According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated. | 96% |
| Determine flame temperatures, current frequencies, heating cycles, and induction heating coils needed, based on degree of hardness required and properties of stock to be treated. | 94% |
| Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times. | 93% |
| Determine types and temperatures of baths and quenching media needed to attain specified part hardness, toughness, and ductility, using heat-treating charts and knowledge of methods, equipment, and metals. | 93% |
| Set up and operate die-quenching machines to prevent parts from warping. | 92% |
| Examine parts to ensure metal shades and colors conform to specifications, using knowledge of metal heat-treating. | 91% |
| Adjust controls to maintain temperatures and heating times, using thermal instruments and charts, dials and gauges of furnaces, and color of stock in furnaces to make setting determinations. | 91% |
| Set and adjust speeds of reels and conveyors for prescribed time cycles to pass parts through continuous furnaces. | 90% |
| Start conveyors and open furnace doors to load stock, or signal crane operators to uncover soaking pits and lower ingots into them. | 90% |
| Set up and operate or tend machines, such as furnaces, baths, flame-hardening machines, and electronic induction machines, that harden, anneal, and heat-treat metal. | 90% |
| Load parts into containers and place containers on conveyors to be inserted into furnaces, or insert parts into furnaces. | 89% |
| Remove parts from furnaces after specified times, and air dry or cool parts in water, oil brine, or other baths. | 87% |
| Test parts for hardness, using hardness testing equipment, or by examining and feeling samples. | 87% |
| Move controls to light gas burners and to adjust gas and water flow and flame temperature. | 86% |
| Place completed workpieces on conveyors, using cold rods, tongs, or chain hoists, or signal crane operators to transport them to subsequent stations. | 85% |
| Signal forklift operators to deposit or extract containers of parts into and from furnaces and quenching rinse tanks. | 82% |
| Reduce heat when processing is complete to allow parts to cool in furnaces or machinery. | 82% |
| Mount workpieces in fixtures, on arbors, or between centers of machines. | 82% |
| Mount fixtures and industrial coils on machines, using hand tools. | 82% |
| Heat billets, bars, plates, rods, and other stock to specified temperatures preparatory to forging, rolling, or processing, using oil, gas, or electrical furnaces. | 81% |
| Position stock in furnaces, using tongs, chain hoists, or pry bars. | 80% |
| Instruct new workers in machine operation. | 79% |
| Repair, replace, and maintain furnace equipment as needed, using hand tools. | 77% |
| Clean oxides and scales from parts or fittings, using steam sprays or chemical and water baths. | 71% |
| Stamp heat-treatment identification marks on parts, using hammers and punches. | 64% |
| Position parts in plastic bags, and seal bags with irons. | 58% |
