Career & application guide

Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Get to know the work, the skills that matter, and how to prepare your next application.

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What do extruding and drawing machine setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic do?

Set up, operate, or tend machines to extrude or draw thermoplastic or metal materials into tubes, rods, hoses, wire, bars, or structural shapes.

This describes a U.S. occupation, not a live vacancy. Individual employers may use different titles and requirements.

Job titles to recognize in your search

O*NET reports these titles for this occupation. Compare the responsibilities in each posting before treating titles as equivalent.

  • Equipment Technician (Equipment Tech)
  • Extruder Operator
  • Extrusion Line Operator
  • Extrusion Operator
  • Extrusion Press Operator
  • Machine Operator
  • Metal Inspector
  • Setup Operator

Core tasks to compare with a job posting

  • Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
  • Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.
  • Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
  • Troubleshoot, maintain, and make minor repairs to equipment.
  • Change dies on extruding machines, according to production line changes.
  • Load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
  • Install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.
  • Operate shearing mechanisms to cut rods to specified lengths.
  • Maintain an inventory of materials.
  • Clean work areas.

Prepare an application for this occupation

  1. Check the employer’s requirements, location, schedule and any licenses against your situation.
  2. Choose two or three tasks above that match the posting and your actual experience.
  3. Build a resume evidence worksheet using the skills and software relevant to that employer.
  4. Practice explaining your contribution, decisions and results before an interview.

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