Handbook of Occupational Groups and Families		Classification Programs Division
Release Date:  August 2001		Section Thirty-four of Sixty-six

    3400 - MACHINE TOOL WORK FAMILY   

This job family includes occupations that involve setting up and operating machine tools and using handtools to make or repair (shape, fit, finish, assemble) metal parts, tools, gauges, models, patterns, mechanisms, and machines; and machining explosives and synthetic materials.

Throughout the following information, an asterisk (*) stands for series with a published standard and a double asterisk (**) stands for series with a published flysheet.

Occupations in this family are:

3414 Machining *

This occupation includes jobs involved in the manufacture of parts and items of equipment from castings, forgings, and other raw stocks made of various metals, metal alloys, and other materials, and/or machining operations required in the repair of such items. The work requires the use of various types of conventional and/or computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools and their attachments to perform machining operations in the repair and/or manufacture of parts from raw stock; knowledge of the makeup of blueprints and drawings and the skill necessary to interpret them; and skill in working from other types of specifications such as sketches, models of parts to be manufactured, or work orders.

The work performed by machine tool operators requires basic knowledge of machining processes and skill in performing machining operations such as boring, drilling, planing, milling, and turning on milling machines, radial, or multiple spindle drill presses, shapers, planers, lathes, or equivalent types of conventional and/or CNC machine tools. The work performed by machinists requires skill in the initial planning of necessary work sequences, laying out reference points and lines to be followed in the machining processes, planning for and setting up the work in the machine, sometimes programming the cutter path, selecting and shaping metal cutting tools and inserts, operating all types of machine tools , and performing precision handwork to fit, finish, and assemble machined parts and equipment.

3416 Toolmaking *

This occupation includes jobs involved in the fabrication, manufacture, calibration, reconditioning, and repair of machine tools, jigs, fixtures, dies, punches, and gauges used in the manufacture, overhaul, and repair of equipment.

3417 Tool Grinding

This occupation includes jobs involved in reconditioning tools, dies, punches, cutters, jigs, and fixtures by reshaping, sharpening, and refinishing them by hand, using files, abrasives, and other hand equipment, and by machine, using grinding wheels.

3428 Die Sinking *

This occupation includes jobs involved in machining and grinding matched impressions in steel blocks to repair and make metal dies that are used in forging shops.