Will “Instrument Maker” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

65% Chance of Automation

“Instrument Maker” will maybe be replaced by robots.

This job is ranked #358 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.

Care to share? Click for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or XING. 👍

Job Description

Set up and operate a variety of machine tools to produce precision parts and instruments. Includes precision instrument makers who fabricate, modify, or repair mechanical instruments. May also fabricate and modify parts to make or repair machine tools or maintain industrial machines, applying knowledge of mechanics, mathematics, metal properties, layout, and machining procedures.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 51-4041.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 43,220.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 20.00
Currently, there are 391,120 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Machinists”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Instrument Maker”

Establish work procedures for fabricating new structural products, using a variety of metalworking machines.
Install experimental parts or assemblies, such as hydraulic systems, electrical wiring, lubricants, or batteries into machines or mechanisms.
Measure, examine, or test completed units to check for defects and ensure conformance to specifications, using precision instruments, such as micrometers.
Confer with numerical control programmers to check and ensure that new programs or machinery will function properly and that output will meet specifications.
Set up, adjust, or operate basic or specialized machine tools used to perform precision machining operations.
Lay out, measure, and mark metal stock to display placement of cuts.
Design fixtures, tooling, or experimental parts to meet special engineering needs.
Maintain machine tools in proper operational condition.
Fit and assemble parts to make or repair machine tools.
Check work pieces to ensure that they are properly lubricated or cooled.
Advise clients about the materials being used for finished products.
Test experimental models under simulated operating conditions for purposes such as development, standardization, or feasibility of design.
Diagnose machine tool malfunctions to determine need for adjustments or repairs.
Study sample parts, blueprints, drawings, or engineering information to determine methods or sequences of operations needed to fabricate products.
Dismantle machines or equipment, using hand tools or power tools to examine parts for defects and replace defective parts where needed.
Align and secure holding fixtures, cutting tools, attachments, accessories, or materials onto machines.
Program computers or electronic instruments, such as numerically controlled machine tools.
Prepare working sketches for the illustration of product appearance.
Operate equipment to verify operational efficiency.
Support metalworking projects from planning and fabrication through assembly, inspection, and testing, using knowledge of machine functions, metal properties and mathematics.
Confer with engineering, supervisory, or manufacturing personnel to exchange technical information.
Separate scrap waste and related materials for reuse, recycling, or disposal.
Install repaired parts into equipment or install new equipment.
Evaluate machining procedures and recommend changes or modifications for improved efficiency or adaptability.
Calculate dimensions or tolerances, using instruments such as micrometers or vernier calipers.
Machine parts to specifications, using machine tools, such as lathes, milling machines, shapers, or grinders.
Dispose of scrap or waste material in accordance with company policies and environmental regulations.
Monitor the feed and speed of machines during the machining process.
Set up or operate metalworking, brazing, heat-treating, welding, or cutting equipment.

Related Technology & Tools

Engine lathes
Steel wedges
Grinding dogs
Vertical milling machines
Hex keys
Sine bars
Ladders
Personal digital assistants PDA
Turret lathes
Power drills
Inside spring calipers
Surface gauges
Chucks
Plasma welders
Multi-axis computerized numerical control CNC machines
Ratchet sets
Utility knives
Planer gauges
Buffers
Magnetic retrievers
Brass hammers
Marking blocks
Crankshaft grinders
Cutoff saws
Horizontal boring bars
Center drills
Steel rules
Pillar drill machines
Calipers
Valve grinding machines
Radial drills
Phillips head screwdrivers
Cylindrical grinders
Square chisels
Personal computers
Boring bars
Vernier bevel protractors
Cold chisels
Aviation snips
Angle plates
Power sanders
Machinists' hammers
Radial drill presses
Sledgehammers
Socket wrench sets
Planers
Cylinder honers
Pry bars
Shapers
Height gauges
Screwdrivers
Horizontal lathes
Heat-treating equipment
Jointers
3-axis computerized numerical control CNC machines
Machine shop rigging equipment
Side cutting pliers
Beverly shears
Feeler gauges
Milling machines
Breaker lathes
Sensitive drill presses
Adjustable wrenches
Flywheel lathes
Portable welding equipment
Vernier calipers
Putty knives
Radius gauges
Reamers
Shears
Outside spring calipers
Ring gauges
Forklifts
Outside micrometers
Single-cut mill saw files
Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment
Shielded arc welding tools
Parallel blocks
Pipe wrenches
Inside micrometers
Turning lathes
Bandsaws
Undercut tools
Computerized numerical control CNC machining centers
Shims
Desktop computers
Screw pitch gauges
Pipe threaders
Dial calipers
Machinists' squares
Power hacksaws
Sharpening equipment
Workshop cranes
Milling vises
Vernier gear tooth calipers
Oxyacetylene welding equipment
Punches
Wedges
Grinders
Angled feeler gauges
Metal cutting taps
Welding lenses
Binocular light compound microscopes
Flat files
Threading machines
Ball peen hammers
Soldering equipment
Computerized numerical control CNC turning lathes
Chippers
Milling angle form cutters
Platforms
Dial indicators
Hacksaws
Staging equipment
Rubber mallets
Chamfer tools
Arbor presses
Composition hammers
Lathes
Broachers
Metal spray equipment
Combination drills
Resurfacing machines
Scribers
Needlenose pliers
Deburring tools
Welding shields
Knee mills
Laser printers
Metal inert gas MIG welders
Combination pliers
Hand saws
Spindle blade screwdrivers
Tongs
Thread gauges
Micrometers
Grinding wheel arbors
Gauges
Sandblasters
Hand clamps
Channel lock pliers
Drum lathes
V blocks
Cold saws
Centrifugal spin casters
Combination wrenches
Horizontal mills
Vernier height gauges
Swaging tools
Telescoping gauges
Spirit levels
Metal shears
Torches
Anvils
Tube benders
Hydraulic presses
Surface grinding machines
Hex wrenches
Hermaphrodite calipers
Full face shields
Half-round files
Handheld welders
Vertical turret lathes VTL
Brake presses
Brazing equipment
Edge finders
Prick punches
Boring tools

Kentech Trig Kalculator
JETCAM
Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
CNC TurboCAD/CAM
Microsoft Outlook
EditCNC
Microsoft Excel
Computer aided design CAD software
Kentech Kipware Studio
Armchair Machinist software
CNC Mastercam
Microsoft Office
CCG Systems FASTER
ERP software
CNC Consulting Machinists' Calculator
Autodesk AutoCAD
Microsoft Word