Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Production
Dies, screws, and sizing rings go onto the machine first, chosen from the specs for the tube, rod, hose, wire, or bar being made. Controls for vacuum, air pressure, temperature, and line speed get set so the extrusion stays even; finished stock is measured for defects and reeled into rolls of a given length and weight. When the product line changes, dies come off and new ones go on. The work also includes cleaning the area and troubleshooting or making minor repairs to the equipment. Suits people who like fitting tooling, watching a continuous line, and correcting small drifts before they become scrap.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$47'720
Median Wage Market Position
$47'720
What you might do
- Start and control extruding or drawing machines
- Fit dies, screws, and sizing rings in place
- Set vacuum, air pressure, and heat
- Check extrusions for defects and size
- Wind finished product onto specified rolls
- Fix minor problems on the extrusion line
Skills that matter
- Selecting dies and setup steps from specs
- Setting vacuum, air pressure, and heat
- Checking rods, tubes, and wire against specs
- Reeling finished product to length and weight
- Making minor repairs when extruders jam
- Talking through die changes with the crew
AI & the future of this role
Once dies and draws are dialed in, continuous runs may need less constant attention as controls improve. Setup skill, tooling changes, and catching defects in metal or plastic still tend to anchor the role.
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