Will AI replace Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic?

AI can do 2% of the work Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic do at least twice as fast. Real use has not caught up: none of their tasks show up in real AI use yet, but AI could speed up 1 of them. Robots can technically handle 12 physical tasks. 5 still need a person.

AI is already doing this0 · 0% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Real AI use has not reached any of this job's tasks yet.

AI could do this next1 · 2% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Select cutting tools and tooling instructions, according to written specifications or knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.2% of time

Robots can technically do this12 · 80% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Start lathe or turning machines and observe operations to ensure that specifications are met.Robots: structured workplaces13% of time
  • Inspect sample workpieces to verify conformance with specifications, using instruments such as gauges, micrometers, and dial indicators.Robots: purpose built settings11% of time
  • Adjust machine controls and change tool settings to keep dimensions within specified tolerances.Robots: purpose built settings10% of time
  • Lift metal stock or workpieces manually or using hoists, and position and secure them in machines, using fasteners and hand tools.Robots: purpose built settings10% of time
  • Move controls to set cutting speeds and depths and feed rates, and to position tools in relation to workpieces.Robots: structured workplaces7% of time
  • Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.Robots: purpose built settings6% of time
  • Position, secure, and align cutting tools in toolholders on machines, using hand tools, and verify their positions with measuring instruments.Robots: purpose built settings6% of time
  • Move toolholders manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to feed tools to and along workpieces.Robots: structured workplaces5% of time
  • Clean work area.Robots: purpose built settings5% of time
  • Install holding fixtures, cams, gears, and stops to control stock and tool movement, using hand tools, power tools, and measuring instruments.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time
  • Refill, change, and monitor the level of fluids, such as oil and coolant, in machines.Robots: structured workplaces2% of time
  • Turn valve handles to direct the flow of coolant onto work areas or to coat disks with spinning compounds.Robots: purpose built settings1% of time

Still needs a person5 · 17% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Study blueprints, layouts or charts, and job orders for information on specifications and tooling instructions, and to determine material requirements and operational sequences.5% of time
  • Program computer numerical control machines.5% of time
  • Crank machines through cycles, stopping to adjust tool positions and machine controls to ensure specified timing, clearances, and tolerances.4% of time
  • Compute unspecified dimensions and machine settings, using knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.2% of time
  • Mount attachments, such as relieving or tracing attachments, to perform operations, such as duplicating contours of templates or trimming workpieces.1% of time

Your week is not the average

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What this means

Little of this work suits AI. The bigger change here is robots: today's robots can technically do 80% of the working time, though they are rarely cheap enough to replace people yet.

What to do next

  • Get ahead on the 1 task AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 12 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 5 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic1%Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic0%Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic6%Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic10%Pourers and Casters, Metal0%Foundry Mold and Coremakers0%

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