Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Production
Blueprints and work orders set the tolerances and the order of operations before any die goes in. Dies, forging hammers, cams, and stop guides are installed and adjusted with hand tools or overhead hoists; handles and knobs set ram pressure and stroke so the press can flatten, straighten, bend, cut, or pierce stock. Metal wire or workpieces move through a series of dies that compress them into the die impression. Sample pieces are run first to confirm the setup, then finished parts are measured against spec, and malfunctions are watched for during the run. Suits people who like reading drawings, handling heavy tooling, and checking formed parts against tight dimensions.
Typical education: High School Diploma or GED
Annual Median Wage in Field (2025)
$49'030
Median Wage Market Position
$49'030
What you might do
- Set up forging presses for hot or cold work
- Read blueprints for tolerances and operation order
- Guide stock through dies that shape it
- Install and adjust dies, hammers, and guides
- Turn knobs to set ram pressure and depth
- Inspect forged parts against the specifications
Skills that matter
- Reading blueprints for forging sequences
- Setting ram pressure and stroke depth
- Feeding stock through shaping dies
- Checking forged parts against tolerances
- Planning the order of forging operations
- Talking over die setups with other workers
AI & the future of this role
Routine cycle control and inspection cues may shift toward smarter machine systems over time. Hands-on die changes, hot-metal handling, and judgment when stock behaves unpredictably still tend to keep people central on the floor.
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