CNC Machinist

Welders join metal parts together using various welding techniques including MIG, TIG, stick welding, and flux-cored processes. The work spans construction, manufacturing, shipbuilding, aerospace, pipeline, and repair industries. Welders read blueprints, calculate dimensions, inspect structures for defects, select appropriate materials and methods, prepare metal surfaces, operate welding equipment, and verify weld quality through visual inspection and testing. Advanced positions involve welding exotic metals, working on pressure vessels, or performing structural work requiring certification to specific codes. Work environments vary dramatically—from climate-controlled fabrication shops to outdoor construction sites, underwater structures, and confined spaces. Physical demands include prolonged positioning, exposure to heat and fumes, and wearing protective equipment. Career advancement includes specialized certifications, inspection roles, and welding engineering positions.

Industrial machinery mechanics maintain, repair, and install manufacturing equipment, production machinery, and automated systems in factories, plants, and industrial facilities. The work encompasses diagnosing mechanical failures through observation, testing, and computerized diagnostics; disassembling machinery to replace worn components; aligning and calibrating equipment to manufacturer specifications; reading technical manuals and blueprints; and performing preventive maintenance to avoid costly breakdowns. Modern industrial mechanics must understand programmable logic controllers (PLCs), hydraulic and pneumatic systems, conveyor mechanisms, robotics, and computerized maintenance management systems. They work on diverse equipment ranging from CNC machines and packaging lines to material handling systems and industrial robots. The role requires troubleshooting skills to identify root causes when equipment fails, mechanical aptitude to understand how complex systems function, and the dexterity to work in tight spaces with precision tools. Industrial mechanics often work in manufacturing environments with noise, temperature extremes, and safety hazards requiring proper protective equipment.

Tool and die makers are highly skilled craftspeople who design, build, and repair the precision tools, dies, jigs, fixtures, and molds used in manufacturing. The work involves analyzing blueprints, sketches, and CAD models to plan tool construction; machining components using lathes, milling machines, grinders, and EDM equipment; performing heat treatment to harden tool steel; hand-fitting and assembling tool components to extremely tight tolerances; testing tools in production equipment and making adjustments; troubleshooting and repairing worn or damaged tooling; and documenting specifications for future reference. Tool and die makers create the stamping dies that form automotive body panels, the injection molds that produce plastic products, the progressive dies for precision metal components, and the custom fixtures that hold parts during machining. The role demands exceptional spatial reasoning, mathematical precision, metalworking expertise, and the patience to achieve micron-level accuracy through a combination of machine work and hand finishing.

Millwrights install, maintain, repair, and relocate industrial machinery and mechanical equipment in factories, power plants, and construction sites. The work involves reading blueprints and technical diagrams to plan equipment layouts; using precision measuring instruments to align and level machinery; installing conveyor systems, turbines, pumps, and production equipment; connecting power supplies and integrating control systems; troubleshooting mechanical failures and performing repairs; dismantling and relocating equipment when facilities reconfigure; welding, fabricating, and machining components as needed; and ensuring all installations meet safety codes and specifications. Millwrights work with everything from small precision instruments to massive industrial equipment weighing hundreds of tons, requiring expertise in rigging, crane operation, and precision alignment. The role demands broad mechanical knowledge, physical strength and stamina, problem-solving ability, and the precision to achieve alignments measured in thousandths of an inch.