Gain metalworking experience by taking a shop class at your school. If your school doesn't offer it, try a community college or see if you can intern or interview someone at a local metal shop.

Take a metal shop class.

Watch clips from "How It's Made" to see how objects like artificial limbs, nails, footballs, mustard, and more are made. Choose a few to watch--which one surprised you most?

Watch how the objects all around us are made.

Interested in learning more about machine technology? Check out Machine Technology Instructor, Adam Balogh's, engaging videos on YouTube. 

Check out the YouTube channel, Machine Tech Video Blog!

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.

Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Production Occupations

Metal Workers and Plastic Workers

Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.

Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.

Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.

Reel extruded products into rolls of specified lengths and weights.

Install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.

Change dies on extruding machines, according to production line changes.

Troubleshoot, maintain, and make minor repairs to equipment.

Weigh and mix pelletized, granular, or powdered thermoplastic materials and coloring pigments.

Test physical properties of products with testing devices such as acid-bath testers, burst testers, and impact testers.

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Overview

Career

What Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Do

Other Job Titles Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Overview

Career

What Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Do

Other Job Titles Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers