Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Set up, operate, or tend machines to saw, cut, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.

203 alternate job titles:

Adjuster Angle Shear Operator Angle Shear Setup Operator Arbor Press Operator Automatic Punch Press Operator Automatic Screwmaker Automobile Bumper Straightener Bander Operator Banding Machine Operator Bench Shear Operator Bender Machine Operator Bending Machine Setup Operator Bending Roll Operator Beveler Billet Cutter Billet Shearer Blanker Body Press Operator Bolt Cutter Brake Machine Operator Brake Operator Brake Press Operator Brass Cutter Bullet Assembly Press Operator Calender Roll Press Operator Can Cutter Center Punch Operator Clearance Cutter Clincher Clinching Machine Operator Coil Cutter Coil Shaper Cold Saw Operator Corner Former Crimping Machine Operator Crimping Press Operator Cut Off Machine Operator Cut Off Saw Setup Operator Cutter Cutting and Creasing Press Operator Cutting Machine Operator Debridging Machine Operator Diamond Saw Operator Dicer Operator Die Cutter Die Setter Digital Press Operator Dimpling Machine Operator Dinkey Press Operator Draw Press Operator Drawing Press Operator Duplicator Punch Operator Duplicator Punch Setup Operator Equipment Technician (Equipment Tech) Fabrication Machine Operator Fabrication Operator Fabricator Filament Cutter Finish Saw Operator Flexographic Press Operator (Flexo Press Operator) Flying Shear Operator Foot Press Operator Forming Press Operator Four Slide Machine Setter Four Slide Operator Friction Saw Operator Gasket Former Gasket Maker Hack Saw Operator Hammer Operator Heavy Duty Press Operator Hoop Puncher Hot Dimpling Machine Operator Hot Punch Press Operator Hot Saw Operator Hot Stamp Operator Hydropress Operator Iron Bender Jigsawyer Joggle Press Operator Key Cutter Kick Press Operator Kick Press Setter Knuckle Bender Link Cutter Machine Operator Machine Setter Machining Associate Manufacturing Associate Manufacturing Operator Metal and Plastic Sawing Machine Tool Setter Metal and Plastic Shear and Slitter Machine Setter Metal Bending Machine Operator Metal Bonding Press Operator Metal Crimping Machine Operator Metal Cut Off Saw Operator Metal Cut Off Saw Tender Metal Cutter Metal Punch Press Operator Metal Shaping Machine Operator Metal Slitter Metal Stamper Metal Stamping Machine Operator Metal Trimmer Metal Tube Cutter Metallic Yarn Slitting Machine Operator Mottle Lay Up Operator Nibbler Operator Notcher Notching Machine Operator Nut Blanker Operator Perforator Operator Pierce and Shave Press Operator Pipe Bender Pipe Stem Sawyer Planisher Planishing Press Operator Plastic Cutter Plastic Press Operator Plate Slitter and Inspector Pneumatic Press Hand Power Brake Operator Power Press Tender Press Brake Machine Operator Press Brake Machine Setter Press Brake Machine Setup Operator Press Brake Operator Press Machine Operator Press Operator Press Setter Press Setup Operator Printed Circuit Board Die Setup Operator Printed Circuit Board Panels Trimmer Profile Saw Operator Profile Saw Setup Operator Profile Trimmer Punch Machine Hand Punch Machine Operator Punch Operator Punch Press Operator Punch Press Setter Rivet Hole Puncher Rotary Shear Operator Saw Operator Sawyer Scrap Cutter Screw Cutter Setter Setup Operator Setup Technician (Setup Tech) Shear Operator Shear Setter Shearman Sheet Metal Fabricator Shift Operator Sinter Press Operator Sintering Press Operator Slasher Slat Twister Slitter Operator Slitter Technician (Slitter Tech) Slitting Machine Operator Snap Shearer Spring Coiling Machine Setter Spring Tester Square Cutter Stamp Press Operator Stamping Operator Stamping Press Operator Steel Cutter Straight Line Press Setter Straightener Straightener Operator Straightening Machine Operator Straightening Press Operator Strip Metal Punch Operator Swage Tender Swaging Machine Adjuster Sweep Press Operator Table Saw Operator Tablet Machine Operator Tape Control Press Operator Terminal Press Operator Thermal Cutting Machine Operator Tin Cutter Toggle Press Operator Trim Machine Adjuster Trimmer Machine Operator Trimming Machine Operator Tube Cutter Tubing Machine Tender Turret Punch Press Operator Vertical Contour Band Saw Operator Vertical Punch Operator Wheel Press Operator Wheel Presser Wire Coiner Wire Cutter Wire Machine Cutter Wire Sawyer Wire Straightener Zipper Cutter Zipper Trimmer
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Salary Information

Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic: $45,590 (median) per year.

Starting salary (10th percentile).
Required expreience: Varies by Company


Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Daily Tasks & Responsibilities

Task Description Category
Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications. General
Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products. General
Sort materials or products for processing, storing, shipping, or grading. General
Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements. General
Load materials into production equipment. General
Operate cutting equipment. General
Record operational or production data. General
Inspect production equipment. General
Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment. General
Clean production equipment. General
Lubricate production equipment. General
Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment. General
Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly. General
Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references. General
Operate metal or plastic forming equipment. General
Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures. General
Adjust equipment controls to regulate coolant flow. General
Apply lubricants or coolants to workpieces. General
Replace worn equipment components. General
Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information. General
Plan production or operational procedures or sequences. General
Smooth metal surfaces or edges. General
Operate grinding equipment. General
Sharpen cutting or grinding tools. General
Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair. General
Remove accessories, tools, or other parts from equipment. General
Select production equipment according to product specifications. General
Heat material or workpieces to prepare for or complete production. General
Clean work areas. General
Operate forklifts or other loaders. General
Weld metal components. General
Braze metal parts or components. General
Operate welding equipment. General
Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences. Maintenance
Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed. Maintenance
Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications. Communication
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    Technology Requirements

    Technology Description
    Autodesk AutoCAD Computer aided design CAD software
    Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet software
    Microsoft Office software Office suite software
    Microsoft Outlook Electronic mail software
    Microsoft Word Word processing software
    SAP software Enterprise resource planning ERP software
    Automated inventory software Inventory management software
    Computerized numerical control CNC software Industrial control software
    Striker Systems SS-Punch Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
    Operational databases Data base user interface and query software
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      Relevant Certifications

      Industry certifications that may be valuable for this career role:

      Certification Issuing Organization Practice Test
      Level 1 - Welding National Center for Construction Education and Research Not Available
      Press Brake Level II - CNC Punch (Turret) Press Level II National Institute for Metalworking Skills Not Available
      Press Brake Level II - Operate Non-CNC Drive Press Brake Skills II National Institute for Metalworking Skills Not Available
      Press Brake Level III - Set Up and Operate CNC Drive III National Institute for Metalworking Skills Not Available
      Press Brake Level III - Set Up and Operate Non-CNC Mechanical III National Institute for Metalworking Skills Not Available
      Screw Machining Level II - Operate with Multiple Spindles II National Institute for Metalworking Skills Not Available
      Screw Machining Level II - Operate with Single Spindles II National Institute for Metalworking Skills Not Available
      Screw Machining Level III - Set Up & Operate with Multiple Spindles III National Institute for Metalworking Skills Not Available
      Screw Machining Level III - Set Up & Operate with Single Spindles III National Institute for Metalworking Skills Not Available
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