Description
Set up, operate, and monitor glass cutting machines to score and break flat glass to required sizes and shapes, meeting specifications for quality, safety, and throughput.
- • Review work orders, cut lists, blueprints, and templates to determine glass type, thickness, dimensions, and machine settings.
- • Set up and operate CNC or manual glass cutting tables, score-and-break lines, or waterjet cutters.
- • Load glass sheets onto cutting tables using cranes, vacuum lifters, or racks.
- • Position stock along cutting lines or stops; align reference edges and suction cups.
- • Select and install cutting wheels, scoring heads, breaker bars, rollers, or templates.
- • Enter programs or parameters; set offsets, cutting pressure, speeds, and bridge height.
- • Start machines to verify setups and run test cuts; adjust to meet tolerances.
- • Examine and measure glass to verify thickness, dimensions, edge quality, and squareness using calipers, gauges, and tape measures.
- • Monitor machine operation, oil or coolant levels, and breaker performance; replenish supplies.
- • Adjust controls to alter position, alignment, speed, pressure, or vacuum.
- • Remove defective pieces; rework or scrap per quality procedures; correct settings.
- • Break out scored glass safely and remove remnants.
- • Stack, pad, and label cut glass by job, size, and sequence; stage for downstream processing or shipping.
- • Maintain production and quality records, including quantities, dimensions, batch numbers, and waste.
- • Clean and lubricate cutting tables, conveyors, scoring heads, and breaker bars; change filters and manage cutting fluids.
- • Replace cutting wheels, scoring heads, breaker bars, and wear parts using hand tools.
- • Mark cutting lines, part IDs, and orientation on glass using pens or labels.
- • Move stock, offcuts, and scrap with carts, dollies, or forklifts; dispose of cullet safely.
- • Follow safety procedures; use PPE; keep guards and interlocks functional; maintain a clean, shard-free area.
- • Coordinate with team members and downstream departments to meet schedules.
- • Tighten belts, square bridges, and align guides to maintain accuracy.
- • Feed stock onto conveyors or under cutting heads; thread protective films or paper interlayers when needed.
- • Review nest layouts and optimization results; verify yield and update cut plans when substitutions are required.
- • Verify Low-E coating orientation and run edge-deletion as specified.
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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
