Thermal Spray Technician

General Description:

The Thermal Spray Technician is responsible for the setup and operation of thermal spray equipment, including robotic systems, spray guns, and powder feeders. This role ensures parts are coated according to precise technical specifications and safety protocols, producing high-quality components.

Essential Functions:

Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Equipment Maintenance: Maintain thermal spray equipment, including guns, powder feeders, and grit blasting equipment, according to established preventive maintenance procedures.
• Process Execution: Follow all job traveler instructions and technical drawings to perform proper cleaning, masking, grit blasting, and thermal spray application.
• Robotics Operation: Select and run proper robot programs to apply coatings and make necessary adjustments to spray distance and speed to meet specifications.
• Booth Setup: Set up the thermal spray booth using lathes, turntables, and other tooling to prepare parts for coating.
• Equipment Configuration: Use thermal spray technique cards to set up equipment for various coatings, including adjusting console settings, gas flows, pressures, and powder feed rates.
• Quality Assurance: Use precision measuring devices such as calipers and micrometers to verify proper coating dimensions after application.
• Safety & Cleanliness: Adhere to all safety protocols, including wearing proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) and always maintaining a clean and safe work area.

Competencies:

• Attention to Detail: Meticulous focus on precision is crucial for masking, part preparation, and applying coatings to achieve high-quality results.
• Communication: Strong communication skills to report issues, understand complex instructions, and coordinate with team members.
• Critical Evaluation and Thinking: The ability to identify and troubleshoot issues during the thermal spray process and make informed decisions to maintain product quality.
• Manual Dexterity: Excellent hand-eye coordination for handling parts, tools, and fixtures.
• Technical Aptitude: A foundational understanding of the equipment and processes involved in thermal spraying, with the ability to learn and adapt to new technologies.

Technical Training Required:

• Abrasive Blast Cabinet Maintenance and Operation: Training on the safe and proper use of abrasive blast cabinets.
• Thermal Spray Equipment Operation: Hands-on training in operating thermal spray equipment, including both manual and automated systems.
• Robotics Operation: Training on how to select and run robot programs for thermal spray application.
• Work Order & Data Management: Instruction on how to read and complete job travelers and perform data entry into the Envision/Epicor system.
• Blueprint and Technical Data Interpretation: Training on how to read and understand technical drawings and data sheets.
• Safety and Equipment Handling: Comprehensive training on the proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the safe operation of any lifting equipment, if required.

Supervisory responsibility:

This position has no supervisory responsibilities.

Work Environment:

This job operates in a medium-to-heavy manufacturing environment with frequent exposure to noise, temperatures, dust, odors, and fumes.

Physical Demands:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

• The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. 20/20 vision with or without corrective lenses.
• Must be able to safely utilize and wear PPE, such as a dust mask, steel-toe footwear, and safety glasses.

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:

This is a full-time position. Hours of work are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for First shift. Monday through Friday 3:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. for Second shift.

Travel:

No travel is expected for this position.

Required Education and Experience:

• High School Graduate
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in a job using a robot, spray system, and gun with a turntable.
• Familiarity with booth qualifications and setup is required.

Other Duties:

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

***Must be able to undergo a drug screening