What You Need to Know About Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender
Position 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.
Life As a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator: What Do They Do?
- Compute machine indexings and settings for specified dimensions and base reference points.
- Slide spacers between buffs on spindles to set spacing.
- 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.
- Inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.
- Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.
Skills Needed to be a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator
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.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Other Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator Job Titles
- Rail Grinder
- Honing Machine Operator
- Pallet Rectifier
- Barrel Polisher
- Gold-Nib Grinder
Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, & Buffing Machine Tool Operator Employment Estimates
There were about 76,200 jobs for Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender in 2016 (in the United States). 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.
Do Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Make A Lot Of Money?
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 |
What Tools do Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders Use?
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 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 the approximate number of Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders employed by various industries.
Related Careers
Those interested in being a Metal and Plastic Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator, or Tender may also be interested in:
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
More about our data sources and methodologies.
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