Profession electroplating machine operator

Electroplating machine operators set up and tend electroplating machines designed to finish and coat the metal workpieces' (such as future pennies and jewelry) surface by using electric current to dissolve metal cations and to bond a thin layer of another metal, such as zinc, copper or silver, to produce a coherent metal coating to the workpiece's surface.

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Personality Type

  • Realistic / Conventional

Knowledge

  • Electric current

    Flow of electric charge, carried by electrons or ions in a medium such as an electrolyte or a plasma.

  • Electroplating processes

    The various metalworking processes using electric current to form metal coating on an electrode and on the workpiece, such as pulse electroplating, pulse electrodeposition, brush electroplating, 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.

  • Electroplating machine parts

    The various parts of a metalworking machine using electroplating processes to provide coating to workpieces, such as the plating barrel, plating line, borehole, battery charger, and others.

  • Health and safety in the workplace

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

  • Electroplating metal materials

    The various processes various materials used for electroplating may produce, such as copper plating, silver plating, nickle plating, gold plating, embossed gold plating, degreasing, and others.

  • 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.

Skills

  • Monitor electroplating baths

    Control the temperature and changing composition of the solution composed of different chemical components and used to cover a surface with a thin layer of metal.

  • 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.

  • Tend electroplating machine

    Tend a metalworking machine designed to coat metal surfaces by using electric current to form metal coatings on an electrode and on the workpiece, monitor and operate it according to regulations.

  • Troubleshoot

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

  • Wear appropriate protective gear

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

  • 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.

  • Ensure equipment availability

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

  • 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.

Optional knowledge and skills

perform test run facilitate coated workpieces to dry coining keep records of work progress non-ferrous metal processing monitor gauge manufacturing of weapons and ammunition inspect quality of products monitor coating specifications chemistry manufacturing of cutlery ferrous metal processing metal coating technologies electricity manufacturing of door furniture from metal set up the controller of a machine spot metal imperfections consult technical resources electrical discharge provide advice to technicians manufacturing of metal household articles types of metal manufacturing processes characteristics of precious metals apply electrolytes to cathodes and anodes manufacturing of metal assembly products dispose of hazardous waste galvanise metal workpiece maintain mechanical equipment manufacturing of steam generators clean industrial containers apply preliminary treatment to workpieces

Common job titles

  • Plating operator - 3rd shift
  • Plating operator - 2nd shift
  • Machinist - cnc/manual
  • Production process technician
  • Plating machine operator
  • General labor/manufacturing $8.90/hour
  • Metalizing equipment operator