Mill machinists use various equipment, including CNC machines, to produce metal parts to precise specifications. They must monitor the process for irregularities and wear safety equipment. Some are trained in CNC programming or equipment repair. The pay is good, with opportunities for overtime, but some workshops close during low production periods.
Mill machinists produce fabrication parts. More specifically, they work with various metals to produce parts that are tuned to precise specifications. Work is carried out with a variety of equipment such as milling machines, lathes, drills and other tools. While some of these tools may require manual handling, a large majority of the equipment is computer numerically controlled (CNC).
There are several skill levels required to be a factory mechanic. For example, a mill operator must know how to calibrate different pieces of equipment based on specifications provided by a design engineer. Using these “specs” as a blueprint, the mill mechanic configures each piece of equipment used to precisely cut and drill each piece of metal, often performed in a batch load. This step in the machining process also involves programming the correct sequence of operations to be performed by the machining equipment, as well as calculating the speed and depth of cut required to complete the task.
Although the sequence of events is largely automated after setup, the plant mechanic must still monitor the process. For example, if something goes wrong with the feed on which the raw material is passing through the equipment, the entire operation could be disrupted and the equipment damaged. It is also necessary to look out for irregularities such as overheating caused by the expansion of metal parts. It is also possible for the design to be compromised by vibrations caused by dull cutting tools. Because the factory machinist closely follows operations, he is sometimes called a production machinist.
Some mill drivers are trained in CNC programming and write their own code. For this reason, the position is also called a CNC Machining Machinist, or simply CNC Machinist. Others may be trained in the repair and maintenance of used machine parts to manufacture new parts. In addition, some machinists may train to operate advanced milling equipment, such as those powered by water, electricity, or lasers.
In terms of the work environment, a factory mechanic can expect to be around most of the day and be exposed to a reasonable level of noise. For this reason, certain safety equipment must be worn, such as ear and eye protection. As the work involves handling and feeding machines that pull raw material, it must be emphasized that care must be taken to avoid injury to hands and fingers. In fact, long-sleeved or baggy clothing is not recommended, nor is jewelry of any kind.
Generally, the pay scale for a factory mechanic is considered good, particularly for those working in the automotive or aerospace industries. There are often regular opportunities for overtime, especially during peak production periods. However, some workshops also close at certain times of the year when production is expected to be low, usually for a few weeks in December or January.
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