What do Fitters & Turners do?
Fitters & Turners are highly skilled crafts people who manufacture and construct components for machinery and use power operated tools such as lathes, milling- and drilling machines. They maintain and repair many different kinds of machines. They are also responsible for the assembling and fitting of new components and equipment. It is a highly skilled job.
If you consider yourself good with metal and repairing parts, then a career in Fitting & Turning may be just for you!
What duties and tasks does a Fitter & Turner perform?
- Assembles and fits components for machinery;
- Maintains and repairs machinery;
- Uses blueprints/plans to measure material for production;
- Monitors machinery and repairs faults;
- Fits parts required to complete the machine;
- Drill and tap holes;
- Overhaul valves;
- Maintain and align couplings;
- Tension and align V-belts; and
- Use machinery (such as lathe and milling machine) to manufacture components.
- What skills and abilities must I have to become a Fitter and Turner?
- Good at working with your hands;
- Must be very mechanically minded;
- Must be able to take exact measurements and work accurately;
- Must be mathematically minded;
- Must be able to concentrate under noisy working conditions; and
- Be able to read three-dimensional drawings.
What are the working conditions of a Fitter & Turner?
Fitters & Turners generally work in noisy, dirty and sometimes crowded conditions. There are many physical demands in the job, such as: standing, bending and crouching which can be tiring. Fitters & Turners work overtime on public holidays as well as do weekend and nightshift work.
Advice
If you consider yourself good with metal and repairing parts, then a career in Fitting & Turner may be just for you!