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

Career Overview

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.

Also Known As

Centerless Grinder Operator
Grinder
Grinder Operator
Grinding Machine Operator

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)

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.
Measure workpieces and lay out work, using precision measuring devices.
Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.
Move machine controls to index workpieces, and to adjust machines for pre-selected operational settings.
Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.
Select machine tooling to be used, using knowledge of machine and production requirements.
Mount and position tools in machine chucks, spindles, or other tool holding devices, using hand tools.

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

Operations Monitoring
Operation and Control

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

Control Precision
Manual Dexterity
Near Vision
Reaction Time
Problem Sensitivity
Multilimb Coordination
Arm-Hand Steadiness
Rate Control
Perceptual Speed
Flexibility of Closure

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

Attention to Detail
Dependability
Cautiousness
Achievement Orientation
Integrity

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

Support
Relationships
Independence
Working Conditions
Achievement

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: High School Diploma - or the equivalent (for example, GED)

On-the-Job Training: Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month

Education Details: Usually requires a high school diploma or GED, though some occupations may not.

Experience Required: Some occupations may need little or no previous experience; others require several months to a year of experience. For example, landscaping and groundskeeping workers might require very little training or previous experience, while agricultural equipment operators can benefit from on-the job training.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

Autodesk AutoCAD
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Office software
Microsoft Windows
SAP software

Tools & Equipment

Angle grinders
Barrel finishing machines
Bench clamps
Bore gauges
Buffing machines
Chuck wrenches
Computer numerical control CNC grinding machines
Computerized microscopes
Coordinate measuring machines CMM
Cylinder grinders
Digital calipers
Digital comparators
Digital micrometers
Digital radius gauges
Electric overhead travelling EOT cranes

Work Environment

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
Time Pressure
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled

Salary & Job Market

Salary Percentile	Annual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)	$34,980
Median	$45,190
Top Earners (90th percentile)	$61,550

Workers Employed Nationally: 70,110