used for these processes such as drying, shaping, assembling and surface finishing.
  • Cutting technologies: The variety of cutting technologies, such as software or mechanics, guiding cutting processes through lasering, sawing, milling etc.
  • Wood cuts: Different ways of cutting wood, across the grain or parallel with it, and radial or tangential to the core. The behaviour of cuts of wood under different circumstances and the optimal cut for a given purpose. Influence of special attributes of the wood, like knots or defects.
  • 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.
  • Types of wood: Types of wood, such as birch, pine, poplar, mahogany, maple and tulipwood.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of wood router operator.

  • 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.
  • Manipulate wood: Manipulate the properties, shape and size of wood.
  • 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.
  • Work safely with machines: Check and safely operate machines and equipment required for your work according to manuals and instructions.
  • 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.
  • Replace sawing blade on machine: Replace the old blade of a sawing machine with a new one by removing the chip brush, taking away the front blade guide, loosening the blade tension and removing the blade. Assemble and install new blade by replacing the front blade guide, installing the chip brush, replacing the blade cover and adjusting blade tension.
  • 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.
  • Adjust properties of cut: Adjust cut sizes and depths of cutting tools. Adjust heights of worktables and machine-arms.
  • Create cutting plan: Draw up plans to show how the material will be cut into functional pieces to minimise loss of material.
  • Operate wood router: Handle automated or non-automated industrial wood routers, which feature a routing head that moves over the wood, going up and down to regulate the depth of the incision.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

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

  • Woodworking tools: The various tools used to process wood, such as planers, chisels and lathes.
  • Mechanical systems: Mechanical systems, including gears, engines, hydraulic and pneumatic systems. Their functions and likely defects.
  • Manufacturing of furniture: The manufacture of all types of office, shop, kitchen or other furniture such as chairs, tables, sofas, shelves, benches and more, in various types of material such as wood, glass, metal or plastic.
  • 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.
  • First aid: The emergency treatment given to a sick or injured person in the case of circulatory and/or respiratory failure, unconsciousness, wounds, bleeding, shock or poisoning.
  • Manufacturing of sports equipment: The manufacture of products and equipment used for both outdoor and indoor sports activities, such as balls, rackets, ski’s, surfboards, fishing, hunting, skating or fitness centre equipment.
  • Types of drill bits: Qualities and applications of various types of drill bits, such as core drill bits, spotting drill bits, countersink drill bits and others.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of wood router 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.
  • Supply machine with appropriate tools: Supply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose.
  • Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
  • Carry out measurements of parts: Operate measurement instruments to measure parts of manufactured objects. Take into consideration specifications of manufacturers to perform the measuring.
  • Monitor stock level: Evaluate how much stock is used and determine what should be ordered.
  • Identify hazards in the workplace: Perform safety audits and inspections on workplaces and workplace equipment. Ensure that they meet safety regulations and identify hazards and risks.
  • Pack goods: Pack different kinds of goods such as finished manufactured products or goods in use. Pack goods by hand in boxes, bags and other types of containers.
  • Read standard blueprints: Read and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.
  • 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.
  • Provide advice to technicians: Offer help and advice to service technicians in case of machine malfunctions and other repair tasks.
  • Prepare production reports: Prepare a comprehensive and unbiased report on wood technology production and progressive development of wood based materials.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Maintain router machinery: Maintain machinery and equipment for cutting various hard materials, to ensure that it is clean and in safe, working order. Perform routine maintenance on equipment and adjust when necessary, using hand and power tools.
  • Repair router machinery: Repair broken components or systems of machinery and equipment used for the cutting various hard materials, using hand and power tools.
  • Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.

ISCO group and title

8172 – Wood processing plant operators


References
  1. Wood router operator – ESCO
Last updated on August 16, 2022

What do you want to do with this job?

You will be brought to the forum page

Requires a business account

Requires a business account