Metal or plastic lathe operator
Sets up and runs lathes and turning machines that shape, bore, thread, or face metal or plastic materials like wire, rod, and bar.
Will AI replace metal or plastic lathe operator jobs?
AI changes jobs more often than it replaces them. How much AI can help with this work: Medium. More AI overlap than 51 in 100 jobs. AI helps with some tasks, like paperwork or first drafts. People still do the core of the job. 0% of this job’s working time is already spent on tasks people bring to AI at work (Anthropic Economic Index). Based on Microsoft research on real AI use at work, matched to the tasks of each job in O*NET.
What AI already helps with
- Choose cutting tools and tooling steps based on specs and metal properties
- Calculate missing sizes and machine settings using shop math
- Study blueprints and job orders for specs, material needs, and steps
What stays human
- Adjust machine controls and tool settings to keep sizes within limits
- Move controls to set cutting speed, depth, and feed rate
- Inspect sample pieces to check they meet specs using gauges and micrometers
10-year outlook · USA
Expected change in the number of these jobs by 2035: -11.3%. Typical pay: $50,620 a year. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. German figures differ, but the direction is usually similar.
Try Metal or plastic lathe operator for a day
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