AUTOMATIC-LATHE OPERATOR

The automatic-lathe operator is the professional specialized in profile turning, a machining process that consists of manufacturing, from bars of metal, round parts in series by removing material on automatic lathes. In watchmaking, profile turning produces a multitude of components: shafts, rods, pinions, screws, sleeves, arbors, pins, whose dimensions are often measured in tenths or hundredths of a millimeter. The automatic-lathe operator sets and monitors the lathes (automatic lathes) (traditional cam-operated or CNC-controlled), selects the tools, defines the speeds and feed rates, and tests continuously checks the dimensional accuracy and surface finish of repetitive production. This trade demands great rigor: the slightest drift affects thousands of parts. Historically concentrated in the Jura Arc and the Arve valley, precision profile turning is an essential link in the watchmaking chain. The automatic-lathe operator frequently works with demanding materials (steels, brass, special alloys) and supplies the industry with standardized components. Their expertise determines the quality of the entire movement.