What Does an Instrument Maker Do?
The sample holder or vacuum chamber a physics lab needs this month is rarely in any catalog, so it comes from the instrument maker down the hall. Instrument makers draw these parts in SolidWorks and machine them on manual and computer-controlled (CNC) lathes and mills, working in research shops at universities and government labs. Vacuum parts get a leak test before delivery.
Also known as: Instrument Maker Designer, Mechanician, Senior Mechanician
Instrument Maker Duties and Responsibilities
The primary responsibilities of an instrument maker include:
- Turn a researcher's sketch or idea into dimensioned drawings in SolidWorks before cutting metal.
- Machine custom parts on manual and CNC lathes and mills to tight tolerances.
- Build vacuum chambers, sample holders and optical mounts for physics, chemistry and biology labs.
- Select metals and plastics, such as stainless steel, aluminum, brass or PEEK, for each application.
- Weld and braze assemblies with TIG equipment, then leak-test vacuum parts before delivery.
- Measure finished parts with micrometers, height gauges and indicators, recording critical dimensions.
- Repair and modify existing lab instruments when an experiment changes.
- Consult with faculty and students on what can be built, how long it takes and what it costs.
- Maintain shop machines and keep cutting tools sharp and organized.
- Teach students safe machine use when they work in the shop.
Required Skills and Qualifications
To succeed as an instrument maker, you will need the following skills and qualifications:
- Manual and CNC lathe and mill operation
- SolidWorks or similar CAD software
- Reading and making engineering drawings with GD&T
- Welding and brazing, including TIG
- Vacuum and cryogenic hardware know-how
- Precision measurement
- Inventive problem-solving with researchers
- Patience for custom, low-volume work
Education and Training
Most instrument makers learn through a machinist apprenticeship or long on-the-job training, but some start out by finishing a precision machining program at a community college. Experience of building lab equipment could lead to a designer post. CAD courses in SolidWorks may also help.
Salary and Job Outlook
Typical pay: $47,570 - $67,700 per year, with a median of $58,750.
The range covers the middle half of earners nationwide. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025, Machinists.
According to BLS, growth for machinists, the wider group that includes instrument makers, is projected at about 1 percent from 2025 to 2035, with roughly 26,100 openings a year. And, as long as researchers design experiments that need custom hardware, instrument makers will be needed to make sure it gets built and works.
Outlook source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections, 2025 to 2035, Machinists.