What Do CNC Grinders Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

CNC Grinders 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. They also inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers.

Other tasks include:

• 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.
• Compute machine indexings and settings for specified dimensions and base reference points.

We asked CNC Grinders how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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61% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 46% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, CNC Grinders inspect or measure finished workpieces to determine conformance to specifications, using measuring instruments, such as gauges or micrometers. They brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces.

A typical day for a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator and Tender, Metal and Plastic will also include:

• Study blueprints, work orders, or machining instructions to determine product specifications, tool requirements, and operational sequences.
• 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.
• Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.
• Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.
• Activate machine start-up switches to grind, lap, hone, debar, shear, or cut workpieces, according to specifications.

We asked some CNC Grinders a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	12% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	58% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	91% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	12% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	12% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	28% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, CNC Grinders also repair or replace machine parts, using hand tools, or notify engineering personnel when corrective action is required. They may also maintain stocks of machine parts and machining tools.

On a weekly to monthly basis, CNC Grinders Slide spacers between buffs on spindles to set spacing. They might also Brush or spray lubricating compounds on workpieces, or turn valve handles and direct flow of coolant against tools and workpieces.

In addition, they Lift and position workpieces, manually or with hoists, and secure them in hoppers or on machine tables, faceplates, or chucks, using clamps.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Thread and hand-feed materials through machine cutters or abraders.

To some CNC Grinders, it is also their responsibility to Observe machine operations to detect any problems, making necessary adjustments to correct problems.

Working life

Standard 40 hour work week

Regular schedule like a 9 to 5

In a typical work week as a Grinding, Lapping, Polishing and Buffing Machine Tool Setter, Operator and Tender, Metal and Plastic, you can expect to work 40 hour work week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like following set procedures and routines. They like working with data and details more than with ideas.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/production/metal-and-plastic-machine-workers.htm

http://www.fmanet.org/

http://www.amtonline.org/

http://www.ntma.org/