Job Duties Custom List 51-4035.00 — Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Select cutting speeds, feed rates, and depths of cuts, applying knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.

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21 occupations shown

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Closely Related Tasks	All Related Tasks	Job Zone	Code	Occupation
4	4	2	51-7042.00	Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
4	4	2	51-9194.00	Etchers and Engravers
3	4	2	51-9032.00	Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
2	3	2	51-4081.00	Multiple Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
2	3	2	51-4031.00	Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
2	2	3	51-9162.00	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers Bright Outlook
2	2	2	51-6062.00	Textile Cutting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
2	2	2	51-7041.00	Sawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Wood
1	3	2	51-9196.00	Paper Goods Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
1	2	2	51-4021.00	Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
1	2	2	51-4034.00	Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
1	2	2	51-4032.00	Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
1	2	2	51-4194.00	Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
1	2	3	51-9195.05	Potters, Manufacturing
1	2	2	51-9161.00	Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators
1	1	3	51-7031.00	Model Makers, Wood
1	1	1	51-9031.00	Cutters and Trimmers, Hand
1	1	2	51-9083.00	Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
1	1	3	51-7032.00	Patternmakers, Wood
1	1	2	51-6063.00	Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders
1	1	2	51-6064.00	Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

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

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.

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

Job Duties: Etchers and Engravers

Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges.
Set reduction scales to attain specified sizes of reproduction on workpieces, and set pantograph controls for required heights, depths, and widths of cuts.
Determine machine settings, and move bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates.
Observe actions of cutting tools through microscopes and adjust stylus movement to ensure accurate reproduction.

Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses.
Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces.
Clean and polish engraved areas.
Prepare workpieces for etching or engraving by cutting, sanding, cleaning, polishing, or treating them with wax, acid resist, lime, etching powder, or light-sensitive enamel.
Engrave and print patterns, designs, etchings, trademarks, or lettering onto flat or curved surfaces of a wide variety of metal, glass, plastic, or paper items, using hand tools or hand-held power tools.
Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration.
Use computer software to design patterns for engraving.
Expose workpieces to acid to develop etch patterns such as designs, lettering, or figures.
Cut outlines of impressions with gravers, and remove excess material with knives.
Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.
Neutralize workpieces to remove acid, wax, or enamel, using water, solvents, brushes, or specialized machines.
Examine engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving.
Transfer image to workpiece, using contact printer, pantograph stylus, silkscreen printing device, or stamp pad.
Print proofs or examine designs to verify accuracy of engraving, and rework engraving as required.
Position and clamp workpieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures.
Remove wax or tape from etched glassware by using a stylus or knife, or by immersing ware in hot water.
Guide stylus over template, causing cutting tool to duplicate design or letters on workpiece.
Start machines and lower cutting tools to beginning points on patterns.
Remove completed workpieces and place them in trays.
Insert cutting tools or bits into machines and secure them with wrenches.
Sandblast exposed areas of glass to cut designs in surfaces, using spray guns.
Sketch, trace, or scribe layout lines and designs on workpieces, plates, dies, or rollers, using compasses, scribers, gravers, or pencils.
Fill etched characters with opaque paste to improve readability.
Brush or wipe acid over engraving to darken or highlight inscriptions.
Select and insert required templates into pattern frames beneath the stylus of a machine cutting tool or router.
Carve designs and letters onto metal for transfer to other surfaces.
Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges.
Set reduction scales to attain specified sizes of reproduction on workpieces, and set pantograph controls for required heights, depths, and widths of cuts.
Determine machine settings, and move bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates.
Observe actions of cutting tools through microscopes and adjust stylus movement to ensure accurate reproduction.

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

Remove defective or substandard materials from machines, and readjust machine components so that products meet standards.
Type instructions on computer keyboards, push buttons to activate computer programs, or manually set cutting guides, clamps, and knives.
Position width gauge blocks between blades, and level blades and insert wedges into frames to secure blades to frames.

Start pumps to circulate water and abrasives onto blades or cables during cutting.

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.
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.
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.
Remove defective or substandard materials from machines, and readjust machine components so that products meet standards.
Type instructions on computer keyboards, push buttons to activate computer programs, or manually set cutting guides, clamps, and knives.
Position width gauge blocks between blades, and level blades and insert wedges into frames to secure blades to frames.
Start pumps to circulate water and abrasives onto blades or cables during cutting.

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

Select, install, and adjust alignment of drills, cutters, dies, guides, and holding devices, using templates, measuring instruments, and hand tools.
Move controls or mount gears, cams, or templates in machines to set feed rates and cutting speeds, depths, and angles.

Start machines and turn handwheels or valves to engage feeding, cooling, and lubricating mechanisms.

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.
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.
Set machine stops or guides to specified lengths as indicated by scales, rules, or templates.
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.
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.
Select, install, and adjust alignment of drills, cutters, dies, guides, and holding devices, using templates, measuring instruments, and hand tools.
Move controls or mount gears, cams, or templates in machines to set feed rates and cutting speeds, depths, and angles.
Start machines and turn handwheels or valves to engage feeding, cooling, and lubricating mechanisms.

Job Duties: Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Turn controls to set cutting speeds, feed rates, or table angles for specified operations.
Set blade tensions, heights, and angles to perform prescribed cuts, using wrenches.

Turn valves to start flow of coolant against cutting areas or to start airflow that blows cuttings away from kerfs.

Examine completed workpieces for defects, such as chipped edges or marred surfaces and sort defective pieces according to types of flaws.
Measure completed workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, using micrometers, gauges, calipers, templates, or rulers.
Set stops on machine beds, change dies, and adjust components, such as rams or power presses, when making multiple or successive passes.
Start machines, monitor their operations, and record operational data.
Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
Test and adjust machine speeds or actions, according to product specifications, using gauges and hand tools.
Install, align, and lock specified punches, dies, cutting blades, or other fixtures in rams or beds of machines, using gauges, templates, feelers, shims, and hand tools.
Read work orders or production schedules to determine specifications, such as materials to be used, locations of cutting lines, or dimensions and tolerances.
Position guides, stops, holding blocks, or other fixtures to secure and direct workpieces, using hand tools and measuring devices.
Position, align, and secure workpieces against fixtures or stops on machine beds or on dies.
Load workpieces, plastic material, or chemical solutions into machines.
Adjust ram strokes of presses to specified lengths, using hand tools.
Clean and lubricate machines.
Mark identifying data on workpieces.
Clean work area.
Plan sequences of operations, applying knowledge of physical properties of workpiece materials.
Operate forklifts to deliver materials.
Lubricate workpieces with oil.
Scribe reference lines on workpieces as guides for cutting operations, according to blueprints, templates, sample parts, or specifications.
Place workpieces on cutting tables, manually or using hoists, cranes, or sledges.
Thread ends of metal coils from reels through slitters and secure ends on recoilers.
Grind out burrs or sharp edges, using portable grinders, speed lathes, or polishing jacks.
Remove housings, feed tubes, tool holders, or other accessories to replace worn or broken parts, such as springs or bushings.
Replace defective blades or wheels, using hand tools.
Select, clean, and install spacers, rubber sleeves, or cutters on arbors.
Hand-form, cut, or finish workpieces, using tools such as table saws, hand sledges, or anvils.
Preheat workpieces, using heating furnaces or hand torches.
Sharpen dulled blades, using bench grinders, abrasive wheels, or lathes.
Hone cutters with oilstones to remove nicks.
Turn controls to set cutting speeds, feed rates, or table angles for specified operations.
Set blade tensions, heights, and angles to perform prescribed cuts, using wrenches.
Turn valves to start flow of coolant against cutting areas or to start airflow that blows cuttings away from kerfs.

Job Duties: Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Programmers

Determine the sequence of machine operations, and select the proper cutting tools needed to machine workpieces into the desired shapes.
Determine reference points, machine cutting paths, or hole locations, and compute angular and linear dimensions, radii, and curvatures.

Write programs in the language of a machine's controller and store programs on media, such as punch tapes, magnetic tapes, or disks.
Revise programs or tapes to eliminate errors, and retest programs to check that problems have been solved.
Analyze job orders, drawings, blueprints, specifications, printed circuit board pattern films, and design data to calculate dimensions, tool selection, machine speeds, and feed rates.
Write instruction sheets and cutter lists for a machine's controller to guide setup and encode numerical control tapes.
Observe machines on trial runs or conduct computer simulations to ensure that programs and machinery will function properly and produce items that meet specifications.
Enter computer commands to store or retrieve parts patterns, graphic displays, or programs that transfer data to other media.
Modify existing programs to enhance efficiency.
Sort shop orders into groups to maximize materials utilization and minimize machine setup time.
Compare encoded tapes or computer printouts with original part specifications and blueprints to verify accuracy of instructions.
Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on machines.
Prepare geometric layouts from graphic displays, using computer-assisted drafting software or drafting instruments and graph paper.
Draw machine tool paths on pattern film according to guidelines for tool speed and efficiency, using colored markers.
Enter coordinates of hole locations into program memories by depressing pedals or buttons of programmers.
Align and secure pattern film on reference tables of optical programmers, and observe enlarger scope views of printed circuit boards.
Determine the sequence of machine operations, and select the proper cutting tools needed to machine workpieces into the desired shapes.
Determine reference points, machine cutting paths, or hole locations, and compute angular and linear dimensions, radii, and curvatures.

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

Adjust cutting techniques to types of fabrics and styles of garments.
Install, level, and align components, such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles, to set up machinery for operation.

Inspect products to ensure that the quality standards and specifications are met.
Place patterns on top of layers of fabric and cut fabric following patterns, using electric or manual knives, cutters, or computer numerically controlled cutting devices.
Start machines, monitor operations, and make adjustments as needed.
Adjust machine controls, such as heating mechanisms, tensions, or speeds, to produce specified products.
Record information about work completed and machine settings.
Notify supervisors of mechanical malfunctions.
Inspect machinery to determine whether repairs are needed.
Confer with coworkers to obtain information about orders, processes, or problems.
Repair or replace worn or defective parts or components, using hand tools.
Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oilcans, and grease guns.
Thread yarn, thread, or fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines.
Operate machines to cut multiple layers of fabric into parts for articles such as canvas goods, house furnishings, garments, hats, or stuffed toys.
Program electronic equipment.
Study guides, samples, charts, and specification sheets or confer with supervisors or engineering staff to determine set-up requirements.
Stop machines when specified amounts of product have been produced.
Operate machines for test runs to verify adjustments and to obtain product samples.
Adjust cutting techniques to types of fabrics and styles of garments.
Install, level, and align components, such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles, to set up machinery for operation.

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

Adjust saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.
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 and measure workpieces to mark for cuts and to verify the accuracy of cuts, using rulers, squares, or caliper rules.
Mount and bolt sawing blades or attachments to machine shafts.
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.
Adjust bolts, clamps, stops, guides, or table angles or heights, using hand tools.
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 saw blades, using wrenches and rulers, or by turning handwheels or pressing pedals, levers, or panel buttons.
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.

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

Measure, space, and set saw blades, cutters, and perforators, according to product specifications.

Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems.
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.

Observe operation of various machines to detect and correct machine malfunctions such as improper forming, glue flow, or pasteboard tension.
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.
Adjust guide assemblies, forming bars, and folding mechanisms according to specifications, using hand tools.
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.
Measure, space, and set saw blades, cutters, and perforators, according to product specifications.
Examine completed work to detect defects and verify conformance to work orders, and adjust machinery as necessary to correct production problems.
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.

Job Duties: Extruding and Drawing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.

Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.

Measure and examine extruded products to locate defects and to check for conformance to specifications, adjusting controls as necessary to alter products.
Reel extruded products into rolls of specified lengths and weights.
Install dies, machine screws, and sizing rings on machines that extrude thermoplastic or metal materials.
Change dies on extruding machines, according to production line changes.
Clean work areas.
Troubleshoot, maintain, and make minor repairs to equipment.
Weigh and mix pelletized, granular, or powdered thermoplastic materials and coloring pigments.
Test physical properties of products with testing devices such as acid-bath testers, burst testers, and impact testers.
Load machine hoppers with mixed materials, using augers, or stuff rolls of plastic dough into machine cylinders.
Maintain an inventory of materials.
Adjust controls to draw or press metal into specified shapes and diameters.
Replace worn dies when products vary from specifications.
Select nozzles, spacers, and wire guides, according to diameters and lengths of rods.
Operate shearing mechanisms to cut rods to specified lengths.
Determine setup procedures and select machine dies and parts, according to specifications.
Start machines and set controls to regulate vacuum, air pressure, sizing rings, and temperature, and to synchronize speed of extrusion.

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

Move controls to set cutting speeds and depths and feed rates, and to position tools in relation to workpieces.

Turn valve handles to direct the flow of coolant onto work areas or to coat disks with spinning compounds.

Adjust machine controls and change tool settings to keep dimensions within specified tolerances.
Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.
Inspect sample workpieces to verify conformance with specifications, using instruments such as gauges, micrometers, and dial indicators.
Start lathe or turning machines and observe operations to ensure that specifications are met.
Position, secure, and align cutting tools in toolholders on machines, using hand tools, and verify their positions with measuring instruments.
Crank machines through cycles, stopping to adjust tool positions and machine controls to ensure specified timing, clearances, and tolerances.
Study blueprints, layouts or charts, and job orders for information on specifications and tooling instructions, and to determine material requirements and operational sequences.
Select cutting tools and tooling instructions, according to written specifications or knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
Refill, change, and monitor the level of fluids, such as oil and coolant, in machines.
Install holding fixtures, cams, gears, and stops to control stock and tool movement, using hand tools, power tools, and measuring instruments.
Compute unspecified dimensions and machine settings, using knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
Lift metal stock or workpieces manually or using hoists, and position and secure them in machines, using fasteners and hand tools.
Move toolholders manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to feed tools to and along workpieces.
Mount attachments, such as relieving or tracing attachments, to perform operations, such as duplicating contours of templates or trimming workpieces.
Move controls to set cutting speeds and depths and feed rates, and to position tools in relation to workpieces.
Turn valve handles to direct the flow of coolant onto work areas or to coat disks with spinning compounds.

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

Select and set cutting speeds, feed rates, depths of cuts, and cutting tools, according to machining instructions or knowledge of metal properties.

Turn valves and direct flow of coolants or cutting oil over cutting areas.

Verify conformance of machined work to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as calipers, micrometers, or fixed or telescoping gauges.
Study machining instructions, job orders, or blueprints to determine dimensional or finish specifications, sequences of operations, setups, or tooling requirements.
Move machine controls to lower tools to workpieces and to engage automatic feeds.
Verify that workpiece reference lines are parallel to the axis of table rotation, using dial indicators mounted in spindles.
Establish zero reference points on workpieces, such as at the intersections of two edges or over hole locations.
Change worn cutting tools, using wrenches.
Position and secure workpieces on tables, using bolts, jigs, clamps, shims, or other holding devices.
Observe drilling or boring machine operations to detect any problems.
Lift workpieces onto work tables either manually or with hoists or direct crane operators to lift and position workpieces.
Install tools in spindles.
Perform minor assembly, such as fastening parts with nuts, bolts, or screws, using power tools or hand tools.
Operate single- or multiple-spindle drill presses to bore holes so that machining operations can be performed on metal or plastic workpieces.
Lay out reference lines and machining locations on work, using layout tools, and applying knowledge of shop math and layout techniques.
Sharpen cutting tools, using bench grinders.
Operate tracing attachments to duplicate contours from templates or models.
Select and set cutting speeds, feed rates, depths of cuts, and cutting tools, according to machining instructions or knowledge of metal properties.
Turn valves and direct flow of coolants or cutting oil over cutting areas.

Job Duties: Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

Compute numbers, widths, and angles of cutting tools, micrometers, scales, and gauges, and adjust tools to produce specified cuts.

Turn valves to direct flow of coolant against cutting wheels and workpieces during grinding.

Monitor machine operations to determine whether adjustments are necessary, stopping machines when problems occur.
Inspect, feel, and measure workpieces to ensure that surfaces and dimensions meet specifications.
Study blueprints or layouts of metal workpieces to determine grinding procedures, and to plan machine setups and operational sequences.
Select and mount grinding wheels on machines, according to specifications, using hand tools and applying knowledge of abrasives and grinding procedures.
Set up and operate grinding or polishing machines to grind metal workpieces, such as dies, parts, and tools.
Dress grinding wheels, according to specifications.
File or finish surfaces of workpieces, using prescribed hand tools.
Perform basic maintenance, such as cleaning and lubricating machine parts.
Remove finished workpieces from machines and place them in boxes or on racks, setting aside pieces that are defective.
Remove and replace worn or broken machine parts, using hand tools.
Fit parts together in pre-assembly to ensure that dimensions are accurate.
Attach workpieces to grinding machines and form specified sections and repair cracks, using welding or brazing equipment.
Duplicate workpiece contours, using tracer attachments.
Inspect dies to detect defects, assess wear, and verify specifications, using micrometers, steel gauge pins, and loupes.
Place workpieces in electroplating solutions or apply pigments to surfaces of workpieces to highlight ridges and grooves.
Straighten workpieces and remove dents, using straightening presses and hammers.
Compute numbers, widths, and angles of cutting tools, micrometers, scales, and gauges, and adjust tools to produce specified cuts.
Turn valves to direct flow of coolant against cutting wheels and workpieces during grinding.

Job Duties: Potters, Manufacturing

Adjust pressures, temperatures, and trimming tool settings as required.

Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.

Operate gas or electric kilns to fire pottery pieces.
Mix and apply glazes to pottery pieces, using tools, such as spray guns.
Raise and shape clay into wares, such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.
Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels.
Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.
Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.
Attach handles to pottery pieces.
Press thumbs into centers of revolving clay to form hollows, and press on the inside and outside of emerging clay cylinders with hands and fingers, gradually raising and shaping clay to desired forms and sizes.
Pack and ship pottery to stores or galleries for retail sale.
Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.
Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces.
Design spaces to display pottery for sale.
Verify accuracy of shapes and sizes of objects, using calipers and templates.
Examine finished ware for defects and measure dimensions, using rule and thickness gauge.
Maintain supplies of tools, equipment, and materials, and order additional supplies as needed.
Operate pug mills to blend and extrude clay.
Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures.
Start machine units and conveyors and observe lights and gauges on panel board to verify operational efficiency.
Operate drying chambers to dry or finish molded ceramic ware.
Design clay forms and molds, and decorations for forms.
Teach pottery classes.
Operate jigger machines to form ceramic ware, such as bowls, cups, plates, and saucers.
Adjust pressures, temperatures, and trimming tool settings as required.
Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.

Job Duties: Computer Numerically Controlled Tool Operators

Adjust machine feed and speed, change cutting tools, or adjust machine controls when automatic programming is faulty or if machines malfunction.

Control coolant systems.

Measure dimensions of finished workpieces to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments, templates, and fixtures.
Set up and operate computer-controlled machines or robots to perform one or more machine functions on metal or plastic workpieces.
Mount, install, align, and secure tools, attachments, fixtures, and workpieces on machines, using hand tools and precision measuring instruments.
Review program specifications or blueprints to determine and set machine operations and sequencing, finished workpiece dimensions, or numerical control sequences.
Stop machines to remove finished workpieces or to change tooling, setup, or workpiece placement, according to required machining sequences.
Listen to machines during operation to detect sounds such as those made by dull cutting tools or excessive vibration, and adjust machines to compensate for problems.
Implement changes to machine programs, and enter new specifications, using computers.
Calculate machine speed and feed ratios and the size and position of cuts.
Transfer commands from servers to computer numerical control (CNC) modules, using computer network links.
Remove and replace dull cutting tools.
Check to ensure that workpieces are properly lubricated and cooled during machine operation.
Monitor machine operation and control panel displays, and compare readings to specifications to detect malfunctions.
Maintain machines and remove and replace broken or worn machine tools, using hand tools.
Insert control instructions into machine control units to start operation.
Modify cutting programs to account for problems encountered during operation, and save modified programs.
Write simple programs for computer-controlled machine tools.
Lift workpieces to machines manually or with hoists or cranes.
Input initial part dimensions into machine control panels.
Set up future jobs while machines are operating.
Confer with supervisors or programmers to resolve machine malfunctions or production errors or to obtain approval to continue production.
Stack or load finished items, or place items on conveyor systems.
Clean machines, tooling, or parts, using solvents or solutions and rags.
Enter commands or load control media, such as tapes, cards, or disks, into machine controllers to retrieve programmed instructions.
Lay out and mark areas of parts to be shot peened and fill hoppers with shot.
Examine electronic components for defects or completeness of laser-beam trimming, using microscopes.
Adjust machine feed and speed, change cutting tools, or adjust machine controls when automatic programming is faulty or if machines malfunction.
Control coolant systems.

Job Duties: Model Makers, Wood

Set up, operate, and adjust a variety of woodworking machines such as bandsaws and planers to cut and shape sections, parts, and patterns, according to specifications.

Verify dimensions and contours of models during hand-forming processes, using templates and measuring devices.
Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications, and consult with designers to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, screws, and other fasteners.
Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.
Select wooden stock, determine layouts, and mark layouts of parts on stock, using precision equipment such as scribers, squares, and protractors.
Construct wooden models, patterns, templates, full scale mock-ups, and molds for parts of products and production tools.
Mark identifying information on patterns, parts, and templates to indicate assembly methods and details.
Plan, lay out, and draw outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products.
Fabricate work aids such as scrapers or templates.
Maintain pattern records for reference.
Build jigs that can be used as guides for assembling oversized or special types of box shooks.
Issue patterns to designated machine operators.
Finish patterns or models with protective or decorative coatings such as shellac, lacquer, or wax.
Set up, operate, and adjust a variety of woodworking machines such as bandsaws and planers to cut and shape sections, parts, and patterns, according to specifications.

Job Duties: Cutters and Trimmers, Hand

Adjust guides and stops to control depths and widths of cuts.

Mark or discard items with defects such as spots, stains, scars, snags, chips, scratches, or unacceptable shapes or finishes.
Trim excess material or cut threads off finished products, such as cutting loose ends of plastic off a manufactured toy for a smoother finish.
Cut, shape, and trim materials, such as textiles, food, glass, stone, and metal, using knives, scissors, and other hand tools, portable power tools, or bench-mounted tools.
Position templates or measure materials to locate specified points of cuts or to obtain maximum yields, using rules, scales, or patterns.
Read work orders to determine dimensions, cutting locations, and quantities to cut.
Mark cutting lines around patterns or templates, or follow layout points, using squares, rules, and straightedges, and chalk, pencils, or scribes.
Mark identification numbers, trademarks, grades, marketing data, sizes, or model numbers on products.
Unroll, lay out, attach, or mount materials or items on cutting tables or machines.
Separate materials or products according to size, weight, type, condition, color, or shade.
Fold or shape materials before or after cutting them.
Replace or sharpen dulled cutting tools such as saws.
Lower table-mounted cutters such as knife blades, cutting wheels, or saws to cut items to specified sizes.
Stack cut items and load them on racks or conveyors or onto trucks.
Count or weigh and bundle items.
Clean, treat, buff, or polish finished items, using grinders, brushes, chisels, and cleaning solutions and polishing materials.
Route items to provide cutouts for parts, using portable routers, grinders, and hand tools.
Transport items to work or storage areas, using carts.
Adjust guides and stops to control depths and widths of cuts.

Job Duties: Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians

Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.

Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.
Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.
Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.
Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.

Job Duties: Patternmakers, Wood

Set up, operate, and adjust a variety of woodworking machines such as bandsaws and lathes to cut and shape sections, parts, and patterns, according to specifications.

Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, and screws.
Lay out patterns on wood stock and draw outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products, based on blueprint specifications and sketches, and using marking and measuring devices.
Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.
Divide patterns into sections according to shapes of castings to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.
Verify dimensions of completed patterns, using templates, straightedges, calipers, or protractors.
Correct patterns to compensate for defects in castings.
Finish completed products or models with shellac, lacquer, wax, or paint.
Estimate costs for patternmaking jobs.
Mark identifying information such as colors or codes on patterns, parts, and templates to indicate assembly methods.
Repair broken or damaged patterns.
Maintain pattern records for reference.
Glue fillets along interior angles of patterns.
Construct wooden models, templates, full scale mock-ups, jigs, or molds for shaping parts of products.
Compute dimensions, areas, volumes, and weights.
Select lumber to be used for patterns.
Collect and store patterns and lumber.
Inventory equipment and supplies, ordering parts and tools as necessary.
Issue patterns to designated machine operators.
Set up, operate, and adjust a variety of woodworking machines such as bandsaws and lathes to cut and shape sections, parts, and patterns, according to specifications.

Job Duties: Textile Knitting and Weaving Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Install, level, and align machine components such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles to set up machinery for operation.

Observe woven cloth to detect weaving defects.
Thread yarn, thread, and fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines for weaving, knitting, or other processing.
Remove defects in cloth by cutting and pulling out filling.
Examine looms to determine causes of loom stoppage, such as warp filling, harness breaks, or mechanical defects.
Inspect products to ensure that specifications are met and to determine if machines need adjustment.
Notify supervisors or repair staff of mechanical malfunctions.
Start machines, monitor operations, and make adjustments as needed.
Stop machines when specified amounts of product have been produced.
Inspect machinery to determine whether repairs are needed.
Confer with co-workers to obtain information about orders, processes, or problems.
Operate machines for test runs to verify adjustments and to obtain product samples.
Program electronic equipment.
Set up, or set up and operate textile machines that perform textile processing and manufacturing operations such as winding, twisting, knitting, weaving, bonding, or stretching.
Record information about work completed and machine settings.
Study guides, loom patterns, samples, charts, or specification sheets, or confer with supervisors or engineering staff to determine setup requirements.
Repair or replace worn or defective needles and other components, using hand tools.
Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oil cans, or grease guns.
Adjust machine heating mechanisms, tensions, and speeds to produce specified products.
Wash and blend wool, yarn, or cloth.
Install, level, and align machine components such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles to set up machinery for operation.

Job Duties: Textile Winding, Twisting, and Drawing Out Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders

Install, level, and align machine components such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles to set up machinery for operation.

Notify supervisors or mechanics of equipment malfunctions.
Thread yarn, thread, or fabric through guides, needles, and rollers of machines.
Start machines, monitor operation, and make adjustments as needed.
Inspect machinery to determine whether repairs are needed.
Record production data such as numbers and types of bobbins wound.
Replace depleted supply packages with full packages.
Stop machines when specified amount of products has been produced.
Inspect products to verify that they meet specifications and to determine whether machine adjustment is needed.
Tend machines that twist together two or more strands of yarn or insert additional twists into single strands of yarn to increase strength, smoothness, or uniformity of yarn.
Observe operations to detect defects, malfunctions, or supply shortages.
Operate machines for test runs to verify adjustments and to obtain product samples.
Observe bobbins as they are winding and cut threads to remove loaded bobbins, using knives.
Unwind lengths of yarn, thread, or twine from spools and wind onto bobbins.
Adjust machine settings such as speed or tension to produce products that meet specifications.
Study guides, samples, charts, and specification sheets, or confer with supervisors or engineering staff to determine setup requirements.
Tend spinning frames that draw out and twist roving or sliver into yarn.
Remove spindles from machines and bobbins from spindles.
Place bobbins on spindles and insert spindles into bobbin-winding machines.
Tend machines with multiple winding units that wind thread onto shuttle bobbins for use on sewing machines or other kinds of bobbins for sole-stitching, knitting, or weaving machinery.
Repair or replace worn or defective parts or components, using hand tools.
Measure bobbins periodically, using gauges, and turn screws to adjust tension if bobbins are not of specified size.
Clean, oil, and lubricate machines, using air hoses, cleaning solutions, rags, oilcans, and grease guns.
Tend machines that wind wire onto bobbins, preparatory to formation of wire netting used in reinforcing sheet glass.
Install, level, and align machine components such as gears, chains, guides, dies, cutters, or needles to set up machinery for operation.