What is the role of the machining technician?
Trained on cutting-edge equipment, the machining technician is the key player when it comes to machining in the company, as in the mechanical workshop.
- They analyze the technical data in order to properly configure the tools for launching and monitoring the production.
- They use the chain of digital data with full control: computer-aided design, computer-aided manufacturing, etc.
- They select the measurement and monitoring tools.
- They regularly check the calibration of the machines and provide the first level of maintenance.
- They manufacture parts with respect for the requested quality, costs, and deadlines.
- They collaborate with the different departments of the company.
The aeronautics field
Machining technicians are currently highly sought-after in aeronautics, a sector in which they participate in the study, preparation, and manufacture of mechanical parts by removing material.
- The machining technician analyzes the plans developed by the design office and selects the cutting tools that will make it possible to shape the parts.
- They install them on the equipment and carry out the machining program determining the precise movement of the tools as well as their trajectory.
- They check that the machined parts comply with the technical specifications in order to give the green light to the launch of mass production.
- They monitor the production, ensuring the pace and quality of the operations.
- They take care of maintenance and simple repairs, and detect and eliminate anomalies in the different machines, such as lathes, milling machines, and grinding machines.
The medical sector
The machining technician is also increasingly valued in the medical field.
They design and manufacture a prototype, then produce various instruments in small series, particularly in the field of orthopaedic surgery. Using a wide range of cutting-edge tools, they help machine medical parts such as hip and knee replacements, pedicle screws, pins for connecting bones, and dental implants.
They ensure the equipment settings, monitor the operation of the machine, intervene in the production, and make sure that the tools are working properly.
Machining on CNC machine tools
Over time, the parts used in many industrial sectors have become extremely complex and require increasingly precise machining. Machining professionals outfit themselves with computer numerical control (CNC) machine tools and seek out technicians with good three-dimensional perception capable of manufacturing highly complex parts. They even organize meetings with future graduates to ensure that they’re recruited once they’ve finished their studies.
The machining technician trade offers great prospects. Considering the growing use of CNC machines, young people must be properly trained in order to master parts design on the computer and machine programming. That way, they’ll know how to use both conventional machines and new computer tools.