Metal Forming Machine Operator

Caterpillar•San Diego, CA

About The Position

Set up and operate metal-forming, hydraulic piercing, drop-hammer, hydroforming, hydraulic press, punch press, spinning lathe, and trimming equipment to form and pierce sheet metal, extruded materials, and other production parts. The role also involves making open and closed molds, cast tooling, and parts, and performing foundry operations. Work may include production, experimental, or developmental parts and rework of comparable difficulty. The operator uses production instructions, blueprints, templates, gauges, indicators, and precision measuring devices to set up equipment, check dimensions, and verify setups. The position includes adjusting machine settings and tooling, performing hot and cold forming, trimming and finishing parts, and keeping production records and setup charts. The role requires the ability to lift parts and fixtures, work overtime as needed, and work any shift.

Requirements

High school diploma, GED, or equivalent.
Basic computer data-entry ability.
Ability to lift parts and fixtures.
Ability to work overtime as needed.
Willingness to work any shift.

Nice To Haves

Experience with piercing machines.
Experience with drop hammers.
Experience with hydraulic presses.
Experience with punch presses.
Experience with spinning lathes.
Experience with expander-shrinker machines and trimming tools.
Precision-measuring skills and experience with precision measuring tools.
Ability to read production blueprints.

Responsibilities

Set up and operate metal-forming and hydraulic piercing machines, including brakes, metal-cutting equipment, and arbor-type hot-forming presses.
Set up and operate drop hammers to form parts with complex contours, sharp angles, or deep draws.
Align and center punches and dies to specified clearances and heights using indicators, gauges, production aids, shims, spacers, and wedges.
Adjust machine cams, hydraulic valves, electrical timing, microswitches, ram stroke, index rings, and automatic feed heads.
Maintain hydraulic pressure and oil temperature according to the hardness or gauge of the metal, and adjust punch air pressure when required.
Apply appropriate lubricants to parts, punches, and dies.
Anchor dies to machine beds and bolt punches to rams; determine the location, size, and thickness of rubber pressure pads when needed.
Check punches, dies, and machine operation according to established procedures or instructions, and make minor adjustments or corrections when necessary.
Perform hot- and cold-forming operations, hand peening, and other finishing work.
Operate saws, lathes, nibblers, and planishing hammers to trim or finish preformed parts.
Set up and operate spinning lathes and hydraulic forming machines.
Perform foundry operations, including selecting flash size, placing and withdrawing patterns, positioning and supporting cores, determining metal-pouring temperature, and pouring metal.
Make open and closed molds to exacting tolerances by positioning patterns and cores, preparing and ramming sand, removing patterns, placing vents, cutting gates, and pouring metal.
Remove casting irregularities by die grinding and peen preformed parts as required.
Use blueprints or templates to determine trim lines and perform optical comparator checks to verify setups.
Use precision measuring devices to check setups and dimensions of pierced parts.
Perform rework of the same level of difficulty as the work described.
Compile production records, including production logs, and maintain setup charts.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision benefits, subject to plan eligibility, terms, and guidelines.
Paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and volunteer time.
401(k) savings plans.
Health Savings Account (HSA).
Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
Health Lifestyle Programs.
Employee Assistance Program.
Voluntary benefits and employee discounts.
Career development.
Incentive bonus.
Disability benefits.
Life insurance.
Parental leave.
Adoption benefits.
Tuition reimbursement.