Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Human Advantage 63%
Significant human skills needed
AI Automation Risk Moderate Risk
3.7 / 10
Some tasks in this role may be augmented by AI, but human oversight and interpersonal skills remain important.
Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.
Also Known As: Core Extruder, Core Shaper, Draw Machine Operator, Drawbench Operator, Equipment Technician, Extruder Operator, Extruding Press Adjuster, Extruding Press Operator +44 more
Core Tasks
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Clean work areas.
- Troubleshoot, maintain, and make minor repairs to equipment.
Supplemental Tasks (8)
- Weigh and mix pelletized, granular, or powdered thermoplastic materials and coloring pigments.
- Test physical properties of products with testing devices such as acid-bath testers, burst testers, and impact testers.
- Load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
- Maintain an inventory of materials.
- Adjust controls to draw or press metal into specified shapes and diameters.
- Replace worn dies when products vary from specifications.
- Select nozzles, spacers, and wire guides, according to diameters and lengths of rods.
- Operate shearing mechanisms to cut rods to specified lengths.
Education & Training
Job Zone 2 Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed
Education: These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Experience: Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
On-the-Job Training: Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Education Level Distribution
Percentage of workers in this occupation with each education level.
Technology & Tools
Hot Technologies
Software (8)
Tools & Equipment (56)
Where This Career Leads
Career progression organized by specialty track and experience level.
Industrial Machinery Advanced Manufacturing
Zone 1
Conveyor Operators and Tenders 76% match
Zone 2
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