Job Duties Custom List 51-4031.00 — Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Position guides, stops, holding blocks, or other fixtures to secure and direct workpieces, using hand tools and measuring devices.

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Closely Related Tasks	All Related Tasks	Job Zone	Code	Occupation
2	2	2	51-4033.00	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
1	2	2	51-4023.00	Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
1	2	1	51-6021.00	Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials
1	2	2	51-4193.00	Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
1	1	2	51-2031.00	Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
1	1	2	51-4022.00	Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
1	1	2	49-9094.00	Locksmiths and Safe Repairers
1	1	2	51-9196.00	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
1	1	2	51-4081.00	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
1	1	2	51-7041.00	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
1	1	2	51-7042.00	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
1	1	2	51-9032.00	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
1	1	2	51-4072.00	Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Job Duties: Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Adjust air cylinders and setting stops to set traverse lengths and feed arm strokes.
Slide spacers between buffs on spindles to set spacing.

Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.
Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.
Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.
Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.
Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.
Select machine tooling to be used, using knowledge of machine and production requirements.
Mount and position tools in machine chucks, spindles, or other tool holding devices, using hand tools.
Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications.
Set up, operate, or tend grinding and related tools that remove excess material or burrs from surfaces, sharpen edges or corners, or buff, hone, or polish metal or plastic workpieces.
Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation.
Brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces.
Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.
Repair or replace machine parts, using hand tools, or notify engineering personnel when corrective action is required.
Compute machine indexings and settings for specified dimensions and base reference points.
Maintain stocks of machine parts and machining tools.
Thread and hand-feed materials through machine cutters or abraders.
Adjust air cylinders and setting stops to set traverse lengths and feed arm strokes.
Slide spacers between buffs on spindles to set spacing.

Job Duties: Rolling Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set distance points between rolls, guides, meters, and stops, according to specifications.

Install equipment such as guides, guards, gears, cooling equipment, and rolls, using hand tools.

Monitor machine cycles and mill operation to detect jamming and to ensure that products conform to specifications.
Adjust and correct machine set-ups to reduce thicknesses, reshape products, and eliminate product defects.
Start operation of rolling and milling machines to flatten, temper, form, and reduce sheet metal sections and to produce steel strips.
Examine, inspect, and measure raw materials and finished products to verify conformance to specifications.
Read rolling orders, blueprints, and mill schedules to determine setup specifications, work sequences, product dimensions, and installation procedures.
Manipulate controls and observe dial indicators to monitor, adjust, and regulate speeds of machine mechanisms.
Calculate draft space and roll speed for each mill stand to plan rolling sequences and specified dimensions and tempers.
Position, align, and secure arbors, spindles, coils, mandrels, dies, and slitting knives.
Fill oil cups, adjust valves, and observe gauges to control flow of metal coolants and lubricants onto workpieces.
Activate shears and grinders to trim workpieces.
Signal and assist other workers to remove and position equipment, fill hoppers, and feed materials into machines.
Record mill production on schedule sheets.
Direct and train other workers to change rolls, operate mill equipment, remove coils and cobbles, and band and load material.
Thread or feed sheets or rods through rolling mechanisms, or start and control mechanisms that automatically feed steel into rollers.
Select rolls, dies, roll stands, and chucks from data charts to form specified contours and to fabricate products.
Remove scratches and polish roll surfaces, using polishing stones and electric buffers.
Disassemble sizing mills removed from rolling lines, and sort and store parts.
Set distance points between rolls, guides, meters, and stops, according to specifications.
Install equipment such as guides, guards, gears, cooling equipment, and rolls, using hand tools.

Job Duties: Pressers, Textile, Garment, and Related Materials

Position materials such as cloth garments, felt, or straw on tables, dies, or feeding mechanisms of pressing machines, or on ironing boards or work tables.

Select, install, and adjust machine components, including pressing forms, rollers, and guides, using hoists and hand tools.

Hang, fold, package, and tag finished articles for delivery to customers.
Operate steam, hydraulic, or other pressing machines to remove wrinkles from garments and flatwork items, or to shape, form, or patch articles.
Straighten, smooth, or shape materials to prepare them for pressing.
Remove finished pieces from pressing machines and hang or stack them for cooling, or forward them for additional processing.
Finish pleated garments, determining sizes of pleats from evidence of old pleats or from work orders, using machine presses or hand irons.
Lower irons, rams, or pressing heads of machines into position over material to be pressed.
Identify and treat spots on garments.
Shrink, stretch, or block articles by hand to conform to original measurements, using forms, blocks, and steam.
Finish fancy garments such as evening gowns and costumes, using hand irons to produce high quality finishes.
Push and pull irons over surfaces of articles to smooth or shape them.
Finish pants, jackets, shirts, skirts and other dry-cleaned and laundered articles, using hand irons.
Slide material back and forth over heated, metal, ball-shaped forms to smooth and press portions of garments that cannot be satisfactorily pressed with flat pressers or hand irons.
Select appropriate pressing machines, based on garment properties such as heat tolerance.
Spray water over fabric to soften fibers when not using steam irons.
Moisten materials to soften and smooth them.
Clean and maintain pressing machines, using cleaning solutions and lubricants.
Press ties on small pressing machines.
Block or shape knitted garments after cleaning.
Activate and adjust machine controls to regulate temperature and pressure of rollers, ironing shoes, or plates, according to specifications.
Use covering cloths to prevent equipment from damaging delicate fabrics.
Examine and measure finished articles to verify conformance to standards, using measuring devices such as tape measures and micrometers.
Finish velvet garments by steaming them on bucks of hot-head presses or steam tables, and brushing pile (nap) with handbrushes.
Measure fabric to specifications, cut uneven edges with shears, fold material, and press it with an iron to form a heading.
Insert heated metal forms into ties and touch up rough places with hand irons.
Brush materials made of suede, leather, or felt to remove spots or to raise and smooth naps.
Sew ends of new material to leaders or to ends of material in pressing machines, using sewing machines.
Position materials such as cloth garments, felt, or straw on tables, dies, or feeding mechanisms of pressing machines, or on ironing boards or work tables.
Select, install, and adjust machine components, including pressing forms, rollers, and guides, using hoists and hand tools.

Job Duties: Plating Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Measure and set stops, rolls, brushes, and guides on automatic feeders and conveying equipment or coating machines, using micrometers, rules, and hand tools.

Install gears and holding devices on conveyor equipment.

Immerse workpieces in coating solutions or liquid metal or plastic for specified times.
Adjust dials to regulate flow of current and voltage supplied to terminals to control plating processes.
Inspect coated or plated areas for defects, such as air bubbles or uneven coverage.
Set up, operate, or tend plating or coating machines to coat metal or plastic products with chromium, zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel, or other metal to protect or decorate surfaces.
Observe gauges to ensure that machines are operating properly, making adjustments or stopping machines when problems occur.
Remove objects from solutions at periodic intervals and observe objects to verify conformance to specifications.
Maintain production records.
Remove excess materials or impurities from objects, using air hoses or grinding machines.
Examine completed objects to determine thicknesses of metal deposits, or measure thicknesses by using instruments such as micrometers.
Rinse coated objects in cleansing liquids and dry them with cloths, centrifugal driers, or by tumbling in sawdust-filled barrels.
Determine sizes and compositions of objects to be plated, and amounts of electrical current and time required.
Test machinery to ensure that it is operating properly.
Measure or weigh materials, using rulers, calculators, and scales.
Measure, mark, and mask areas to be excluded from plating.
Immerse objects to be coated or plated into cleaning solutions, or spray objects with conductive solutions to prepare them for plating.
Read production schedules to determine setups of equipment and machines.
Suspend objects, such as parts or molds from cathode rods, or negative terminals, and immerse objects in plating solutions.
Suspend sticks or pieces of plating metal from anodes, or positive terminals, and immerse metal in plating solutions.
Adjust controls to set temperatures of coating substances and speeds of machines and equipment.
Monitor and measure thicknesses of electroplating on component parts to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers.
Operate hoists to place workpieces onto machine feed carriages or spindles.
Position and feed materials into processing machines, by hand or by using automated equipment.
Position objects to be plated in frames, or suspend them from positive or negative terminals of power supplies.
Operate sandblasting equipment to roughen and clean surfaces of workpieces.
Spray coating in specified patterns according to instructions.
Clean and maintain equipment, using water hoses and scrapers.
Plate small objects, such as nuts or bolts, using motor-driven barrels.
Clean workpieces, using wire brushes.
Mix and test solutions, and turn valves to fill tanks with solutions.
Replace worn parts and adjust equipment components, using hand tools.
Place plated or coated materials on racks and transfer them to ovens to dry for specified periods of time.
Position containers to receive parts, and load or unload materials in containers, using dollies or handtrucks.
Attach nozzles, position guns, connect hoses, and thread wire to set up metal-spraying machines.
Perform equipment maintenance, such as cleaning tanks and lubricating moving parts of conveyors.
Preheat workpieces in ovens.
Cut metal or other materials, using shears or band saws.
Measure and set stops, rolls, brushes, and guides on automatic feeders and conveying equipment or coating machines, using micrometers, rules, and hand tools.
Install gears and holding devices on conveyor equipment.

