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All About Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Job 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.
A Day in the Life of a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator
- 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.
- 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.
- Maintain stocks of machine parts and machining tools.
- Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications.
- Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.
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Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator Required Skills
Below is a list of the skills most Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders say are important on the job.
Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Types of Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender
- Cutlery Grinder
- Burr Machine Operator
- Burrer Operator
- Metal Burnisher
- Bearingizer
What Kind of Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator Job Opportunities Are There?
In 2016, there was an estimated number of 76,200 jobs in the United States for Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender. The BLS estimates 6,800 yearly job openings in this field.
The states with the most job growth for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator are Idaho, North Dakota, and Arizona. Watch out if you plan on working in Vermont, Colorado, or Kansas. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.
Salary for a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator
The typical yearly salary for Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders is somewhere between $23,960 and $52,170.
Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders who work in Maine, Oregon, or Maryland, make the highest salaries.
How much do Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders make in different U.S. states?
| State | Annual Mean Salary |
|---|---|
| Alabama | $34,190 |
| Arizona | $39,180 |
| Arkansas | $34,910 |
| California | $34,580 |
| Colorado | $32,840 |
| Connecticut | $43,350 |
| Delaware | $28,230 |
| Florida | $32,890 |
| Georgia | $34,710 |
| Idaho | $28,540 |
| Illinois | $38,400 |
| Indiana | $37,270 |
| Iowa | $35,740 |
| Kansas | $35,770 |
| Kentucky | $37,440 |
| Louisiana | $41,320 |
| Maine | $42,950 |
| Maryland | $43,200 |
| Massachusetts | $41,290 |
| Michigan | $37,070 |
| Minnesota | $38,390 |
| Mississippi | $40,840 |
| Missouri | $40,800 |
| Montana | $29,350 |
| Nebraska | $39,630 |
| Nevada | $32,300 |
| New Hampshire | $34,950 |
| New Jersey | $36,900 |
| New Mexico | $26,610 |
| New York | $39,010 |
| North Carolina | $37,840 |
| North Dakota | $40,060 |
| Ohio | $34,980 |
| Oklahoma | $32,240 |
| Oregon | $42,990 |
| Pennsylvania | $38,780 |
| Rhode Island | $36,110 |
| South Carolina | $39,880 |
| South Dakota | $35,350 |
| Tennessee | $36,870 |
| Texas | $32,710 |
| Utah | $34,530 |
| Vermont | $38,550 |
| Virginia | $31,030 |
| Washington | $37,890 |
| West Virginia | $31,070 |
| Wisconsin | $36,800 |
| Wyoming | $42,570 |
Tools & Technologies Used by Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders
Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders:
- Microsoft Excel
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Mazak Mazatrol SMART CNC
How to Become a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator
What education or degrees do I need to become a Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender?
What work experience do I need to become a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator?
Where Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Work
Below are examples of industries where Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders work:
Other Jobs You May be Interested In
Those thinking about becoming a Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender might also be interested in the following careers:
Career changers with experience as a Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes find work in one of the following fields:
- Extruding and Forming Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Synthetic and Glass Fibers
- Woodworking Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Except Sawing
- Metal-Refining Furnace Operators and Tenders
- Machinists
References:
Image Credit: US Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class John Linzmeier via Public domain
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