Cutting and shaping wooden components for yachts and boats using machines
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to cut and shape wood and manufactured board components for yachts or boats using machine tools, in accordance with approved procedures. The production of the components will involve the use of both fixed and portable conventional machines, which are designed specifically for wood and composite materials. You will be required to interpret the drawings and work instructions and to use the appropriate equipment, based on the type of operations to be performed and the size of the components to be produced. You will monitor the work produced and make any necessary adjustments during machining, in order that the parts produced meet the required specification. The components produced will cover structural components (such as hull frames, deck and hull planks, bulk heads, hatch covers, doors and windows/ports, spars, floors) and furniture or trim items (such as navigational and helm consoles, bunks, top boxes. storage boxes, ladders, steps, decorative mouldings. frames, cases, storage units, furniture and other structures).
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the woodwork machining activities undertaken and to report any problems with the machining activities, or with the tools, equipment and materials used, that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will need to complete all necessary job/task documentation accurately and legibly. You will work to instructions, with a minimum of supervision and take personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will be sufficient to provide a sound basis for your work and will provide an informed approach to the production of yacht or boat wooden components using woodwork machining procedures. You will have an understanding of the equipment being used and its application and will know about the tooling, machine setting/adjustment arrangements and tool maintenance and safety devices in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required specification. You will be able to identify blunt and damaged cutting tools and will know when to replace them, in order for them to work efficiently.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the machining activities, especially those for using machine guards and for isolating the equipment when adjusting or changing cutting tools. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety legislation, regulations, directives and other relevant guidelines
- confirm that the machine is set up and ready for the machining activities to be carried out
- operate the machine tool controls safely and correctly in line with operational procedures
- cut and shape components to the required quality and within the specified dimensional accuracy
- carry out quality sampling checks at suitable intervals
- deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
- shut down the equipment to a safe condition on conclusion of the machining activities
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the safe working practices and procedures to be observed when cutting and shaping yacht or boat wooden components using woodworking machines (including working with machinery; the use of appropriate personal protective equipment; machine guards; operation of machine safety devices; stopping the machine in an emergency; closing the machine down on completion of activities; statutory requirements, risk assessment procedures and relevant requirements of HASAWA, COSHH, Work Equipment Regulations and Wood Working Regulations)
- the health and safety requirements of the work area in which you are carrying out the machining activities and the responsibility they place on you
- the importance of checking that the machinery used is working correctly, and that the cutting tools are undamaged and are in a safe and sharp condition
- how to set up and use dust extraction equipment and the importance of ensuring that this equipment is operating correctly
- the personal protective equipment and clothing (PPE) to be worn during the wood machining activities
- the hazards associated with machining wood and composite materials, and how they can be minimised
- the importance of ensuring that all machines and portable tools are used correctly and within their permitted operating range
- the need to ensure that all plugs, sockets and cables on portable machines are in a safe, tested and usable condition
- how to obtain the necessary job instructions required for the work being carried out
- the various machines that are used in wood machining and the range of operations they are capable of performing (such as sawing, planing, rebating, profiling)
- how to check that the cutting tools are in a usable and safe condition, and the procedure for changing and adjusting these when required
- how different types of machines require different methods to feed the material to the cutting tool
- the various methods used to hold/guide the components that are being cut and shaped
- the methods used to cut square, angular and circular/curved profiles
- what checks need to be carried out to ensure the accuracy and quality of the components produced and the type of equipment that is used to carry out these checks
- recognising defects in the components (which may be material defects or those produced through machining)
- why it is important to keep the tools and equipment clean and free from damage, to practice good housekeeping of tools and equipment and to maintain a clean and unobstructed working area
- why tool/equipment control is critical and what to do if a tool or piece of equipment is unaccounted for on completion of the activities
- the quality standards to be attained and the company/customer quality control procedures
- the recording documentation to be completed for the activities undertaken and where appropriate, the importance of marking and identifying specific pieces of work in relation to the documentation
- the extent of your own responsibility and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Carry out all of the following during the wood machining activities:
- obtain all the necessary information to carry out the machining activities (such as job instructions, drawings, specifications)
- adhere to procedures or systems in place for risk assessment, COSHH, personal protective equipment and other relevant safety regulations
- check that the machine and its cutting tools are in a safe and usable condition
- ensure that the work area is free from hazards
- ensure that all machine guards and safety devices are correctly positioned
- check that dust extraction equipment is functioning correctly
- set and adjust the machine to produce the components to the required specification
- use safe and approved machining techniques at all times
Use fixed and portable machines, to include four of the following:
- circular saw
- planer/thicknesser
- spindle moulder (single or double)
- band saw
- morticer/tenoner
- bench or pedestal drill
- sander (such as orbital, face, belt, bobbin)
- combing machine
- router
- lathe
- other special purpose machine
Cut and shape components which combine different features and cover six of the following profiles:
- flat faces
- plain diameters
- mortices
- curved profiles
- parallel faces
- stepped diameters
- half lap joints
- concave profiles
- square faces
- tapers
- combed joints
- convex profiles
- angular/tapered faces
- slots/grooves
- dovetail joints
- drilled holes
- stepped features
- tenons
- rebates
Cut and shape materials for four of the following yacht or boat components:
- bulkhead(s)
- transom
- top boxes
- bunks
- doors and door frames
- helm consoles
- furniture units with drawers
- mouldings (such as door frame)
- navigational consoles
- furniture units with doors
- ladders
- windows/ports
- hull frames
- steps
- rudder
- keel/backbone
- bulwarks
- tiller
- stem
- floors
- wheel
- moulds
- stringers
- mast
- horn timber
- carlins
- hatch/hatch covers
- hull planks/strakes
- cabin
- engine/machinery bearers
- deck beams
- coach roof
- deck planks
Produce components made from one of the following materials:
- soft woods
- hard woods
- manufactured board
Cut/shape yacht or boat wooden components which meet all of the following:
- dimensionally accurate within specification tolerances
- free from false tool cuts and material defects
- interlocking components (joints) are secure
- have an appropriate cosmetic finish
- meet the drawing or specification requirements
- free from defects due to stress relief (twisting/warping)and excessive burrs
- meet company and customer requirements
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
You will be able to apply the appropriate behaviours required in the workplace to meet the job profile and overall company objectives, such as:
- strong work ethic
- positive attitude
- team player
- dependability
- responsibility
- honesty
- integrity
- motivation
- commitment