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

What Does a Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic 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.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• 1Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated.
• 2Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times.
• 3Adjust controls to maintain temperatures and heating times, using thermal instruments and charts, dials and gauges of furnaces, and color of stock in furnaces to make setting determinations.
• 4Start conveyors and open furnace doors to load stock, or signal crane operators to uncover soaking pits and lower ingots into them.
• 5Set up and operate or tend machines, such as furnaces, baths, flame-hardening machines, and electronic induction machines, that harden, anneal, and heat-treat metal.
• 6Remove parts from furnaces after specified times, and air dry or cool parts in water, oil brine, or other baths.
• 7Move controls to light gas burners and to adjust gas and water flow and flame temperature.
• 8Instruct new workers in machine operation.

Required Skills

• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Word
• SAP software

Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary