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Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic - 51-4191.00

O*NET-SOC Description

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.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

Batch Heat Treat Operator
Burner
Coating Line Worker
Furnace Operator
Heat Treat Furnace Operator

Heat Treat Operator
Heat Treat Technician
Heat Treater
Scarf and Anneal Operator

SOC Occupation Groups

51-0000	Production Occupations
51-4000	Metal Workers and Plastic Workers
51-4190	Miscellaneous Metal Workers and Plastic Workers
51-4191.00	Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Related Occupations

51-4022.00	Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4051.00	Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
51-4072.00	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4122.00	Welding, Soldering, and Brazing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
51-4193.00	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-9012.00	Separating, Filtering, Clarifying, Precipitating, and Still Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
51-9041.00	Extruding, Forming, Pressing, and Compacting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
51-9051.00	Furnace, Kiln, Oven, Drier, and Kettle Operators and Tenders
51-9192.00	Cleaning, Washing, and Metal Pickling Equipment Operators and Tenders
51-9193.00	Cooling and Freezing Equipment Operators and Tenders Bright Outlook

Tasks

Adjust 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.
Clean oxides and scales from parts or fittings, using steam sprays or chemical and water baths.
Determine flame temperatures, current frequencies, heating cycles, and induction heating coils needed, based on degree of hardness required and properties of stock to be treated.
Determine types and temperatures of baths and quenching media needed to attain specified part hardness, toughness, and ductility, using heat-treating charts and knowledge of methods, equipment, and metals.
Examine parts to ensure metal shades and colors conform to specifications, using knowledge of metal heat-treating.
Heat billets, bars, plates, rods, and other stock to specified temperatures preparatory to forging, rolling, or processing, using oil, gas, or electrical furnaces.
Instruct new workers in machine operation.
Load parts into containers and place containers on conveyors to be inserted into furnaces, or insert parts into furnaces.
Mount fixtures and industrial coils on machines, using hand tools.
Mount workpieces in fixtures, on arbors, or between centers of machines.
Move controls to light gas burners and to adjust gas and water flow and flame temperature.
Place completed workpieces on conveyors, using cold rods, tongs, or chain hoists, or signal crane operators to transport them to subsequent stations.
Position parts in plastic bags, and seal bags with irons.
Position stock in furnaces, using tongs, chain hoists, or pry bars.
Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated.
Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times.
Reduce heat when processing is complete to allow parts to cool in furnaces or machinery.
Remove parts from furnaces after specified times, and air dry or cool parts in water, oil brine, or other baths.
Repair, replace, and maintain furnace equipment as needed, using hand tools.
Set and adjust speeds of reels and conveyors for prescribed time cycles to pass parts through continuous furnaces.
Set up and operate die-quenching machines to prevent parts from warping.
Set up and operate or tend machines, such as furnaces, baths, flame-hardening machines, and electronic induction machines, that harden, anneal, and heat-treat metal.
Signal forklift operators to deposit or extract containers of parts into and from furnaces and quenching rinse tanks.
Stamp heat-treatment identification marks on parts, using hammers and punches.
Start conveyors and open furnace doors to load stock, or signal crane operators to uncover soaking pits and lower ingots into them.
Test parts for hardness, using hardness testing equipment, or by examining and feeling samples.

Detailed Work Activities

Adjust equipment controls to regulate gas flow.
Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
Clean production equipment.
Determine metal or plastic production methods.
Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production.
Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products.
Instruct workers to use equipment or perform technical procedures.
Lift materials or workpieces using cranes or other lifting equipment.
Load items into ovens or furnaces.
Load materials into production equipment.
Maintain production or processing equipment.
Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
Operate heating or drying equipment.
Position raw materials on processing or production equipment.
Record operational or production data.
Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
Repair production equipment or tools.
Replace worn equipment components.
Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
Set up production or processing equipment.
Signal others to coordinate work activities.
Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements.