Machining components using shaping, planing or slotting machines

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This standard identifies the competences you need to carry out shaping, planing or slotting operations, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to check that the machine is ready for the operations to be performed and that all the required components/materials and consumables are available. You will be expected to produce a range of components that combine a number of different features, such as flat faces, parallel faces, faces that are square to each other, angular faces, steps, slots, keyways, flat sided holes, splines and serrations.

You will be required to operate the machine in line with safe working practices and approved procedures, and to continuously monitor the machining operations, making any necessary adjustments in order to ensure that the work output is to the required quality and accuracy. Meeting production targets will be an important issue, and your production records must show consistent and satisfactory performance.

Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the machining activities undertaken, and to report any problems with the machining activities that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision, taking personal responsibility for your actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you produce.

Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to applying machining procedures. You will understand the shaping, planing or slotting process, and its application, and will know about the equipment, materials and consumables, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required specification.

You will understand the safety precautions required when working with the machine and its associated tools and equipment. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.

This standard does not cover CNC applications, for which other standards apply.

Setting up of the machine, its tooling and associated workholding devices, is the subject of another standard.

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1. work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
2. confirm that the machine is set up and ready for the machining activities to be carried out
3. manipulate the machine tool controls safely and correctly in line with operational procedures
4. produce components to the required quality and within the specified dimensional accuracy
5. carry out quality sampling checks at suitable intervals
6. deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
7. complete the required production documentation
8. shut down the equipment to a safe condition on conclusion of the machining activities

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1. how to work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
2. the safety mechanisms on the machine, and the procedure for checking that they function correctly
3. operation of the machine controls in both hand and power modes, and how to stop the machine in an emergency
4. the personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn, and where this can be obtained
5. the hazards associated with the carrying out shaping, planing or slotting operations, and how to minimise them and reduce any risks
6. the importance of keeping the work area clean and tidy
7. where to obtain the component drawings, specifications and/or job instructions required for the components to be machined
8. how to extract and use information from engineering drawings and related specifications (to include symbols and conventions to appropriate standards) in relation to work undertaken
9. how to interpret first and third angle drawings, imperial and metric systems of measurement, workpiece reference points and system of tolerancing
10. the various shaping, planing and slotting techniques that can be used to produce the required shapes, and the types of tooling used
11. the methods that can be used to position the workpiece in relation to the cutting tools
12. the effects of backlash in machine slides and screws, and how this can be overcome
13. how to handle and store cutting tools safely and correctly
14. factors which affect the selection of cutting feeds and speeds, and the depth of cut that can be taken
15. how the various types of material will affect the feeds and speeds that can be used
16. the application of roughing and finishing cuts, and the effect on tool life, surface finish and dimensional accuracy
17. the application of cutting fluids with regard to a range of different materials
18. the effects of clamping the workpiece, and how this can cause distortion in the finished components
19. the effects of removing material, how this can cause warping/distortion of the workpiece, and how this can be overcome
20. how to recognise machining faults and identify when tools need re-sharpening
21. the quality control procedures used, inspection checks to be carried out, and the equipment to be used
22. the problems that can occur with the shaping, planing or slotting activities, and how these can be overcome
23. the extent of your own authority and to whom you should report if you have problems that you cannot resolve

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1. Ensure that you apply all of the following during the machining activities:
   1. obtain and use the appropriate documentation
   2. adhere to procedures or systems in place for risk assessment,  personal protective equipment and other relevant safety regulations and procedures to realise a safe system of work
   3. ensure that machine guards are in place and correctly adjusted
   4. hold components securely without distortion
   5. maintain cutting tools in a suitable condition
   6. apply safe working practices at all times
   7. adjust machine settings, as required, to maintain the required accuracy
   8. ensure that components produced meet specification
   9. leave the work area and machine in a safe and appropriate condition on completion of the activities
2. Manipulate one type of machine from the following:
   1. shaping
   2. planing
   3. slotting
   4. milling machine with slotting attachment
3. Produce machined components which combine different operations and cover six of the following:
   1. flat faces
   2. angular faces
   3. flat sided holes (such as square, hexagonal)
   4. faces that are square to each other
   5. slots and grooves
   6. splines
   7. parallel faces
   8. special forms
   9. serrations
   10. steps/shoulders
   11. keyways
   12. special forms
4. Machine components made from one type of material from the following:
   1. ferrous
   2. non-ferrous
   3. non-metallic
5. Carry out the necessary checks during production for accuracy of five of the following:
   1. dimensions
   2. spline/serration fit
   3. squareness
   4. surface finish
   5. angles
   6. slot/recess width
   7. flatness
   8. keyway position
6. Produce components within all the relevant quality and accuracy standards, as applicable to the operations performed:
   1. components to be free from false tool cuts, burrs and sharp edges
   2. dimensional tolerance equivalent to relevant standard
   3. flatness and squareness within 0.001" per inch or 0.025mm per 25mm
   4. surface finish 63 µin or 1.6µm
   5. angles within +/- 0.5 degree

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3

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31 Mar 2028

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Current

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Original

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Enginuity

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SEMMME3011

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Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Engineering Technicians

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3113

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Engineering; manufacturing; mechanical; machining; components; shaping; planing; slotting; machining keyways; machining splines; multi-facet shaping

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