505:
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464:, usually within 0.010" or 0.25 mm (more commonly expressed as ±0.005" (Plus or minus five thousandths of an inch) or ±0.13 mm), and sometimes at tolerances as low as +/-0.0001" (plus or minus one tenth of a thousandth of an inch – or 0.0025 mm) for specialty operations. A machinist deals with all facets of shaping, cutting and some aspects of forming metal, although forming is typically a separate trade. The operations most commonly performed by machinists are
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The machine tools have undergone a dramatic shift in the last 20 years. Manual machines have given way to computer numerically controlled machines (CNCs). For clarity's sake a categorization based on the historical groupings will be offered. Each of these groupings has been altered by the advent of
178:
machines which are common today, but still require such professionals to set up and calibrate the machines. Other more specialised machinists produce custom-made parts for prototyping, repair, or research. A machinist may work on manufacturing something relatively simple like a bracket, or a shaft,
280:
A machinist is usually called upon when a part needs to be produced from a stock material by cutting. Such a part may be unique or may be needed in the thousands. The part could be anything made from metal or plastic, though machined parts are usually ones that require high precision and cannot be
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Additive machining means 3D printing to create industrial components, prototypes, tooling, and end-use production parts. Additive machining comes into its own in the manufacturing of very small intricate parts, which could not be produced through any other manufacturing process. There are several
327:
Large commercial organizations often staff machinists on site in a maintenance mode to ensure continuing operations of the production machinery. Such machinists can often make replacement parts the same day. Because of this, the labor cost for this role are significantly lower than costs involved
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use blueprints and engineering drawings to produce detailed specifications of the part, especially its geometry (shape), then decide on a strategy to make it. Machine tools are then configured by the machinist and production commences. The machinist works with the quality department to ensure the
153:
operations. CNC (computer numerical control) is the modern manufacturing method in which machinist use a form of programming called G-code to make components for a wide variety of industries. CNC programming is a highly skilled position. Programmers are usually machinist as well. A CNC programmer
162:
The machine trade is an extremely broad field with a wide variety of workplaces, job duties, and types of work. Most machinists work in machine shops and factories where they operate machinery that produce precision component parts. In general, the occupation is exacting, and requires extensive
148:
A competent machinist should have a well-developed mechanical aptitude, the ability to correctly use precision measuring instruments, interpret blueprints, and a working knowledge of the proper parameters required for successfully utilizing the various tools commonly used in
154:
creates programs using software called CAM (computer aided manufacturing). The programmer must be proficient in math, speeds and feeds, machine tooling, work holding, and the different ways various materials react to stress and heat in the machining process.
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CNC machines are becoming the standard due to their speed, precision, flexibility, repeatability, and reduced downtime while changing jobs. Production runs consisting of large numbers of parts are more cost effective and commonly referred to as
436:
While the foregoing were primarily the materials that a machinist would be cutting, the cutters that the machinist uses must be harder and tougher than the materials to be cut. The materials in the cutters a machinist uses are most commonly
595:
The hand tools are the usual complement of tools found in a complete auto mechanic's set except that auto specialty tools would be absent and some outsized tools would likely be present, such as 1 1/2" (38 mm) open end
182:
Good machinists are highly sought after and respected skilled trades persons and are generally well-paid. In utility, medical, and military use companies, experienced machinists can earn over $ 100 000 per year.
215:
is one who is called on to fix a problem with a part or to create a new one using metals, plastics, or rarely, wood. Depending on the company, a machinist can be any or all of the titles listed above.
401:. The term exotic metals is a general term describing out of the ordinary, rare or special purpose metals. A synonym might be space-age. A list of exotic metals might include, but is not limited to,
289:. Producing a part will often require several steps and more than one machine tool. Each machine tool plays a specific role in cutting away excess material. When large numbers of parts are needed,
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processes in additive manufacturing which include direct metal deposition: electron beam melting, fused filament fabrication, select laser sintering, and variations of them.
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240:
Under the machinist title are other specialty titles that refer to specific skills that may be more highly developed to meet the needs of a particular job position, such as
237:. A fitter and turner is the tradesperson who fits, assembles, grinds and shapes metal parts and subassemblies to fabricate production machines and other equipment.
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machines are computer-driven tools that can machine a large variety of shapes, and whose use in the workflow depends on the part to be machined.
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CNCs and the CNCs meld some groups and blur the lines between others. The most common machine tools fall into five categories:
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433:). Very often the meaning of the term suggests the need for specialized handling and/or tooling to machine them effectively.
