Will “Instrument Maker and Repairer” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

65% Chance of Automation

“Instrument Maker and Repairer” 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.

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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 and Repairer”

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

Related Technology & Tools

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

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