Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Operators
On the Job
Cutting, Punching, and Press Machine Operators set up, operate, or tend machines that saw, shear, slit, punch, crimp, notch, bend, or straighten metal or plastic material.
Physical Demands
This career requires time standing, walking, or running.
Typical Work Tasks
People who work in this career often:
- Read work orders or other instructions to determine product specifications or materials requirements.
- Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
- Operate cutting equipment.
- Operate forklifts or other loaders.
- Operate grinding equipment.
- Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
- Adjust equipment controls to regulate coolant flow.
- Align parts or workpieces to ensure proper assembly.
- Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
- Disassemble equipment for maintenance or repair.
Typical Working Conditions
- Wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats, or life jackets.
- Standing.
- The importance of being accurate or exact.
- Freedom to make decisions without supervision.
- Exposure to sounds or noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable.
- Having face-to-face discussions.
- Exposure to hazardous equipment.
- Meeting strict deadlines.
- Working indoors in non-environmentally controlled conditions.
This page includes information from the O*NET 24.2 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Source: You can learn about our data sources in the About Us section.