What You'll Do

  • Dress grinding wheels, according to specifications.
  • Monitor machine operations to determine whether adjustments are necessary, stopping machines when problems occur.
  • Inspect, feel, and measure workpieces to ensure that surfaces and dimensions meet specifications.
  • Set up and operate grinding or polishing machines to grind metal workpieces, such as dies, parts, and tools.
  • Remove finished workpieces from machines and place them in boxes or on racks, setting aside pieces that are defective.
  • File or finish surfaces of workpieces, using prescribed hand tools.
  • Select and mount grinding wheels on machines, according to specifications, using hand tools and applying knowledge of abrasives and grinding procedures.
  • Perform basic maintenance, such as cleaning and lubricating machine parts.
  • Remove and replace worn or broken machine parts, using hand tools.
  • Compute numbers, widths, and angles of cutting tools, micrometers, scales, and gauges, and adjust tools to produce specified cuts.

Essential Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.88/5
Operation and Control 3.75/5
Quality Control Analysis 3.5/5
Equipment Maintenance 3.38/5
Repairing 3.38/5
Critical Thinking 3.25/5
Monitoring 3.0/5
Equipment Selection 3.0/5
Troubleshooting 3.0/5
Reading Comprehension 2.88/5
Complex Problem Solving 2.88/5
Judgment and Decision Making 2.88/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to understand the kind of profile this role rewards. It helps you judge whether this career looks like a stronger match than your current role, a nearby move worth exploring, or a broader path to compare more seriously.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Cautiousness, Achievement Orientation, Perseverance

Want a personal read on fit? Take the free assessment and compare this career to your current role, nearby alternatives, and broader stronger-fit options.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Arm-Hand Steadiness 4.0/5
Manual Dexterity 3.88/5
Finger Dexterity 3.88/5
Control Precision 3.88/5
Near Vision 3.75/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.38/5
Visualization 3.38/5
Selective Attention 3.38/5

Technologies & Tools

ANCA ToolRoom Dassault Systemes SolidWorks IBM Lotus Notes Microsoft Excel Vero Software Edgecam Zoller

Work Environment & Strengths

Common Strengths for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.78/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.43/5)
  • Cautiousness (High importance: 4.35/5)
  • Achievement Orientation (High importance: 3.75/5)
  • Perseverance (High importance: 3.68/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Card Grinder Computer Numerical Control Grinding Technician (CNC Grinding Technician) Crankshaft Grinder Cutter Grind Tool Technician Cutter Grinder Cutting Tool Sharpener Cylinder Grinder Deburrer Die Barber Die Fitter Die Grinder Die Polisher Die Reamer Die Sharpener Die Trimmer External Tool Grinder Operator Filer Finish Filer Finisher Grinder Grinder Operator Hand Tool Lapper Internal Grinder Set-Up Operator Mold Repair Specialist Nonferrous Metal Die Polisher OD Grinder Operator (Outer Diameter Grinder Operator) Outer Diameter Grinder (OD Grinder) Outer Diameter Technician (OD Technician) Polisher Precision Grinder Precision Honer Sapphire Stylus Grinder Saw Filer Saw Fitter Saw Straightener Sharpener Surface Tool Grinder Operator Thread Grinder Tool and Cutter Grinder Tool Dresser Tool Filer Tool Grinder Tool Grinder Operator Tool Grinding Machine Operator Tool Grinding Technician Tool Maintenance Worker Tool Room Utility Specialist Tool Sharpener Tool Straightener Tool Technician Universal Grinder Set-Up Operator Universal Grinder Setup Operator Workcell Operator

Career Fit FAQs

Is this career a good fit for me

This page shows the role itself. To see personal fit, use the assessment to compare your interests, motivations, and strengths against this career and against the role you are in now.

Can this help if I want to stay in my field

Yes. Many people use career pages like this to compare nearby roles in the same field and see whether they need a full switch or a better-fit version of the work they already know.

What should I compare first

Start with the daily tasks, the preparation level, and the work-style signals on this page. Then use the assessment to see whether this role looks like a stronger fit than your current role or just a different title.