According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup. | 90% |
| Position and move metal wires or workpieces through a series of dies that compress and shape stock to form die impressions. | 89% |
| Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product specifications. | 88% |
| Set up, operate, or tend presses and forging machines to perform hot or cold forging by flattening, straightening, bending, cutting, piercing, or other operations to taper, shape, or form metal. | 88% |
| Turn handles or knobs to set pressures and depths of ram strokes and to synchronize machine operations. | 87% |
| Install, adjust, and remove dies, synchronizing cams, forging hammers, and stop guides, using overhead cranes or other hoisting devices, and hand tools. | 86% |
| Start machines to produce sample workpieces, and observe operations to detect machine malfunctions and to verify that machine setups conform to specifications. | 85% |
| Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications. | 82% |
| Trim and compress finished forgings to specified tolerances. | 81% |
| Remove dies from machines when production runs are finished. | 79% |
| Repair, maintain, and replace parts on dies. | 78% |
| Select, align, and bolt positioning fixtures, stops, and specified dies to rams and anvils, forging rolls, or presses and hammers. | 76% |
| Sharpen cutting tools and drill bits, using bench grinders. | 70% |
