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

Also called: Grinder, Grinder Operator, Process Equipment Operator, Centerless Grinder Operator

What they do:
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.
On the job, you would:
  • Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments such as gauges or micrometers.
  • Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.
  • 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.

Knowledge

Engineering and Technology
  • mechanical
Manufactured or Agricultural Goods
  • manufacture and distribution of products
Math and Science
  • arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics

Skills

Basic Skills
  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • reading work related information
Problem Solving
  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

Abilities

Controlled Movement
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
  • change when and how fast you move based on how something else is moving
Hand and Finger Use
  • hold or move items with your hands
  • keep your arm or hand steady
Reaction Time and Speed
  • quickly move your hand, finger, or foot based on a sound, light, picture or other command
  • make fast, simple, repeated movements of your fingers, hands, and wrists
Visual Understanding
  • quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things

Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include
practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Adaptability/Flexibility
  • Cooperation
  • Initiative
  • Self Control

Technology

Examples of the technology used in this career will be available soon.

Education

Education: (rated 2 of 5)
high school diploma or
some college
usually needed

Get started on your career:

Find Training Find Certifications Registered Apprenticeship Eligible for the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program

Job Outlook

Below Average Outlook
New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
$31,280
per year, on average
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See more details at O*NET OnLine about grinding, lapping, polishing, and buffing machine tool setters, operators, and tenders, metal and plastic.