Metal and Engineering
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Metal Machinist
- What is a metal machinist?
- What does a machinist do?
- What work is carried out by machinists?
- Is machining a good career choice?
- What employment and career opportunities are available in metal machining?
- What skills must a machinist develop?
- What training and qualifications are available for machinists?
- What if I want more information?
- What competencies do I require for this skill?
What is machining?
Machining is a specialist metals & engineering skill area in which highly skilled tradespeople called machinists work.
Overseas, machinists are described as engineers or metal working technicians.
Although they share the same broad job title, metals and engineering industry machinists are very different to machinists employed in the textile and footwear manufacturing industries.
What does a metal machinist do?
The
term machinist replaced the traditional trade classification of turner to
better describe the role of the machinist in the metals and engineering industries.
Machinists typically use precision machine tools such as lathes, milling machines,
boring machines, and precision cylindrical or surface grinders to shape materials
such as steel, bronze, brass, iron, aluminium, titanium and plastics, to manufacture
components to meet customer’s needs and specification.
The materials machined by the machinist may be supplied in rod, bar, plate, billet, forged, or cast form. The machinist, using a series of precision machining operations transforms these pieces of material into precision machined components that typically must fit together within tight limits on accuracy of fit, size, shape and surface finish.
The work of the machinist is varied. Typical work may include:-
Manufacture
of small quantities of custom made components that may be part of a larger
machine tool, or piece of custom built plant or equipment.- Manufacture of large quantities of identical components for inclusion in mass-produced consumer items such as motor cars, trucks, plant and equipment.
- Modification or manufacture of replacement parts for existing machine tools, plant or equipment that have become worn or damaged while in service.
Typically, machinists work for customers in the manufacturing, mining, automotive, marine and aeronautical industries. Increasingly, machinists’ skills are being diversified into other, less traditional industries such as the manufacture of artificial limbs in the medical prosthetics industry.
Machining of cast, forged or fabricated components is common place because only machining can produce the accuracy of size, shape and surface finish that are necessary for operation and interchangeability between precision running components.
What work is carried out by machinists?
The
range and type of work carried out by machinists is as vast and varied as
the industries they service. Examples of the scope of the machinists’ work
include the machining of:-
- Cast, forged or fabricated components that are machined as part of a mass production process such as the machining of gears, engine and transmission components.
- Components for special purpose machines used in mining, machining, factory production lines, and other plant and equipment such as special purpose packaging and assembly machines.
- Refurbished or replacement parts such as bearings and shafts used in the mining, automotive and marine industries, turbine blades and components for the aeronautical industry, and engine re-borers/reconditioning for the automotive industry.
- Artificial joints as used in titanium hip and knee implants for the medical prothesis industry Development of models and prototypes as part of new product development.
To produce these and other items, the machinist may work from engineering drawings developed by an engineer. Alternatively the machinist may work directly from models, samples or mating parts supplied by the customer.
Is machining a good career choice?
Yes, it can be. While employment opportunities for machinists are not as common as they were during the boom times of the past, there still remains work opportunities maintaining existing plant and equipment, and in non-traditional areas such as the manufacture of prosthetics.
Machining is generally a satisfying career with scope for advancement within the employer’s company. Alternatively, machinists often elect to start their own machining business, specialising in a limited number of machining processes to exploit a profitable niche market, rather than work for someone else. In either case, the machinist has the satisfaction of being responsible for the planning and manufacture of components sometimes worth tens of thousands of dollars.
A
major part of a machinist’s job satisfaction is being able to watch the transformation
of an idea into an engineering component that may be part of a machine, or
piece of plant or equipment worth tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars.
This transformation occurs due to the application of the machinist’s skills
and knowledge. Although a large component may require hours or days to manufacture
and weigh several tonnes, there is tangible evidence of the day’s effort.
Lack of opportunity to see and touch what has been achieved or made at the
end of the day is often reported by workers in other professions as the reason
for reduced job satisfaction.
