Heat Treating Equipment Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Also known as: Annealer, Annealing Furnace Operator, Annealing Furnace Tender (+85 more)
Set up, operate, or tend heating equipment, such as heat-treating furnaces, flame-hardening machines, induction machines, soaking pits, or vacuum equipment to temper, harden, anneal, or heat treat metal or plastic objects.
Take the free 15-minute assessment to compare this role with your profile, your current fit, and nearby alternatives
What You'll Do
- Read production schedules and work orders to determine processing sequences, furnace temperatures, and heat cycle requirements for objects to be heat-treated.
- Record times that parts are removed from furnaces to document that objects have attained specified temperatures for specified times.
- Set up and operate or tend machines, such as furnaces, baths, flame-hardening machines, and electronic induction machines, that harden, anneal, and heat-treat metal.
- Determine types and temperatures of baths and quenching media needed to attain specified part hardness, toughness, and ductility, using heat-treating charts and knowledge of methods, equipment, and metals.
- Remove parts from furnaces after specified times, and air dry or cool parts in water, oil brine, or other baths.
- Position stock in furnaces, using tongs, chain hoists, or pry bars.
- Instruct new workers in machine operation.
- Adjust controls to maintain temperatures and heating times, using thermal instruments and charts, dials and gauges of furnaces, and color of stock in furnaces to make setting determinations.
- Determine flame temperatures, current frequencies, heating cycles, and induction heating coils needed, based on degree of hardness required and properties of stock to be treated.
- Load parts into containers and place containers on conveyors to be inserted into furnaces, or insert parts into furnaces.
Essential Skills
Career Fit Overview
Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.
Top passions
- Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
- Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
- Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.
Common styles
Dependability, Cautiousness, Attention to Detail, Stress Tolerance, Integrity
Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.
Key Abilities
This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:
Technologies & Tools
Work Environment & Strengths
Common Strengths for This Career
- Dependability (High importance: 4.63/5)
- Cautiousness (High importance: 4.57/5)
- Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.44/5)
- Stress Tolerance (High importance: 3.73/5)
- Integrity (High importance: 3.61/5)
Want to see how YOUR strengths align with this career?
Take Free 15-Min Assessment →How to Become One
Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.
Similar Careers to Explore
Insulation Workers, Mechanical
99.9% similar profile
Plumbers, Pipefitters, and Steamfitters
99.9% similar profile
Hazardous Materials Removal Workers
99.9% similar profile
Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
99.9% similar profile
Recreational Vehicle Service Technicians
99.9% similar profile
Textile Bleaching and Dyeing Machine Operators and Tenders
99.9% similar profile
Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
99.9% similar profile
Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
99.9% similar profile
Also Known As
This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:
Career Fit FAQs
Is this career a good fit for me
This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.
Can this help if I want to stay in my field
Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.
What should I compare first
Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.
Ready to Compare This Career to Your Profile?
Use the assessment to compare your current role, inspect nearby options, and see whether this career is a stronger fit for how you work.
Take Free Assessment (15 min) →