What is a Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender?
Career 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.
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator Responsibilities
- Adjust air cylinders and setting stops to set traverse lengths and feed arm strokes.
- Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.
- Set and adjust machine controls according to product specifications, using knowledge of machine operation.
- Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.
- Thread and hand-feed materials through machine cutters or abraders.
- Brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces.
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Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator Required Skills
When polled, Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:
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.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Related Job Titles
- Metal Burnisher
- Burr Sander
- Manufacturing Assistant
- Wet Sander
- Finisher
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator Employment Estimates
In the United States, there were 76,200 jobs for Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender in 2016. There is little to no growth in job opportunities for Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender. There will be an estimated 6,800 positions for Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator per year.
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 salary for Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders ranges between about $23,960 and $52,170 a year.
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 each U.S. state?
| 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
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- SAP
- Microsoft Windows
- Autodesk AutoCAD
- Mazak Mazatrol SMART CNC
How do I Become a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator?
Are there Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders education requirements?
How many years of work experience do I need?
Where Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Work
The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.
You May Also 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:
Those who work as a Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender sometimes switch careers to one of these choices:
- 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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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