Machinists - Main Machinists Machinists use machine tools to craft precision parts from metal. Machinists use lathes, drill presses, and milling machines when creating precision metal parts. They use their knowledge of the properties of metal, such as flexibility, to plan how to build parts. Machinists start their planning by reading blueprints or written directions about the job. Then they calculate where to cut or bore into the piece.
Machinists also determine how fast to feed the metal into the machine and how much metal to remove.
Next they select materials and tools for the job and plan the sequence of cutting and finishing. The final planning step is to mark the metal to show where the cuts should be made. The machining stage begins with the machinist positioning the metal on the first machine tool. Then they set the controls and make the cuts. New machinery allows various functions to be performed with one setup.