Profession stamping press operator

Stamping press operators set up and tend stamping presses designed to form metal workpieces in their desired shape by applying pressure through the up and down movement of a bolster plate and a die attached to a stamping ram on the metal, resulting in the die producing smaller metal parts of the workpiece fed to the press.

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Personality Type

  • Realistic / Conventional
  • Realistic / Investigative

Knowledge

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Stamping press parts

    Components of a stamping press, such as bolster plate, ram, automatic feeder and tonnage monitor, their qualities and applications.

  • Metal forming technologies

    The variety of technologies and techniques, such as forging, pressing, stamping, rolling and others, used for the forming processes of metal product manufacturing.

Skills

  • Set up the controller of a machine

    Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.

  • Tend stamping press

    Tend an automated or semi-automated stamping press, monitor and operate it, according to regulations.

  • Consult technical resources

    Read and interpret such technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.

  • Perform test run

    Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.

  • Ensure equipment availability

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

  • Wear appropriate protective gear

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

  • Monitor automated machines

    Continuously check up on the automated machine's set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment in order to identify abnormalities.

  • Monitor gauge

    Oversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.

  • Troubleshoot

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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

record production data for quality control quality and cycle time optimisation perform machine maintenance types of stamping press operate lifting equipment manufacturing of steel drums and similar containers program a cnc controller monitor conveyor belt set up automotive robot manufacturing of heating equipment apply cross-reference tools for product identification manufacturing of steam generators inspect quality of products coining perform product testing check quality of raw materials manufacturing of doors from metal use cam software types of metal manufacturing processes manufacturing of metal containers keep records of work progress ferrous metal processing mark processed workpiece mechanics provide advice to technicians read standard blueprints manufacturing of metal structures work ergonomically statistical process control interpret geometric dimensions and tolerances

Common job titles

  • Press operator - third shift
  • Machine operator/set-up
  • Press operator ($17.00 - $18.00/hr)
  • Punch press operator trainee
  • Press operator
  • Progressive machine operator
  • Machine operator / packer
  • Foil stamping & embossing press operator
  • Stamping press operator - die setter
  • Die setter/press operator