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

What the job really is

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

At a glance

• Sector: Production
• O*NET-SOC code: 51-4021
• O*NET job zone: 2 — some preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• 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.
• Clean work areas.
• 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.
• Load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
• Maintain an inventory of materials.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, SAP software, Air cooling systems, Automatic vacuum pumps, Batch dryers, Billet heating furnaces, Billet loaders, Blown film extruders

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
• Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
• Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
• Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 2 (some preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.