Job Duties: Engine and Other Machine Assemblers

Set and verify parts clearances.

Read and interpret assembly blueprints or specifications manuals, and plan assembly or building operations.
Inspect, operate, and test completed products to verify functioning, machine capabilities, or conformance to customer specifications.
Position or align components for assembly, manually or using hoists.
Verify conformance of parts to stock lists or blueprints, using measuring instruments such as calipers, gauges, or micrometers.
Fasten or install piping, fixtures, or wiring and electrical components to form assemblies or subassemblies, using hand tools, rivet guns, or welding equipment.
Remove rough spots and smooth surfaces to fit, trim, or clean parts, using hand tools or power tools.
Lay out and drill, ream, tap, or cut parts for assembly.
Rework, repair, or replace damaged parts or assemblies.
Assemble systems of gears by aligning and meshing gears in gearboxes.
Set up and operate metalworking machines, such as milling or grinding machines, to shape or fabricate parts.
Maintain and lubricate parts or components.
Set and verify parts clearances.

Job Duties: Forging Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Select, align, and bolt positioning fixtures, stops, and specified dies to rams and anvils, forging rolls, or presses and hammers.

Read work orders or blueprints to determine specified tolerances and sequences of operations for machine setup.
Position and move metal wires or workpieces through a series of dies that compress and shape stock to form die impressions.
Measure and inspect machined parts to ensure conformance to product specifications.
Set up, operate, or tend presses and forging machines to perform hot or cold forging by flattening, straightening, bending, cutting, piercing, or other operations to taper, shape, or form metal.
Turn handles or knobs to set pressures and depths of ram strokes and to synchronize machine operations.
Install, adjust, and remove dies, synchronizing cams, forging hammers, and stop guides, using overhead cranes or other hoisting devices, and hand tools.
Start machines to produce sample workpieces, and observe operations to detect machine malfunctions and to verify that machine setups conform to specifications.
Confer with other workers about machine setups and operational specifications.
Trim and compress finished forgings to specified tolerances.
Remove dies from machines when production runs are finished.
Repair, maintain, and replace parts on dies.
Sharpen cutting tools and drill bits, using bench grinders.
Select, align, and bolt positioning fixtures, stops, and specified dies to rams and anvils, forging rolls, or presses and hammers.

Job Duties: Locksmiths and Safe Repairers

Set up and maintain master key systems.

Cut new or duplicate keys, using key cutting machines.
Disassemble mechanical or electrical locking devices, and repair or replace worn tumblers, springs, and other parts, using hand tools.
Cut new or duplicate keys, using impressions or code key machines.
Open safe locks by drilling.
Install door hardware, such as locks and closers.
Insert new or repaired tumblers into locks to change combinations.
Keep records of company locks and keys.
Move picklocks in cylinders to open door locks without keys.
Repair and adjust safes, vault doors, and vault components, using hand tools, lathes, drill presses, and welding and acetylene cutting apparatus.
Install safes, vault doors, and deposit boxes according to blueprints, using equipment such as power drills, taps, dies, truck cranes, and dollies.
Install alarm and electronic access systems.
Unlock cars and other vehicles.
Remove interior and exterior finishes on safes and vaults, and spray on new finishes.
Set up and maintain master key systems.

Job Duties: Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Adjust guide assemblies, forming bars, and folding mechanisms according to specifications, using hand tools.

Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems.
Observe operation of various machines to detect and correct machine malfunctions such as improper forming, glue flow, or pasteboard tension.
Start machines and move controls to regulate tension on pressure rolls, to synchronize speed of machine components, and to adjust temperatures of glue or paraffin.
Disassemble machines to maintain, repair, or replace broken or worn parts, using hand or power tools.
Install attachments to machines for gluing, folding, printing, or cutting.
Cut products to specified dimensions, using hand or power cutters.
Place rolls of paper or cardboard on machine feed tracks, and thread paper through gluing, coating, and slitting rollers.
Monitor finished cartons as they drop from forming machines into rotating hoppers and into gravity feed chutes to prevent jamming.
Measure, space, and set saw blades, cutters, and perforators, according to product specifications.
Fill glue and paraffin reservoirs, and position rollers to dispense glue onto paperboard.
Stamp products with information such as dates, using hand stamps or automatic stamping devices.
Remove finished cores, and stack or place them on conveyors for transfer to other work areas.
Lift tote boxes of finished cartons, and dump cartons into feed hoppers.
Load automatic stapling mechanisms.
Adjust guide assemblies, forming bars, and folding mechanisms according to specifications, using hand tools.

Job Duties: Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set machine stops or guides to specified lengths as indicated by scales, rules, or templates.

Inspect workpieces for defects, and measure workpieces to determine accuracy of machine operation, using rules, templates, or other measuring instruments.
Position, adjust, and secure stock material or workpieces against stops, on arbors, or in chucks, fixtures, or automatic feeding mechanisms, manually or using hoists.
Read blueprints or job orders to determine product specifications and tooling instructions and to plan operational sequences.
Select, install, and adjust alignment of drills, cutters, dies, guides, and holding devices, using templates, measuring instruments, and hand tools.
Observe machine operation to detect workpiece defects or machine malfunctions, adjusting machines as necessary.
Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, cutters, shears, borers, millers, grinders, presses, drills, or auxiliary machines, to make metallic and plastic workpieces.
Change worn machine accessories, such as cutting tools or brushes, using hand tools.
Select the proper coolants and lubricants and start their flow.
Remove burrs, sharp edges, rust, or scale from workpieces, using files, hand grinders, wire brushes, or power tools.
Perform minor machine maintenance, such as oiling or cleaning machines, dies, or workpieces, or adding coolant to machine reservoirs.
Make minor electrical and mechanical repairs and adjustments to machines and notify supervisors when major service is required.
Compute data, such as gear dimensions or machine settings, applying knowledge of shop mathematics.
Start machines and turn handwheels or valves to engage feeding, cooling, and lubricating mechanisms.
Move controls or mount gears, cams, or templates in machines to set feed rates and cutting speeds, depths, and angles.
Instruct other workers in machine set-up and operation.
Record operational data, such as pressure readings, lengths of strokes, feed rates, or speeds.
Extract or lift jammed pieces from machines, using fingers, wire hooks, or lift bars.
Measure and mark reference points and cutting lines on workpieces, using traced templates, compasses, and rules.
Write programs for computer numerical control (CNC) machines to cut metal and plastic materials.
Align layout marks with dies or blades.
Set machine stops or guides to specified lengths as indicated by scales, rules, or templates.

Job Duties: Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood

Adjust bolts, clamps, stops, guides, or table angles or heights, using hand tools.

