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Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, & Tenders, Metal & Plastic

Also called: Heat Treat Operator, Heat Treater, Furnace Operator, Batch Heat Treat Operator

What they do:
Set up, operate, or tend heating equipment, such as heat-treating furnaces, flame-hardening machines, induction machines, soaking pits, or vacuum equipment to temper, harden, anneal, or heat-treat metal or plastic objects.
On the job, you would:
  • Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated.
  • Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times.
  • Set up and operate or tend machines, such as furnaces, baths, flame-hardening machines, and electronic induction machines, that harden, anneal, and heat-treat metal.

Knowledge

Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
  • manufacture and distribution of products
Engineering and Technology
  • computers and electronics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Hand and Finger Use
  • keep your arm or hand steady
  • hold or move items with your hands
Controlled Movement
  • use your arms and/or legs together while sitting, standing, or lying down
  • change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving
Endurance
  • exercise for a long time without getting out of breath
Attention
  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Dependability
  • Attention to Detail
  • Self Control
  • Cooperation
  • Independence
  • Concern for Others

Technology

Examples of the technology used in this career will be available soon.

Education

Education: (rated 2 of 5)
high school diploma or
some college
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Registered Apprenticeship Eligible for the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program

Job Outlook

Below Average Outlook
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
$33,590
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about heat treating equipment setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.