Description
Set up and operate cutting equipment to cut or slice materials to specification; inspect output, adjust controls, and maintain safe, efficient production.
- • Review work orders, blueprints, specifications, or samples to plan cuts and machine settings.
- • Set up and operate cutting and slicing machines or hand tools to cut materials such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulation.
- • Examine, measure, and weigh materials and finished pieces to verify specifications using rulers, micrometers, or scales.
- • Start machines to verify setups and make required adjustments.
- • Adjust controls to change blade position, alignment, speed, pressure, or feed rate.
- • Monitor equipment operation and material flow to detect malfunctions or replenishment needs.
- • Feed, thread, guide, and position stock onto conveyors or under blades along cutting lines or against stops.
- • Select, install, and secure blades, rollers, guides, clamps, and templates using hand tools.
- • Change or replace saw blades, cutter heads, cables, and grinding wheels.
- • Sharpen blades, knives, or saws using files, grinders, or honing stones.
- • Remove defective or substandard material and correct settings to meet quality standards.
- • Remove, stack, and sort cut pieces for packaging, further processing, or shipping by type and size.
- • Mark cutting lines or identification on stock with pencils, rulers, or scribes.
- • Type or input instructions, push buttons, or set guides to load programs and define cuts.
- • Press buttons, pull levers, or use pedals to start, stop, and operate machines.
- • Maintain production records for quantities, types, and dimensions produced.
- • Clean and lubricate machines, conveyors, blades, saws, or knives.
- • Move stock and scrap to and from machines manually or with carts, hand trucks, or lift trucks.
- • Tighten belts or pulleys and add abrasives to maintain cutting performance.
- • Cut material manually to prepare for machine cutting using knives, cleavers, handsaws, hammers, or chisels.
- • Follow safety procedures and keep the work area organized.
- • Assist or lead helpers on cutting tasks when needed.
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Related Pathways
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
