Instrument Maker Duties and Responsibilities
Purpose of Classification:
Fabricates, assists in the design, modification, and repair
mechanical instruments or mechanical assemblies of electrical or
electronic instruments. Manufactures a wide variety of scientific
apparatus using Computer Numerical Control (CNC) systems/equipment,
and conventional machine shop equipment. Coordinates with faculty
members, engineers, and graduate assistants to clarify research
requirements and advises on feasibility of construction. Prepares
rough and finish sketches from oral instructions, adapts and
modifies sketches and blueprints. Repairs, tests, calibrates, and
inspects prototype instruments and assemblies. Prepares estimates
for projected jobs, and maintains various cost records on each
project. Requisitions materials, supplies, and tools. Makes
recommendations for equipment purchases.
Distinguishing Characteristics:
This is
first in a series of three classifications and is a journey-level
classification. It is distinguished from the Instrument
Maker/Designer in that this classification does not supervise and
typically has narrower skill range.Incumbents consult supervisor and
higher levels more frequently on unusual problems or supervisor may
review projects and work. Working conditions include restricted
movement, dirty environment, air contamination, intense noise,
hazardous materials, lifting or carrying heavy objects.
Examples of Duties:
- Creates, fabricates, and/or assists in the design of a wide
variety of highly technical research and laboratory equipment
such as interferometers, mass spectrometers, and microwave
cavities.
- Modifies, repairs, and rebuilds instructional laboratory
equipment.
- Confers with faculty members, engineers, and graduate
assistants to clarify research requirements, and advises on
feasibility of projected construction.
- Develops rough and finished sketches of research and
laboratory instruments, parts, or equipment from oral
instructions, and adapts and modifies sketches and blueprints
based on applicable properties and mathematical calculations.
- Fabricates a wide variety of special laboratory equipment
working in metals, plastic, wood, or other materials.
- Prepares estimates for projected jobs and maintains various
cost records.
- Requisitions materials, supplies, and tools, and makes
recommendations for equipment purchases.
- Designs fixtures, experimental parts, and tooling to meet
specialized needs of engineering and research projects; fits and
assembles parts.
- Builds and assists in design of a wide variety of research
and laboratory equipment.
- Sets-up and operates machine tools (e.g. lathe, milling
machine, shaper, grinder) to fabricate parts to specifications;
uses a variety of hand tools.
- Analyzes information such as product design, capacity,
purpose, and material to be used in fabrication through written
specification, drawings, rough sketches, blueprints or verbal
instruction to plan layout and sequence of operations.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:
- Knowledge of and skill with CNC machine experience and GCODE
editing.
- Knowledge of and skill in using CadCam Systems.
- Knowledge of metal joining techniques and vacuum assemblies.
- Skill in the use of quality assurance methods and equipment.
- Knowledge of metal joining techniques and vacuum assemblies.
- Knowledge of mechanics and applicable mathematics, algebra,
trigonometry, and geometry.
- Knowledge in fabrication, modification, and repair of
mechanical instruments and assemblies.
- Knowledge of metal properties, layout, and machining
purposes.
- Skills in the fabrication, modification, and repair of
mechanical instruments and assemblies.
- Skill in both verbal and written communication.
- Skill in use of various laboratory equipment.
Minimum Qualifications:
Eight
years of experience in the fabrication, modification, and repair of
mechanical instruments and assemblies using manual and CNC mchine
shop equipment; OR, Completeion of a two year machine tool
technology program AND six years' experience related to the
fabrication and repair of mechanical devices and instrument
assemblies; OR, Any equivalent combination of experience and/or
education from which comparable knowledge, skills and abilities have
been achieved.
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