Because no two custom-made machining jobs are identical, this type of machining does not become boring or repetitious, which adds to job satisfaction.
Whilst you are an apprentice (4 year term) your wages are usually set as a percentage of the qualified trades person level.
As a guide, in: -
| 1. First year | 42% |
| 2. Second year | 55% |
| 3. Third year | 75% |
| 4. Fourth year | 88% |
When you have finished your base trade training, your classification will be at tradesperson Certicate III level. With over award payments you could expect to earn much more and you can also apply for higher grading when you get more qualifications.
What employment and career opportunities are available in metal machining?
Competent machinists are often paid above-award wages. Throughout the machinist’s career, he/she would typically have several career opportunities available to them including:-
- “remaining on the tools�, that is, working in the machining workshop. With increasing experience and qualifications, these machinists would typically progress up the salary scale beyond the trade levels into the technician level salary ranges.
- "opening his/her own specialist machining shop" to exploit a market opportunity.
- "transferring from the machining workshop" to the engineering design section of the business to concentrate on design work as an engineering technician.
With further study, the machinist could progress onto an engineering qualification using the machining qualification and experience for advanced standing. Specialising in the sale of purpose built engineering components, plant and equipment to customers both in Australia and overseas.
What skills must a machinist develop?
A machinist must develop both good analytical and hands-on practical skills. These skills are very transportable to other industrial applications and situations. Skills which a machinist would normally use at work would include the ability to:-
- Work to very tight tolerances – a machinist may at times be expected to manufacture and assemble engineering components made from a range of materials, to within size variations of only a few hundredths of a millimetre (that is, about ¼ the thickness of a human hair), or less.
- Operate very expensive machine tools (often state of the art/high tech). To enable machinists to work to the exactness of size expected of them, machine shops are typically equipped with a range of metal cutting machine tools which are either manually operated (conventionally controlled), or computer (CNC) controlled. Conventional and CNC machine tools are typically operated by both tradespeople and apprentices/trainees alike. A typical CNC machine tool could cost from $50,000 to $400,000. A large machine shop may contain millions of dollars worth of machine tools.
- Develop and/or interpret two-dimensional engineering drawings of engineering components or machines, then plan and cost-effectively carry out the manufacture of those components using the equipment and time available. This requires the need for setting priorities, developing schedules and procedures, and developing a three dimensional mental picture of the finished component before it is manufactured work alone, or in small teams, with minimal or no supervision.
- Analyse faults in existing or newly developed/manufactured components, plant or equipment, then rectify those faults so that the equipment can be placed into service.
What training and qualifications are available for machinists?
Depending on their level of training and experience, a machinist may be considered to be either a tradesperson at Certificate III qualification level, or engineering technician up to Certificate IV or Diploma level of qualification. Training is gained by way of a 4-year apprenticeship under the New Apprenticeship Scheme, or via a Traineeship. Both options provide paid employment while skills are being learned. The employer provides on-the-job training, with further training undertaken at institutions such as TAFE.
Employers would normally seek job applicants who have at least completed the School Certificate. Job seekers who have undertaken the Higher School Certificate, are often highly regarded, and so may be given advanced standing/exemptions in their studies at TAFE.
Once completed, the Trade Certificate III qualification can be used for advanced standing toward a relevant TAFE Certificate IV qualification.
The
Sydney Institute, Ultimo is a highly respected provider of both conventional
and specialist CNC machining training at Trade Certificate III, Certificate
IV and Diploma level. It has the largest CNC training workshop of any teaching
facility in the Southern Hemisphere.
What if I want more information?
For further advice related to Metal Machining as a career you could contact:-
Engineering Skills Centre at Sydney
Institute, Ultimo (TAFE NSW) 
Manufacturing & Engineering Deivision,
TAFE NSW
ACTU (Australian Council Of Trade Unions)
Related trades:
Fitter
Fluid Power Fitter
Machinist
Toolmaker
Metal Fabricator/Welder
Blacksmith
Draftsperson
Mechanical Engineering Associate
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