Inspect and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules.
Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.
Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.
Set up, operate, or tend saws or machines that cut or trim wood to specified dimensions, such as circular saws, band saws, multiple-blade sawing machines, scroll saws, ripsaws, or crozer machines.
Inspect stock for imperfections or to estimate grades or qualities of stock or workpieces.
Monitor sawing machines, adjusting speed and tension and clearing jams to ensure proper operation.
Sharpen blades, or replace defective or worn blades or bands, using hand tools.
Guide workpieces against saws, saw over workpieces by hand, or operate automatic feeding devices to guide cuts.
Clear machine jams, using hand tools.
Lubricate or clean machines, using wrenches, grease guns, or solvents.
Examine logs or lumber to plan the best cuts.
Trim lumber to straighten rough edges or remove defects, using circular saws.
Count, sort, or stack finished workpieces.
Position and clamp stock on tables, conveyors, or carriages, using hoists, guides, stops, dogs, wedges, or wrenches.
Measure and mark stock for cuts.
Operate panelboards of saw or conveyor systems to move stock through processes or to cut stock to specified dimensions.
Examine blueprints, drawings, work orders, or patterns to determine equipment set-up or selection details, procedures to be used, or dimensions of final products.
Pull tables back against stops and depress pedals to advance cutterheads that shape stock ends.
Select saw blades, types or grades of stock, or cutting procedures to be used, according to work orders or supervisors' instructions.
Cut grooves, bevels, or miters, saw curved or irregular designs, and sever or shape metals, according to specifications or work orders.
Unclamp and remove finished workpieces from tables.
Dispose of waste material after completing work assignments.
Unload and roll logs from trucks to sawmill decks or to carriages, or move logs in ponds, using pike poles.
Adjust bolts, clamps, stops, guides, or table angles or heights, using hand tools.

Job Duties: Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing

Attach and adjust guides, stops, clamps, chucks, or feed mechanisms, using hand tools.

Set up, program, operate, or tend computerized or manual woodworking machines, such as drill presses, lathes, shapers, routers, sanders, planers, or wood-nailing machines.
Examine finished workpieces for smoothness, shape, angle, depth-of-cut, or conformity to specifications and verify dimensions, visually and using hands, rules, calipers, templates, or gauges.
Start machines, adjust controls, and make trial cuts to ensure that machinery is operating properly.
Monitor operation of machines and make adjustments to correct problems and ensure conformance to specifications.
Examine raw woodstock for defects and to ensure conformity to size and other specification standards.
Adjust machine tables or cutting devices and set controls on machines to produce specified cuts or operations.
Install and adjust blades, cutterheads, boring-bits, or sanding-belts, using hand tools and rules.
Change alignment and adjustment of sanding, cutting, or boring machine guides to prevent defects in finished products, using hand tools.
Determine product specifications and materials, work methods, and machine setup requirements, according to blueprints, oral or written instructions, drawings, or work orders.
Feed stock through feed mechanisms or conveyors into planing, shaping, boring, mortising, or sanding machines to produce desired components.
Push or hold workpieces against, under, or through cutting, boring, or shaping mechanisms.
Select knives, saws, blades, cutter heads, cams, bits, or belts, according to workpiece, machine functions, or product specifications.
Remove and replace worn parts, bits, belts, sandpaper, or shaping tools.
Secure woodstock against a guide or in a holding device, place woodstock on a conveyor, or dump woodstock in a hopper to feed woodstock into machines.
Inspect and mark completed workpieces and stack them on pallets, in boxes, or on conveyors so that they can be moved to the next workstation.
Inspect pulleys, drive belts, guards, or fences on machines to ensure that machines will operate safely.
Clean or maintain products, machines, or work areas.
Trim wood parts according to specifications, using planes, chisels, or wood files or sanders.
Grease or oil woodworking machines.
Unclamp workpieces and remove them from machines.
Start machines and move levers to engage hydraulic lifts that press woodstocks into desired forms and disengage lifts after appropriate drying times.
Operate gluing machines to glue pieces of wood together, or to press and affix wood veneer to wood surfaces.
Set up, program, or control computer-aided design (CAD) or computer numerical control (CNC) machines.
Control hoists to remove parts or products from work stations.
Sharpen knives, bits, or other cutting or shaping tools.
Attach and adjust guides, stops, clamps, chucks, or feed mechanisms, using hand tools.

Job Duties: Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Position width gauge blocks between blades, and level blades and insert wedges into frames to secure blades to frames.

Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
Review work orders, blueprints, specifications, or job samples to determine components, settings, and adjustments for cutting and slicing machines.
Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices, such as rulers, micrometers, or scales.
Press buttons, pull levers, or depress pedals to start and operate cutting and slicing machines.
Start machines to verify setups, and make any necessary adjustments.
Feed stock into cutting machines, onto conveyors, or under cutting blades, by threading, guiding, pushing, or turning handwheels.
Monitor operation of cutting or slicing machines to detect malfunctions or to determine whether supplies need replenishment.
Stack and sort cut material for packaging, further processing, or shipping, according to types and sizes of material.
Adjust machine controls to alter position, alignment, speed, or pressure.
Remove completed materials or products from cutting or slicing machines, and stack or store them for additional processing.
Maintain production records, such as quantities, types, and dimensions of materials produced.
Remove defective or substandard materials from machines, and readjust machine components so that products meet standards.
Position stock along cutting lines, or against stops on beds of scoring or cutting machines.
Move stock or scrap to and from machines manually, or by using carts, handtrucks, or lift trucks.
Select and install machine components, such as cutting blades, rollers, and templates, according to specifications, using hand tools.
Clean and lubricate cutting machines, conveyors, blades, saws, or knives, using steam hoses, scrapers, brushes, or oil cans.
Operate cranes, or signal crane operators to position or remove stone from cars or saw beds.
Mark cutting lines or identifying information on stock, using marking pencils, rulers, or scribes.
Start pumps to circulate water and abrasives onto blades or cables during cutting.
Type instructions on computer keyboards, push buttons to activate computer programs, or manually set cutting guides, clamps, and knives.
Change or replace saw blades, cables, cutter heads, and grinding wheels, using hand tools.
Direct workers on cutting teams.
Sharpen cutting blades, knives, or saws, using files, bench grinders, or honing stones.
Turn cranks or press buttons to activate winches that move cars under sawing cables or saw frames.
Tighten pulleys or add abrasives to maintain cutting speeds.
Cut stock manually to prepare for machine cutting, using tools such as knives, cleavers, handsaws, or hammers and chisels.
Wash stones, using water hoses.
Position width gauge blocks between blades, and level blades and insert wedges into frames to secure blades to frames.

Job Duties: Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Adjust equipment and workpiece holding fixtures, such as mold frames, tubs, and cutting tables, to ensure proper functioning.

Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
Read specifications, blueprints, and work orders to determine setups, temperatures, and time settings required to mold, form, or cast plastic materials, as well as to plan production sequences.
Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.
Remove parts, such as dies, from machines after production runs are finished.
Perform maintenance work such as cleaning and oiling machines.
Smooth and clean inner surfaces of molds, using brushes, scrapers, air hoses, or grinding wheels, and fill imperfections with refractory material.
Operate hoists to position dies or patterns on foundry floors.
Cool products after processing to prevent distortion.
Install dies onto machines or presses and coat dies with parting agents, according to work order specifications.
Unload finished products from conveyor belts, pack them in containers, and place containers in warehouses.
Remove finished or cured products from dies or molds, using hand tools, air hoses, and other equipment, stamping identifying information on products when necessary.
Obtain and move specified patterns to work stations, manually or using hoists, and secure patterns to machines, using wrenches.
Select and install blades, tools, or other attachments for each operation.
Repair or replace damaged molds, pipes, belts, chains, or other equipment, using hand tools, hand-powered presses, or jib cranes.
Inventory and record quantities of materials and finished products, requisitioning additional supplies as necessary.
Select coolants and lubricants, and start their flow.
Maintain inventories of materials.
Position and secure workpieces on machines, and start feeding mechanisms.
Trim excess material from parts, using knives, and grind scrap plastic into powder for reuse.
Mix and measure compounds, or weigh premixed compounds, and dump them into machine tubs, cavities, or molds.
Spray, smoke, or coat molds with compounds to lubricate or insulate molds, using acetylene torches or sprayers.
Preheat tools, dies, plastic materials, or patterns, using blowtorches or other equipment.
Pour or load metal or sand into melting pots, furnaces, molds, or hoppers, using shovels, ladles, or machines.
Clamp metal and plywood strips around dies or patterns to form molds.
Pull level and toggle latches to fill molds, to regulate tension on sheeting, and to release mold covers.
Skim or pour dross, slag, or impurities from molten metal, using ladles, rakes, hoes, spatulas, or spoons.
Shape molds to specified contours, using sand, and trowels and related tools.
Assemble shell halves, patterns, and foundry flasks, and reinforce core boxes, using glue, clamps, wire, bolts, rams, or machines.
Adjust equipment and workpiece holding fixtures, such as mold frames, tubs, and cutting tables, to ensure proper functioning.