Description
Set up, program, and operate woodworking machinery to mill, cut, and shape solid wood and panel products into precision components, selecting tooling, optimizing feeds and speeds, and ensuring dimensional accuracy, surface quality, and safety.
- • Set up, program, and operate CNC routers, moulders, planers, jointers, shapers, tenoners, mortisers, and saws to machine wood and composites.
- • Select, install, and align cutters, knives, bits, and tooling; set fences, guides, and guards.
- • Interpret blueprints, shop drawings, and CAD files to plan machining sequences and tolerances.
- • Create or edit CNC programs and toolpaths using CAD/CAM software and machine controllers.
- • Measure and verify dimensions, squareness, and surface quality with calipers, gauges, and templates.
- • Adjust feeds, speeds, depths of cut, and offsets to meet specifications and maximize throughput.
- • Prepare and mark stock; optimize cutting yields, nesting, and grain orientation.
- • Machine joinery and profiles such as dadoes, rabbets, mortises, tenons, dovetails, and molding.
- • Bore, drill, and route holes and slots using line-boring machines, drill presses, or CNC equipment.
- • Operate edge banders and trim stations; machine hardware pockets and hinge cups.
- • Deburr, sand, and ease edges of machined parts to prepare for assembly or finishing.
- • Monitor machine operation; diagnose chatter, tear-out, or tool wear; replace or sharpen tooling.
- • Perform routine maintenance, cleaning, and lubrication; maintain machine calibration.
- • Stage, label, and stack machined components; update travelers and production records.
- • Inspect first-article and in-process parts; document quality results and corrective actions.
- • Follow safety procedures and lockout/tagout; maintain dust collection and housekeeping.
- • Estimate material, tooling, and time requirements for machining work orders.
- • Collaborate with engineers or supervisors to refine designs, fixtures, and setups; build jigs and templates.
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Advanced Manufacturing
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
