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51-4021.00 - Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic


Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
73,400
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
55,500
Estimate
Change in Employment
-17,900
Estimate
Change in Employment %
-24.4%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
  • Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
  • Install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.
  • Change dies on extruding machines, according to production line changes.
  • Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.
  • Reel extruded products into rolls of specified lengths and weights.
  • Troubleshoot, maintain, and make minor repairs to equipment.
  • Clean work areas.
Supplemental
  • Replace worn dies when products vary from specifications.
  • Adjust controls to draw or press metal into specified shapes and diameters.
  • Operate shearing mechanisms to cut rods to specified lengths.
  • Select nozzles, spacers, and wire guides, according to diameters and lengths of rods.
  • Weigh and mix pelletized, granular, or powdered thermoplastic materials and coloring pigments.
  • Load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
  • Test physical properties of products with testing devices such as acid-bath testers, burst testers, and impact testers.
  • Maintain an inventory of materials.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Knowledge
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Knowledge

The items listed below are organized into sections that contain knowledge useful for pursuing a career in this field. Each section also contains a "Percentage of Importance" statistic that shows how relevant an item is to the occupation.
 Production and Processing
  • 81%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Mathematics
  • 70%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 English Language
  • 69%
    Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
 Administration and Management
  • 55%
    Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
 Computers and Electronics
  • 51%
    Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
 Mechanical
  • 50%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Tools
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Tools
The tools listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Air circulation and parts and accessories
  • Air cooling systems
 Pumps
  • Automatic vacuum pumps
 Industrial drying equipment
  • Batch dryers
 Heating equipment and parts and accessories
  • Billet heating furnaces
 Lifting equipment and accessories
  • Billet loaders
  • Sheet stackers
  • Wheeled forklifts
 Rubber and plastic processing machinery and equipment and supplies
  • Blown film extruders
  • Braiders
  • Dummy blocks
  • Injection molding machines
  • Jacket extruder
  • Plastic film extrusion dies
  • Plastic profile extrusion dies
  • Plastic sheet extrusion dies
  • Sheet extruders
  • Single screw extruders
  • Tubing extruders
  • Twin screw extruders
  • Two-roll mills
 Metals and metallurgy and structural materials testing instruments
  • Burst testers
  • Variable impact testers
 Conveyors and accessories
  • Conveyor augers
  • Extrusion press conveyors
  • Plate conveyors
  • Roller conveyors
  • Slat conveyors
 Computers
  • Desktop computers
 Hydraulic tools
  • Die changers
  • Die holders
  • Die shuffles
  • Die slides
  • Pellet classifiers
 Length and thickness and distance measuring instruments
  • Digital calipers
  • Digital micrometers
  • Pin gauge sets
  • Ring gauges
  • Snap gauges
 Storage vessels and tanks
  • Dye water tank farm systems
 Power generation control equipment
  • Electrical panel boards
  • Steam controls
 Metal bending machines
  • Extrusion pullers
  • Wire drawing machines
 Heat treating machines
  • Horizontal cooling tanks
 Metal cutting machines
  • Hot log shears
  • Metal shearing machines
 Weight measuring instruments
  • Industrial floor scales
 Air fittings and connectors
  • Lubrication systems
 Measuring and layout tools
  • Measuring tapes
 Metal forming dies and tooling
  • Metal bending mandrels
 Binding and lamination machines
  • Nip rolls
 Packaging machinery
  • Packaging hoppers
 Batch mixers
  • Paddle blenders
  • Ribbon blenders
  • Sigma blade mixers
 Indicating and recording instruments
  • Production counters
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Technology
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Technology
The technologies listed below include machines, equipment, tools, and software that is useful for individuals who are interested in this career.
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft PowerPointHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • SAPHOT
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Certifications
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Certifications
FastForward at Virginia's Community Colleges is a short-term training program for high-demand industries, like healthcare, information technology, and skilled trades and infrastructure, helping Virginians get the jobs and salaries they need. Our goal is to get you trained, help you earn your certification, and get you into a career that can support you and your family. Explore the latest training program offerings by visiting FastForward
The certifications listed below are useful to pursue if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific certifications are listed for this career
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Licensing
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Licensing
The licensing information below is organized into sections and is useful for pursuing if you are interested in a career in this field.
No specific licensing information is listed for this occupation in the area you have selected.
All data sourced from US Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration O*Net Database.
Related Programs
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Programs related to this career, offered by participating institution(s), are listed below.

Clicking on the Degree programs in the list below will take you away from the Careers page.
INSTITUTION
PROGRAMS
Tidewater Community College
 Programs
Virginia Peninsula Community College
 Programs