Metal Forming Machine Operator

Career Area:

Operations

Job Description:

Your Work Shapes the World at Caterpillar Inc.

When you join Caterpillar, you're joining a global team who cares not just about the work we do – but also about each other.  We are the makers, problem solvers, and future world builders who are creating stronger, more sustainable communities. We don't just talk about progress and innovation here – we make it happen, with our customers, where we work and live. Together, we are building a better world, so we can all enjoy living in it.

About the Role:
Set up and operate various types and sizes of hydraulic piercing machines, drop-hammers, hydroforming machines, hydraulic presses, punch presses, spinning lathes, and trimming tools to form and pierce sheet metal, extruded, and other production parts. Make open and closed molds and cast tooling and parts.

What You Will Do:

• Set up and operate various types and sizes of metal forming and hydraulic piercing machines such as brakes and metal cutting equipment and/or arbor type hot forming presses to form production, experimental, or developmental parts Set up and operate various types and sizes of drop hammers to form production, experimental or developmental parts involving complex contours, sharp angles and/or deep draws which result in severe forming.

• Align and center punches and dies to predetermined clearances and heights by using indicators, gauges, production aids, shims, spacers, and wedges. Adjust cams, hydraulic valves, electrical timing, microswitches, length of stroke of ram and index rings to proper location and height

• Adjust automatic feed head for pierce depth

• Maintain required hydraulic pressure and temperature of oil according to hardness or gauge of metal

• Adjust air pressure of punch when required

• Apply lubricant to part, punch and die when necessary

• Anchor die to bed by use of molten metal and/or clamping dogs

• Bolt punch to ram

• Determine the need for location, size and thickness of rubber pressure pads

• Check punch and die following established procedures or oral and/or written instructions

• Perform cold and hot forming operations

• Recognize improper functioning of drop hammers and make minor corrections or alterations to the punch or die

• Perform hand peening and operate other machines such as saws, lathes and nibblers for trimming preformed parts or planishing hammers for finishing parts

• Apply proper lubricants following established procedures or oral and written instructions

• Perform cold and hot forming operations

• Recognize improper functioning of machines and make machine adjustment and/or minor corrections or alterations to the punch or die

• Set up and operate spinning lathes to form and final trim sheet metal parts

• Set up and operate hydraulic forming machines

• Perform such typical foundry operations as determining the proper size flash to use, method of placing and withdrawing patterns when back drafting, placement, location and method of supporting cores, proper temperature at which metal should be poured and method of pouring.

• Make all types of open and closed molds to exacting tolerances

• Perform such typical operations as placing pattern in position to flask, placing cores, screening and cutting sand, ramming sand around pattern to proper consistency, removing pattern, placing vents, cutting gates and pouring metal into mold.

• Remove casting irregularities by die grinding

• Perform peening of preformed parts as required

• Use blueprints or templates to determine trim lines

• Make optical comparator checks to prove setups

• Use precision measuring devices to check setup and dimensions of parts pierced

• Perform rework of the same level of difficulty as described herein

• Compile necessary records such as production logs and maintain setup charts

What You Have:

• High school diploma, GED, or equivalent

• Basic data entry into computer

• Ability to lift parts and fixtures

• Ability to work overtime as needed

• Willing to work any shift

Preferred Qualifications:

• Piercing machines

• Drop hammers

• Hydraulic presses

• Punch presses

• Spinning lathes

• Expander- shrinker ma