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”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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