CNC Machinist
Manufacturing
CNC machinists set up and operate computer-controlled machine tools that cut, shape, and finish metal or other materials into precision parts, working from blueprints or CAD files to exact tolerances.
Education
Certificate or apprenticeship in machining
Experiences
Coming soon
Why this career matters
Precision metal parts show up in everything from cars to medical devices to aircraft, and someone has to machine them to the tolerance the design calls for. It's a hands-on trade with a clear certificate-to-job path that doesn't require a four-year degree.
What you actually do
A day in the life
You start by reviewing the blueprint for the day's job and setting up the machine and tooling to match it. Once it's running, you spend most of the shift monitoring the cut, checking finished parts against tolerance with calipers or a micrometer, and adjusting the setup if a part comes out wrong. A finishing pass (filing, grinding, or polishing) closes out each batch.
Key skills
Observe's own list, not government data.
Work environment
Related careers
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