Will “Press Operator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

95% Chance of Automation

“Press Operator” will almost certainly be replaced by robots.

This job is ranked #620 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.

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Job Description

Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 51-4072.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 32,660.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 15.00
Currently, there are 145,560 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Press Operator”

Remove parts such as dies from machines after production runs are finished.
Read specifications, blueprints, and work orders to determine setups, temperatures, and time settings required to mold, form, or cast plastic materials, as well as to plan production sequences.
Spray, smoke, or coat molds with compounds to lubricate or insulate molds, using acetylene torches or sprayers.
Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.
Shape molds to specified contours, using sand, and trowels and related tools.
Skim or pour dross, slag, or impurities from molten metal, using ladles, rakes, hoes, spatulas, or spoons.
Cool products after processing to prevent distortion.
Inventory and record quantities of materials and finished products, requisitioning additional supplies as necessary.
Select coolants and lubricants, and start their flow.
Remove finished or cured products from dies or molds, using hand tools, air hoses, and other equipment, stamping identifying information on products when necessary.
Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
Pull level and toggle latches to fill molds, to regulate tension on sheeting, and to release mold covers.
Perform maintenance work such as cleaning and oiling machines.
Install dies onto machines or presses and coat dies with parting agents, according to work order specifications.
Maintain inventories of materials.
Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
Mix and measure compounds, or weigh premixed compounds, and dump them into machine tubs, cavities, or molds.
Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
Trim excess material from parts, using knives, and grind scrap plastic into powder for reuse.
Clamp metal and plywood strips around dies or patterns to form molds.
Adjust equipment and workpiece holding fixtures, such as mold frames, tubs, and cutting tables, to ensure proper functioning.
Preheat tools, dies, plastic materials, or patterns, using blowtorches or other equipment.
Position and secure workpieces on machines, and start feeding mechanisms.
Assemble shell halves, patterns, and foundry flasks, and reinforce core boxes, using glue, clamps, wire, bolts, rams, or machines.
Operate hoists to position dies or patterns on foundry floors.
Select and install blades, tools, or other attachments for each operation.
Smooth and clean inner surfaces of molds, using brushes, scrapers, air hoses, or grinding wheels, and fill imperfections with refractory material.
Repair or replace damaged molds, pipes, belts, chains, or other equipment, using hand tools, hand-powered presses, or jib cranes.
Pour or load metal or sand into melting pots, furnaces, molds, or hoppers, using shovels, ladles, or machines.
Unload finished products from conveyor belts, pack them in containers, and place containers in warehouses.
Obtain and move specified patterns to work stations, manually or using hoists, and secure patterns to machines, using wrenches.

Related Technology & Tools

Brass hammers
Thermocouples
Aluminum hammers
Gate cutters
Digital handheld thermometers
Mold clamps
Melt pressure transducers
Pressure washers
Measuring tapes
Thermal imaging cameras
Tie bar strain gauges
Electric overhead traveling EOT cranes
Sprue pullers
Protective glasses
Needle nose pliers
Video borescopes
Right angle pliers
Injection molding machines
Round nose pliers
Flash trimming knives
Digital surface thermometers
Wheeled forklifts
Powered industrial trucks
Orifice gauges
Multipurpose screwdrivers
Mechanical limit switches
Robotic metal ladles
Digital torque wrenches
Die bars
Hex key sets
Digital timers
Digital psychrometers
Wire cleaning brushes
Hydraulic pressure gauges
Stopwatches
Hand scrapers
Air purifying respirators
Compressed air sprayers
Digital radius gauges
Pressure die casting machines
Cold chamber die casting machines
Utility knives
Trim presses
Duckbill pliers
Air angle die grinders
Die cast dies
Lifting slings
Digital micrometers
Air guns
Hot chamber die casting machines
Hand crimpers
Loading robots
Extruding equipment
Pneumatic die grinders
Aluminized suits
Standard metal ladles
Deflashing tools
Gravity die casting machines

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