Profession anodising machine operator

Anodising machine operators set up and tend anodising machines designed to provide otherwise finished metal workpieces, usually aluminum-based, with a durable, anodic oxide, corrosion-resistant finishing coat, by a electrolyctic passiviation process that increases the thickness of the natural oxide layer of the metal workpieces' surface.

Personality Type

• Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

• Health and safety in the workplace

  The body of rules, procdeures and regulations related to safety, health and welfare of people in their workplace. 

• Anodising process

  The various steps necessary in the process of forming an electrical circuit's anode electrode in order to increase the density of the natural oxide layer on the surface of a metal workpiece hereby enhancing corrosion and wear. These steps include: pre-cleaning, masking and racking, degreasing and rinsing, etching and rinsing, deoxidising and rinsing, anodising and rinsing, sealing and drying, and inspection.

• Quality standards

  The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.

• Electrolytic passivation process

  The electrolytic passivation process in an anodising tank, including process elements such as negative cathodes, oxygen off-gassing, hydrogen off-gassing, gass removal by a low pressure air supply and a fume collection vent, and others.

• Types of metal

  Qualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.

Skills

• Push anodising tank air bar

  Push the air bar connected to an immediate supply of low pressure air in an anodising tank in order to facilitate mobility from the hydrogen off-gas through the fume collection vent to the general exhaust blower and, finally, into the atmosphere.

• Tend anodising machine

  Tend the different stations of a metalworking machine designed to form anode electrodes as part of the anodising process. This includes tending the coil feed operation station, the pre-treatment and cleaning tanks, the anodise tanks, the post treatment facility and the coil rewind equipment; monitor and operate all according to regulations.

• Remove inadequate workpieces

  Evaluate which deficient processed workpieces do not meet the set-up standard and should be removed and sort the waste according to regulations.

• Supply machine

  Ensure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.

• Ensure equipment availability

  Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.

• Remove processed workpiece

  Remove individual workpieces after processing, from the manufacturing machine or the machine tool. In case of a conveyor belt this involves quick, continuous movement.

• Wear appropriate protective gear

  Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.

• Troubleshoot

  Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.

• Heed the altering anodising properties

  Heed the possible alteration of the metal workpiece during the anodising process, such as the expanding thickness of the raised metal surface, when setting up the machining dimension and allow it the necessary space.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB