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Manufacturing & ProductionISCO 7223

Fitter and turner

A fitter and turner is a person who uses machine tools to make and modify metal parts to defined specifications, in order to fit those parts into machines, and who sees that the finished parts are ready for assembly.

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Rate 5 of the 12 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

inspect quality of products

manipulate metal

measure parts of manufactured products

operate metal fabricating machines

operate drill press

About fitter and turner

The trade has two halves and the name states both. Turning is machining: the operator runs the lathe and the metalworking machines, cuts metal products, carries out the metalwork, and works from a knowledge of metal types. Fitting is the other half: the parts are measured, inspected and made ready for assembly into machinery.

Measurement sits between the two. The fitter and turner measures the parts of the products being made, examines product quality, and works from technical documentation. Measuring instruments are used to check each part against the specification.

The work covers both making and modifying: the fitter and turner creates new metal parts and modifies existing ones so that they fit the components of a machine. Tending the lathe means operating and monitoring it according to the regulations, and the metal fabricating equipment is set up and operated to bend, cut and straighten metal pieces.

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (12)

metal forming technologiesmetal forming technologiesThe variety of technologies and techniques, such as forging, pressing, stamping, rolling and others, used for the forming processes of metal product manufacturing.types of metaltypes of metalQualities, specifications, applications and reactions to different fabricating processes of various types of metal, such as steel, aluminium, brass, copper and others.inspect quality of productsinspect quality of productsUse various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.manipulate metalmanipulate metalManipulate the properties, shape and size of metal.measure parts of manufactured productsmeasure parts of manufactured productsOperate measurement instruments to measure parts of manufactured objects. Take into consideration specifications of manufacturers to perform the measuring.operate metal fabricating machinesoperate metal fabricating machinesSet up and operate fabricating equipment to bend, cut and straighten pieces of metal.operate drill pressoperate drill pressOperate a semi-automated, semi-manual drill press to drill holes in a work piece, safely and according to regulations.cut metal productscut metal productsOperate cutting and measuring instruments in order to cut/shape pieces of metal into given dimensions.use technical documentationuse technical documentationUnderstand and use technical documentation in the overall technical process.fabricate metal partsfabricate metal partsFabricate metal parts, using equipment such as drill presses and engine lathes.tend lathetend latheTend a lathe designed for cutting manufacturing processes on metal, wooden, plastic materials and others, monitor and operate it, according to regulations.perform metal workperform metal workWork with metal and iron materials in order to assemble individual pieces or structures.
Optional (19) — show
manufacturing of metal structuresmanufacturing of metal structuresThe production of metal structures for construction.metal joining technologiesmetal joining technologiesThe various technologies used for the joining and assembling of fabricated metal workpieces.screw typesscrew typesThe various types of screws that can be manufactured, such as a cap screw, setscrew with hollow head, machine screw with oval head, machine screw with Philips head, flat-head wood screw, lag screw, se...rivet typesrivet typesThe various types of rivets used in manufacturing, such as solid head rivets, blind rivets, drive rivets, semi-tubular rivets, oscar rivets, flush rivets, and others.metal coating technologiesmetal coating technologiesThe various processes and technologies used for to coating and painting fabricated metal workpieces.solve technical problemssolve technical problemsIdentify technical problems when operating devices and using digital environments, and solve them (from trouble-shooting to solving more complex problems).design metal componentsdesign metal componentsDesign metal components in response to a need. Provide support by writing documents, manuals, metallurgical investigations, and reports in support of customer liaison.assemble metal partsassemble metal partsAlign and arrange steel and metal parts in order to assemble complete products; use the appropriate hand tools and gauges.join metalsjoin metalsJoin together pieces of metal using soldering and welding materials.assemble electrical componentsassemble electrical componentsAssemble switches, electrical controls, circuit boards and other electrical components by using hand and soldering equipment.read standard blueprintsread standard blueprintsRead and comprehend standard blueprints, machine, and process drawings.operate handheld riveting equipmentoperate handheld riveting equipmentOperate various kinds of tools and equipment used in riveting processes, such a pin hammer and a rivet set, handheld squeezers, a hammer and bucking bar, a pneumatic hammer, a rivet gun, and others.read engineering drawingsread engineering drawingsRead the technical drawings of a product made by the engineer in order to suggest improvements, make models of the product or operate it.heat metalsheat metalsHeat steel and metals in fire; adjust and regulate heat controls to reach appropriate pouring temperature.tend computer numerical control lathe machinetend computer numerical control lathe machineTend a computer numerical controlled (CNC) lathe and turn machine designed for cutting manufacturing processes on metal, wooden, plastic materials and others, monitor and operate it, according to regu...develop assembly instructionsdevelop assembly instructionsDevelop a code of letters and numbers to label diagrams for assembly instructions.set up the controller of a machineset up the controller of a machineSet up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.tend riveting machinetend riveting machineTend a metalworking machine designed to join metal pieces by automatically shooting mechanical fasteners, rivets, into them, monitor and operate it according to regulations.apply polishing lubricantsapply polishing lubricantsApply the appropriate lubricant matching the kind of metal of the processed metal workpiece during polishing processes, such as was or kerosene.

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Frequently asked questions

What does a fitter and turner do?

Fitters and turners use machine tools to create and modify metal parts according to set specifications in order to fit components for machinery. They ensure the finished components are ready for assembly.

What skills does a fitter and turner need?

A fitter and turner needs 12 essential skills, including metal forming technologies, types of metal, inspect quality of products, manipulate metal, measure parts of manufactured products.

Will AI replace fitter and turner jobs?

The AI disruption score for fitter and turner is 41/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: read standard blueprints, inspect quality of products, measure parts of manufactured products. Most resilient: manipulate metal, screw types, operate handheld riveting equipment.

Quick Facts

SectorManufacturing & Production
ISCO GroupMetal, machinery and related trades workers
Essential Skills12

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