Description
Set up and operate grinding machines to shape, finish, or sharpen metal and other parts to specifications. Monitor operations, verify dimensions, and maintain equipment to ensure safe, efficient, and accurate grinding.
- • Dress and true wheels to restore profile and cutting action.
- • Read work orders, blueprints, and process sheets to determine grinding specifications and tolerances.
- • Set up grinders by installing, balancing, and dressing wheels and mounting fixtures or workpieces.
- • Select grinding wheels, speeds, feeds, and coolant based on material and finish requirements.
- • Move controls to start, stop, and adjust machine functions and table travel.
- • Align, secure, and reference parts on magnetic chucks, centers, or fixtures.
- • Observe machine operation to maintain continuous, safe, and efficient grinding and detect malfunctions.
- • Measure dimensions with micrometers, calipers, gauges, and indicators to verify conformance.
- • Inspect surface finish and geometry using visual checks and surface roughness testers.
- • Record setup, inspection, and production data on specified forms or systems.
- • Make offsets or adjustments to maintain size, squareness, and finish.
- • Clean, lubricate, and perform routine maintenance on machines and tooling.
- • Notify supervisors or maintenance of needed repairs or abnormal conditions.
- • Remove swarf, clear jams, and clean coolant nozzles and guards.
- • Tend accessory equipment such as coolant systems, dust collectors, and conveyors.
- • Mix, check, and adjust coolant concentration and flow.
- • Replace worn belts, wheels, guards, and other components as needed.
- • Load and unload parts using hand tools, hoists, or carts.
- • Reject nonconforming parts and correct process issues to eliminate defects.
- • Keep work area clean and organized and dispose of spent abrasives and coolant per procedures.
- • Conduct first-piece and in-process inspections and obtain approvals.
- • Follow safety procedures and use required PPE.
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Advanced Manufacturing
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Source
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
