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Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders - 51-4122.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Set up, operate, or tend welding, soldering, or brazing machines or robots that weld, braze, solder, or heat treat metal products, components, or assemblies. Includes workers who operate laser cutters or laser-beam machines.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

Braze Operator
Certified Welder
Fabricator
Finishing Technician (Finishing Tech)
Laser Operator

Machine Operator
Mig Welder
Spot Welder
Weld Technician (Weld Tech)
Welding Operator

SOC Occupation Groups

51-0000	Production Occupations
51-4000	Metal Workers and Plastic Workers
51-4120	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Workers
51-4122.00	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Related Occupations

49-9041.00	Industrial Machinery Mechanics Bright Outlook
51-2011.00	Aircraft Structure, Surfaces, Rigging, and Systems Assemblers
51-2022.00	Electrical and Electronic Equipment Assemblers
51-2041.00	Structural Metal Fabricators and Fitters
51-4022.00	Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4034.00	Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4035.00	Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4121.00	Welders, Cutters, Solderers, and Brazers
51-4194.00	Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
51-7042.00	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing

Tasks

Add chemicals or materials to workpieces or machines to facilitate bonding or to cool workpieces.
Anneal finished workpieces to relieve internal stress.
Assemble, align, and clamp workpieces into holding fixtures to bond, heat-treat, or solder fabricated metal components.
Clean, lubricate, maintain, and adjust equipment to maintain efficient operation, using air hoses, cleaning fluids, and hand tools.
Compute and record settings for new work, applying knowledge of metal properties, principles of welding, and shop mathematics.
Conduct trial runs before welding, soldering, or brazing, and make necessary adjustments to equipment.
Correct problems by adjusting controls or by stopping machines and opening holding devices.
Devise or build fixtures or jigs used to hold parts in place during welding, brazing, or soldering.
Dress electrodes, using tip dressers, files, emery cloths, or dressing wheels.
Fill hoppers and position spouts to direct flow of flux or manually brush flux onto seams of workpieces.
Give directions to other workers regarding machine set-up and use.
Immerse completed workpieces into water or acid baths to cool and clean components.
Inspect, measure, or test completed metal workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using measuring and testing devices.
Lay out, fit, or connect parts to be bonded, calculating production measurements, as necessary.
Load or feed workpieces into welding machines to join or bond components.
Mark weld points and positions of components on workpieces, using rules, squares, templates, or scribes.
Observe meters, gauges, or machine operations to ensure that soldering or brazing processes meet specifications.
Prepare metal surfaces or workpieces, using hand-operated equipment, such as grinders, cutters, or drills.
Read blueprints, work orders, or production schedules to determine product or job instructions or specifications.
Record operational information on specified production reports.
Remove completed workpieces or parts from machinery, using hand tools.
Select torch tips, alloys, flux, coil, tubing, or wire, according to metal types or thicknesses, data charts, or records.
Select, position, align, and bolt jigs, holding fixtures, guides, or stops onto machines, using measuring instruments and hand tools.
Set dials and timing controls to regulate electrical current, gas flow pressure, heating or cooling cycles, or shut-off.
Set up, operate, or tend welding machines that join or bond components to fabricate metal products or assemblies.
Start, monitor, and adjust robotic welding production lines.
Tend auxiliary equipment used in welding processes.
Transfer components, metal products, or assemblies, using moving equipment.
Turn and press knobs and buttons or enter operating instructions into computers to adjust and start welding machines.

Detailed Work Activities

Adjust equipment controls to regulate gas flow.
Adjust flow of electricity to tools or production equipment.
Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
Apply lubricants or coolants to workpieces.
Apply solutions to production equipment.
Assemble machine tools, parts, or fixtures.
Assemble metal or plastic parts or products.
Calculate specific material, equipment, or labor requirements for production.
Clean production equipment.
Conduct test runs of production equipment.
Design tools, fixtures, or other devices for production equipment.
Direct operational or production activities.
Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
Enter commands, instructions, or specifications into equipment.
Feed materials or products into or through equipment.
Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production.
Immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions.
Lay out parts to prepare for assembly.
Load materials into production equipment.
Lubricate production equipment.
Maintain production or processing equipment.
Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
Monitor equipment operation to ensure proper functioning.
Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas.
Operate cutting equipment.
Operate grinding equipment.
Operate welding equipment.
Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
Record operational or production data.
Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
Reshape metal workpieces to established specifications.
Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
Select production equipment according to product specifications.
Solder parts or workpieces.