Lathe & Turning Machinist
Skilled Trades
Set up, operate, or tend lathe and turning machines to turn, bore, thread, form, or face metal or plastic materials, such as wire, rod, or bar stock.
You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.
What you'd do all day
The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.
- 1Adjust machine controls and change tool settings to keep dimensions within specified tolerances.
- 2Move controls to set cutting speeds and depths and feed rates, and to position tools in relation to workpieces.
- 3Study blueprints, layouts or charts, and job orders for information on specifications and tooling instructions, and to determine material requirements and operational sequences.
- 4Inspect sample workpieces to verify conformance with specifications, using instruments such as gauges, micrometers, and dial indicators.
- 5Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.
- 6Move toolholders manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to feed tools to and along workpieces.
- 7Compute unspecified dimensions and machine settings, using knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
- 8Crank machines through cycles, stopping to adjust tool positions and machine controls to ensure specified timing, clearances, and tolerances.
- 9Position, secure, and align cutting tools in toolholders on machines, using hand tools, and verify their positions with measuring instruments.
- 10Start lathe or turning machines and observe operations to ensure that specifications are met.
- 11Program computer numerical control machines.
- 12Refill, change, and monitor the level of fluids, such as oil and coolant, in machines.
- 13Clean work area.
- 14Lift metal stock or workpieces manually or using hoists, and position and secure them in machines, using fasteners and hand tools.
- 15Install holding fixtures, cams, gears, and stops to control stock and tool movement, using hand tools, power tools, and measuring instruments.
- 16Select cutting tools and tooling instructions, according to written specifications or knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
- 17Mount attachments, such as relieving or tracing attachments, to perform operations, such as duplicating contours of templates or trimming workpieces.
- 18Turn valve handles to direct the flow of coolant onto work areas or to coat disks with spinning compounds.
Also known as
What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.
- Chaser
- Hobber
- Planer
- Chucker
- Spinner
- Concaver
- Deburrer
- Threader
- Back Facer
- Bar Turner
How far is this from you?
Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.
1
Entry straight after SPM
Typical entry
SPM + sijil / short TVET course
3
Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)
4
Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)
5
Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route
Subjects that matter here
The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.
What you'd need to know
The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.
- Production and Processing80%
Design & Technology (RBT)Mechanical Engineering Studies
- Mechanical73%
Mechanical Engineering StudiesPhysicsDesign & Technology (RBT)
- Engineering and Technology72%
PhysicsAdditional MathematicsDesign & Technology (RBT)
- Education and Training66%
- Administration and Management65%
BusinessEconomics
- Customer and Personal Service65%
What the work feels like
Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.
- Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
- Contact with other peopleOccasional contact
- Dealing with customers or the publicHigh
- Handling conflict situationsAlmost never
- Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
- Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
- Noisy environmentEvery day
- Time spent sittingA little
AI and demand for this job
A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.
Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)
This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.
Pay in Malaysia
We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.
Where to check:
- JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
- DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
- SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post
Check what you may qualify for
Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.
How to get here
Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.
Related careers
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About this information
This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.
O*NET occupation: Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org