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tools; various grinding wheels distinguished by their geometry, bond, grit size, and compound.
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or something extraordinarily complex, such as aerospace components accurate to 5 micrometres.
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The tools that a machinist is expected to be proficient with fall into broad categories:
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907:"10 Must-See Ideas for Cutting, Tooling, Programming, Machining, and Shop Management"
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for the most common materials. Materials that machinists work with occasionally are
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Patience, steady hand, ability to read plans, attention to detail, physically strong
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826:"Tool & Die Makers - Tooling Engineers | ESI Engineering Specialties Inc"
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in the trade. Conversely, small production runs are sometimes referred to as
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produced by other means. Machinists generally start with a saw cut length of
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is required to plan the most logical workflow through a series of machines.
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specifications, machine tool manuals, and tooling feeds and speeds charts.
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such as tap drill charts, conversion charts, thread tolerance charts,
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Machinery repairman creates helicopter part aboard an aircraft carrier
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Some titles reflect further development of machinist skills such as
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knowledge of the tools and processes in order to achieve the tight
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The most common materials that machinists make parts from are
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International
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
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Many women worked as machinists in the United States during
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Machine Tool Hall of Fame: The
American Precision Museum
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of these materials. Other less common materials such as
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specifications are maintained in the finished product.
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Cutting tools include various milling cutters such as
854:"Home Shop Machinist: Materials and their properties"
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The measuring tools come in several basic varieties:
614:and break sharp edges often left on machined parts
19:"Machinists" redirects here. For other uses, see
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537:Direct reading tools such as rules, scales, and
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802:"Fitter and Turners – JobOutlook"
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888:from the original on May 6, 2016
852:Fagerlund, Jaakko (2010-12-08).
767:List of metalworking occupations
323:Machinist inspecting a CNC lathe
830:ESI Engineering Specialties Inc
746:Charts and reference materials:
1263:Electrical discharge machining
1052:Numerical control (NC and CNC)
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680:The tool holders may include
666:The work holders may include
572:coordinate measuring machines
547:tools based on screw threads,
218:other related fields include
90:Industrial Training Institute
710:, and form cutters; various
272:, sometimes referred to as '
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1110:List of drill and tap sizes
934:The Machinists Union: IAMAW
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656:Electric Discharge Machines
328:with production shutdowns.
187:Related occupational titles
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1426:Magnetic switchable device
587:surface roughness testers,
171:that these parts specify.
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107:Industrial manufacturing
66:Industrial manufacturing
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1333:Photochemical machining
1273:Electron-beam machining
1235:Tool and cutter grinder
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500:Tools of the machinist
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1544:Tools and terminology
911:americanmachinist.com
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260:Role in manufacturing
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1368:Ultrasonic machining
772:Machinist calculator
313:Production engineers
228:mechanical engineers
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1170:Cylindrical grinder
858:Home Shop Machinist
582:optical comparators
291:production planning
244:(assembles parts),
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1150:Abrasive machining
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635:4 and 5 axis mills
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85:Education required
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625:Drilling machines
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383:alloying elements
309:or jobbing work.
235:fitter and turner
224:quality assurance
176:numerical control
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1436:Rotary table
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1386:Angle plate
1313:Metal lathe
1205:Jig grinder
1115:Tap and die
1024:engineering
882:CNCCookbook
807:12 February
732:core drills
704:shell mills
645:Swiss lathe
593:Hand tools:
562:transducers
510:drill press
431:superalloys
220:Millwrights
71:Description
1575:Machinists
1564:Categories
1534:Metallurgy
1328:Pantograph
1120:Tap wrench
916:2016-02-04
892:2016-02-04
863:2016-02-04
835:2016-02-04
788:References
734:; various
700:face mills
606:, stones,
545:Micrometer
530:and plain
486:keyseating
462:tolerances
415:molybdenum
205:programmer
201:mold maker
165:tolerances
118:Millwright
103:employment
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16:Technician
1529:Machining
1524:Jewellery
1492:Workpiece
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1477:Tolerance
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1283:Engraving
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1125:Threading
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213:machinist
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1539:Smithing
1278:End mill
1185:Grinding
1145:Abrasive
1105:Drilling
1080:Die head
1067:Drilling
886:Archived
761:See also
708:endmills
672:fixtures
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478:grinding
470:drilling
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419:tungsten
411:chromium
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387:plastics
367:vanadium
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