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U.S. Dept. of Labor code 51-4033.00Market Standard — pending BLS/OEWS enrichment

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

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 work pieces.

What this job is about

Ensure precision in machining processes for metal and plastic workpieces.

What this work involves, step by step

AI can help most with the planning, drafting, and paperwork below — not the hands-on parts.

  1. 1

    Inspect finished workpieces

    Use measuring instruments to verify conformance to specifications.

  2. 2

    Set up machine tooling

    Select and mount appropriate tools based on product specifications and requirements.

  3. 3

    Operate grinding and polishing machines

    Activate machines to grind, lap, hone, or polish workpieces as per specifications.

  4. 4

    Monitor machine operations

    Observe operations to detect issues and make necessary adjustments to maintain quality.

  5. 5

    Maintain machine parts and tools

    Keep stocks of machine parts and tools, repairing or replacing as needed.

Tools used in this work
Autodesk AutoCADMicrosoft ExcelMicrosoft Office softwareMicrosoft WindowsSAP software

Free — no credit card required. 200 messages included.