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.

255 alternate job titles:

Abrasive Worker Air Grinder Aluminum Polisher Automatic Grinder Operator Axle Bearing Polisher Axle Polisher Balance Screwhead Polisher Band Reamer Machine Operator Band Saw Filer Barrel Centerer Barrel Polisher Bearing Grinder Bearingizer Belt Polisher Belt Technician (Belt Tech) Bench Grinder Bevel Face Stoner and Polisher Bevel Polisher Billet Grinder Bit Grinder Bit Sharpener Bit Sharpener Operator Blade Filer Blade Grinder Blade Groover Blade Sharpener Body Finisher Bottom Polisher Bottom Sander Brass Buffer Brass Burnisher Brass Finisher Brass Polisher Broach Grinder Brush Polisher Buffer Bufferer Buffing Line Set Up Worker Buffing Machine Operator Buffing Machine Tender Burnisher Burnishing Machine Operator Burr Bench Hand Burr Bench Operator Burr Filer Burr Machine Operator Burr Sander Burrer Burrer Operator Burring Machine Operator Burring Wheel Operator Castings Trimmer Cell Operator Centerless Grinder Centerless Grinder Operator Centerless Grinder Set-Up Operator Chrome Polisher Clock and Watch Grinder CNC Grinder (Computer Numerically Controlled Grinder) Color Buffer Computer Numerical Control Grinder (CNC Grinder) Crankshaft Grinder Cutlery Grinder Cutter Grinder Cylinder Grinder Deburr Operator Deburr Technician (Deburr Tech) Deburrer Deburring and Tooling Machine Operator Deburring Machine Operator Deburring Technician Dial Buffer Die Maintenance Technician Dinger Disc Sander Disk Grinder Disk Sander Disk Sharpener Double Reamer Operator Dresser Drill Bit Sharpener Drill Grinder Drum Sander Dry Sander Edge Grinder Edger Edging Machine Operator Emery Grinder Emery Wheel Worker Enamel Buffer End Polisher External Grinder Eye Glass Frame Polisher Eyeglass Frames Polisher Faucet Polisher Fender Finisher File Machine Operator Filing Machine Operator Finish Filer Finish Grinder Finish Opener Finisher Flat Polisher Flute Grinder Flute Polisher Gear Finisher Gear Grinder Gear Lapper Gear Lapping Machine Operator Gold Wheel Blocker and Polisher Gold-Nib Grinder Grinder Grinder Machine Operator Grinder Machine Setter Grinder Operator Grinder Set Up Operator Grinder Setup Operator Grinding Machine Operator Grinding Machine Tender Grinding Wheel Dresser Grinding Wheel Facer Grinding Wheel Operator Hob Grinder Honer Honing Job Setter Honing Machine Operator Honing Machine Set-Up Operator Inside Barrel Polisher Instrument Operator Internal Grinder Jet Blade Polisher Jewel Bearing Facer Jewel Bearing Grinder Jewel Bearing Polisher Jig Grinder Set-Up Operator Jig Grinder Setup Operator Job Setter Key Filer Key Sander Knife Blade Polisher Knife Edger Knife Glazer Knife Grinder Knife Sharpener Lap Grinder Lap Machine Tender Lapper Lapping Machine Operator Lapping Machine Set-Up Operator Lawn Mower Sharpener Linter Saw Sharpener Machine Burrer Machine Finisher Machine Grinder Machine Tester Machine Tool Dresser Magnetic Grinder Operator Manufacturing Assistant Manufacturing Associate Manufacturing Operator Metal Buffer Metal Burnisher Metal Burrer Metal Dresser Metal Filer Metal Finisher Metal Furniture Polisher Metal Grinder Metal Polisher Mirror Finishing Machine Operator Mold Cutting Machine Operator Mold Sander Needle Grinder Nicking Machine Operator Notch Grinder OD Grinder (Outside Diameter Grinder) Pallet Rectifier Pattern Filer Pinion Polisher Pivot Maker Plate Grinder Platen Grinder Polisher Polisher and Buffer Polishing Machine Operator Pot Sander Precision Grinder Printing Roller Polisher Process Equipment Operator Production Honing Machine Operator Production Lapping Machine Operator Profile Grinder Technician Rail Grinder Razor Grinder Razor Sharpener Roll Grinder Roll Grinder Operator Sample Grinder Sand Bobber Sand Buffer Sand Polisher Sander Operator Sanding Machine Operator Sanding Machine Tender Satin Finisher Saw Grinder Saw Setter Saw Sharpener Scissors Grinder Scissors Sharpener Scratch Brusher Scratch Finisher Screwhead Polisher Seater Grinder Shear Grinder Operator Shot Grinder Operator Shot Polisher Silver Buffer Silverware Buffer Silverware Buffing Machine Operator Silverware Cleaner Sizing Machine Operator Smoother Snag Grinder Snagger Snailer Steel Buffer Steel Grinder Stone Polisher Stove Polisher Strip Deburrer Surface Grinder Swing Grinder Tap Grinder Thread Grinder Thread Tool Grinder Set-Up Operator Tool Dresser Tool Grinder Tool Honing Machine Set-Up Operator Tool Polisher Tool Polishing Machine Operator Tooth Grinder Tooth Polisher Top Polisher Track Grinder Trimmer Universal Grinder Operator Valve Grinder Watch Case Polisher Watch Parts Grinder Water Sander Wet Sander Wheel Buffer Wheel Grinder Wheel Polisher
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Salary Information

Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: $45,190 (median) per year.

Starting salary (10th percentile).
Required expreience: Varies by Company


Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

Task Description Category
Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications. General
Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment. General
Lift materials or workpieces using cranes or other lifting equipment. General
Operate grinding equipment. General
Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions. General
Lay out parts to prepare for assembly. General
Select production equipment according to product specifications. General
Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements. General
Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment. General
Reshape metal workpieces to established specifications. General
Operate cutting equipment. General
Adjust equipment controls to regulate coolant flow. General
Apply lubricants or coolants to workpieces. General
Calculate dimensions of workpieces, products, or equipment. General
Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures. General
Feed materials or products into or through equipment. General
Replace worn equipment components. General
Repair production equipment or tools. General
Notify others of equipment repair or maintenance needs. General
Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences. Maintenance
Maintain inventories of materials, equipment, or products. Maintenance
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    Technology Requirements

    Technology Description
    Autodesk AutoCAD Computer aided design CAD software
    Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet software
    Microsoft Office software Office suite software
    Microsoft Windows Operating system software
    SAP software Enterprise resource planning ERP software
    Manufacturing reporting system Inventory management software
    Mazak Mazatrol SMART CNC Industrial control software
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      Relevant Certifications

      Industry certifications that may be valuable for this career role:

      Certification Issuing Organization Practice Test
      Level 1 - Welding National Center for Construction Education and Research Not Available
      Machining Level I - CNC Milling: Operations National Institute for Metalworking Skills Not Available
      Machining Level I - CNC Turning: Operations National Institute for Metalworking Skills Not Available
      Machining Level I - Grinding I National Institute for Metalworking Skills Not Available
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