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

Occupation description

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.

National salary and employment

Top skills

Typical tasks

• Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.
• Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.
• Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation.
• Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.
• Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications.
• Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.
• Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.
• Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.

Technology

• Autodesk AutoCAD
• Manufacturing reporting system
• Mazak Mazatrol SMART CNC
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Windows
• SAP software

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

Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.

• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in CA
  Median $45,890 · Employment 7,800
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in OH
  Median $45,270 · Employment 5,960
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in MI
  Median $45,460 · Employment 4,180
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in IN
  Median $47,310 · Employment 4,170
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in IL
  Median $46,180 · Employment 4,100
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Los Angeles, CA
  Median $45,440 · Employment 3,920
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in PA
  Median $47,650 · Employment 3,830
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in WI
  Median $47,330 · Employment 3,570
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in Chicago, IL
  Median $46,420 · Employment 3,110
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in TX
  Median $42,250 · Employment 2,960
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in MA
  Median $50,910 · Employment 2,420
• Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Salary in NY
  Median $49,290 · Employment 2,410

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