| Skill | What it means | Level needed |
|---|
| Understands machine shop safety rules, uses appropriate PPE consistently, follows lockout/tagout procedures, and identifies hazards in the machining environment. | |
| Uses precision measuring instruments (micrometers, calipers, height gauges, gauge blocks) to verify dimensions to specified tolerances. | |
| Applies math concepts (fractions, decimals, geometry, trigonometry) to calculate dimensions, speeds, feeds, and tolerances for machining operations. | |
| Reads job orders and selects appropriate machining sequences, tooling, speeds, and feeds for a given part to meet specifications efficiently. | |
| Inspects finished parts against drawings and tolerances, identifies defects, and documents results using standard inspection methods and tools. | |
| Identifies the materials the shop runs by type and grade and knows how each one behaves in the cut, so the right tooling, speed and feed are chosen for the job. | |
| Understands the common heat treatments (annealing, hardening, tempering, case hardening) and how they change a material's hardness and the way it cuts, whether the treating is done in house or sent out to a heat treater. | |
| Performs routine machine maintenance (lubrication, chip removal, coolant checks, way wiping) and identifies abnormal machine conditions requiring service. | |
| Reads and interprets engineering drawings including orthographic views, dimensions, tolerances, surface finish callouts, and basic GD&T symbols. | |
| Transfers dimensions from engineering drawings to workpieces using scribers, surface plates, V-blocks, and layout tools to establish reference lines and points. | |
| Selects and uses common hand tools (files, taps, dies, countersinks, deburring tools) correctly and safely in support of machining operations. | |
| Operates horizontal and vertical bandsaws and cutoff saws to rough-cut material to approximate size safely and accurately. | |
| Uses bench and pedestal grinders safely to dress tools, deburr parts, and sharpen HSS cutting tools to correct geometry. | |
| Sets up and operates drill presses and related equipment to drill, ream, countersink, and tap holes to specification in various materials. | |
| Operates a manual engine lathe to perform turning, facing, threading (internal and external), boring, parting, and knurling operations to print. | |
| Operates a manual knee mill or bed mill to perform facing, slotting, drilling, boring, and contouring operations to specified dimensions. | |
| Operates surface and/or cylindrical grinders to achieve fine surface finishes and tight dimensional tolerances on flat and round workpieces. | |
| Safely loads programs, mounts workholding, installs and indexes tooling, and monitors production runs on CNC turning centers. | |
| Establishes work offsets, tool length offsets, and datum references on CNC turning centers; makes first-article adjustments to achieve print specifications. | |
| Writes and edits CNC turning programs using G/M codes and/or CAM-generated code to produce parts to specification. | |
| Safely loads programs, mounts workholding, installs tooling, and monitors production runs on CNC vertical or horizontal machining centers. | |
| Establishes work coordinate offsets, tool length offsets, and datum references on CNC machining centers; makes first-article adjustments. | |
| Writes and edits CNC milling programs using G/M codes and/or CAM-generated code, including 2.5D and 3D toolpath strategies. | |
| Creates and interprets 2D drawings and 3D models of machined parts using computer-aided design software, applying proper drawing standards. | |
| Generates and edits CNC toolpaths using computer-aided manufacturing software, selects tooling and strategies, and post-processes programs for machine output. | |
| Takes the finished part through the job's written cleanliness spec: runs the wash and, when the job calls for it, the passivation cycle, checks the part for residue and particles, and bags and labels it with gloves on so it reaches the customer clean. | |
| Keeps the material's identity attached at the machine: transfers the heat or lot number to the cut piece before the remnant goes back to the rack, keeps the traveler with its parts, never lets two lots share a bin, and marks or stamps only parts from the run the marking belongs to. | |
| Tends a bar-fed Swiss-type lathe: loads and aligns bar stock in the bar feeder, keeps the guide bushing area clear and lubricated, watches parts drop cleanly into the catcher, gauges parts against the check sheet, and handles sub-centimeter parts without loss or nicks. | |
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