Career summary

Details for Cutting and Slicing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders


Description

Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.

Tasks

  • Examine, measure, and weigh materials or products to verify conformance to specifications, using measuring devices, such as rulers, micrometers, or scales.
  • Set up, operate, or tend machines that cut or slice materials, such as glass, stone, cork, rubber, tobacco, food, paper, or insulating material.
  • Stack and sort cut material for packaging, further processing, or shipping, according to types and sizes of material.
  • Review work orders, blueprints, specifications, or job samples to determine components, settings, and adjustments for cutting and slicing machines.
  • Type instructions on computer keyboards, push buttons to activate computer programs, or manually set cutting guides, clamps, and knives.
  • Remove defective or substandard materials from machines, and readjust machine components so that products meet standards.
  • Press buttons, pull levers, or depress pedals to start and operate cutting and slicing machines.
  • Adjust machine controls to alter position, alignment, speed, or pressure.
  • Maintain production records, such as quantities, types, and dimensions of materials produced.
  • Monitor operation of cutting or slicing machines to detect malfunctions or to determine whether supplies need replenishment.
  • Start machines to verify setups, and make any necessary adjustments.
  • Remove completed materials or products from cutting or slicing machines, and stack or store them for additional processing.
  • Select and install machine components, such as cutting blades, rollers, and templates, according to specifications, using hand tools.
  • Move stock or scrap to and from machines manually, or by using carts, handtrucks, or lift trucks.
  • Clean and lubricate cutting machines, conveyors, blades, saws, or knives, using steam hoses, scrapers, brushes, or oil cans.
  • Operate cranes, or signal crane operators to position or remove stone from cars or saw beds.
  • Feed stock into cutting machines, onto conveyors, or under cutting blades, by threading, guiding, pushing, or turning handwheels.
  • Position stock along cutting lines, or against stops on beds of scoring or cutting machines.
  • Start pumps to circulate water and abrasives onto blades or cables during cutting.
  • Change or replace saw blades, cables, cutter heads, and grinding wheels, using hand tools.
  • Mark cutting lines or identifying information on stock, using marking pencils, rulers, or scribes.
  • Turn cranks or press buttons to activate winches that move cars under sawing cables or saw frames.
  • Position width gauge blocks between blades, and level blades and insert wedges into frames to secure blades to frames.
  • Direct workers on cutting teams.
  • Tighten pulleys or add abrasives to maintain cutting speeds.
  • Cut stock manually to prepare for machine cutting, using tools such as knives, cleavers, handsaws, or hammers and chisels.
  • Sharpen cutting blades, knives, or saws, using files, bench grinders, or honing stones.
  • Wash stones, using water hoses.

Interests

  • Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Education, training, experience

  • Education - These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
  • Training - Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
  • Experience - Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.

Knowledge

  • Mechanical -Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • Production and Processing -Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Skills

None found.

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