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Career Details

51-4191.00 - Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic


Set up, operate, or tend heating equipment, such as heat-treating furnaces, flame-hardening machines, induction machines, soaking pits, or vacuum equipment to temper, harden, anneal, or heat treat metal or plastic objects.


Key Facts
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Bright Outlook
Career Details
Green Job
Career Details
Current Employment
21,300
Estimate
Forecasted Employment
17,200
Estimate
Change in Employment
-4,200
Estimate
Change in Employment %
-19.6%
Estimate
Tasks
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Tasks
The tasks listed below can be performed to prepare you for a career in this field.
Core
  • Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated.
  • Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times.
  • Set up and operate or tend machines, such as furnaces, baths, flame-hardening machines, and electronic induction machines, that harden, anneal, and heat-treat metal.
  • Remove parts from furnaces after specified times, and air dry or cool parts in water, oil brine, or other baths.
  • Instruct new workers in machine operation.
  • Adjust controls to maintain temperatures and heating times, using thermal instruments and charts, dials and gauges of furnaces, and color of stock in furnaces to make setting determinations.
  • Move controls to light gas burners and to adjust gas and water flow and flame temperature.
  • Start conveyors and open furnace doors to load stock, or signal crane operators to uncover soaking pits and lower ingots into them.
Supplemental
  • Determine types and temperatures of baths and quenching media needed to attain specified part hardness, toughness, and ductility, using heat-treating charts and knowledge of methods, equipment, and metals.
  • Position stock in furnaces, using tongs, chain hoists, or pry bars.
  • Determine flame temperatures, current frequencies, heating cycles, and induction heating coils needed, based on degree of hardness required and properties of stock to be treated.
  • Load parts into containers and place containers on conveyors to be inserted into furnaces, or insert parts into furnaces.
  • Mount workpieces in fixtures, on arbors, or between centers of machines.
  • Set up and operate die-quenching machines to prevent parts from warping.
  • Reduce heat when processing is complete to allow parts to cool in furnaces or machinery.
  • Signal forklift operators to deposit or extract containers of parts into and from furnaces and quenching rinse tanks.
  • Test parts for hardness, using hardness testing equipment, or by examining and feeling samples.
  • Examine parts to ensure metal shades and colors conform to specifications, using knowledge of metal heat-treating.
  • Repair, replace, and maintain furnace equipment as needed, using hand tools.
  • Heat billets, bars, plates, rods, and other stock to specified temperatures preparatory to forging, rolling, or processing, using oil, gas, or electrical furnaces.
  • Clean oxides and scales from parts or fittings, using steam sprays or chemical and water baths.
  • Place completed workpieces on conveyors, using cold rods, tongs, or chain hoists, or signal crane operators to transport them to subsequent stations.
  • Stamp heat-treatment identification marks on parts, using hammers and punches.
  • Set and adjust speeds of reels and conveyors for prescribed time cycles to pass parts through continuous furnaces.
  • Mount fixtures and industrial coils on machines, using hand tools.
  • Position parts in plastic bags, and seal bags with irons.
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
  • 79%
    Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
 Mathematics
  • 65%
    Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
 Education and Training
  • 57%
    Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
 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.
 Chemistry
  • 54%
    Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.
 Mechanical
  • 52%
    Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
 Customer and Personal Service
  • 52%
    Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
 Engineering and Technology
  • 51%
    Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
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.
 Heat treating machines
  • Annealing furnaces
  • Atmosphere furnaces
  • Batch type hardening furnaces
  • Continuous hardening furnaces
  • Flame-hardening machines
  • Induction hardening furnaces
  • Quench presses
  • Shaker hearth furnaces
  • Soaking pits
  • Tempering furnaces
 Heating equipment and parts and accessories
  • Automated salt bath furnaces
  • Carbonitriding equipment
  • Vacuum heat treating furnaces
 Lifting equipment and accessories
  • Bridge cranes
  • Chain hoists
  • Free-standing jib cranes
  • Wheeled forklifts
  • Winch stackers
 Forming tools
  • Claw hammers
 Industrial trucks
  • Electronic hand trucks
  • Pallet jacks
  • Pallet riders
 Ventilation
  • Exhaust gas collection systems
 Safety apparel
  • Fiberglass gloves
  • Finger protection gloves
  • Kevlar gloves
  • Protective clothing
 Power generators
  • Gas powered generators
 Face and head protection
  • Heat resistant face masks
 Holding and clamping tools
  • Industrial furnace tongs
 Dispensing tools
  • Lubricant guns
 Pumps
  • Mechanical vacuum pumps
 Wrenches and drivers
  • Open end hand wrenches
  • Slotted screwdrivers
 Aerial lifts
  • Order pickers
 Computers
  • Personal computers
 Power tools
  • Power grinding tools
 Mechanical surface treatment machines
  • Sand blasters
  • Shot blasters
 Industrial freezers
  • Shock freezers
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.
 Finance accounting and enterprise resource planning ERP software
  • Enterprise resource planning ERP softwareHOT
 Content authoring and editing software
  • Microsoft ExcelHOT
  • Microsoft WordHOT
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
Virginia Peninsula Community College