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Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

In the Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic occupation, workers set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces. A regular part of the work is to verify conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges. With a code of RCI, this is mostly a job for people drawn to hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world. Conventional interests also help, rated 4.3 out of 7. Plan on a few months to a year of learning on the job; O*NET labels this some preparation. Strength in operations monitoring, reading comprehension, and operation and control helps most here. People who want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world usually fit better here than those who need creative work with room for original expression.

What they do

Set up, operate, or tend drilling machines to drill, bore, ream, mill, or countersink metal or plastic work pieces.

Main tasks

  • Verify conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges.
  • Study machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements.
  • Move machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds.
  • Verify that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindles.
  • Establish zero reference points on workpieces, such as at the intersections of two edges or over hole locations.
  • Change worn cutting tools, using wrenches.

Skills

  • Operations Monitoring
  • Reading Comprehension
  • Operation and Control
  • Monitoring
  • Time Management
  • Speaking

Who this career fits

May suit you if

  • You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
  • You like clear rules and getting the details right.
  • You want to start work after a short stretch of training.
  • You are comfortable relying on operations monitoring and reading comprehension.

May not suit you if

  • You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
  • You need creative expression to be a big part of your day. Artistic rates 1.0 out of 7 here.
  • You want a career built on years of advanced study.

Interest profile

O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RCI takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.

Preparation

Some preparation. Most people start with a high school diploma, then learn from experienced coworkers over a few months to a year.

Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.

Also called

  • Bore Mill Operator
  • CNC Drilling Operator (Computer Numerical Control Drilling Operator)
  • CNC Machinist (Computer Numerical Control Machinist)
  • Drill Operator
  • Drill Press Operator

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.