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Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Occupation Detailed Description

Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

The main tasks and work activities of Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners are to apply solutions to production equipment, operate grinding equipment, watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions, measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications. In general, for the Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners, operation Monitoring, operation and Control, quality Control Analysis, repairing and other 6 skills are required.
Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees 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.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners jobs. 44.99% of Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 35.67% of Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
13.28%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
44.99%
Post-Secondary Certificate
35.67%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
6.07%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
-0.01%

Tasks and Work Activities of Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

  • 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.
  • Study blueprints or layouts of metal workpieces to determine grinding procedures, and to plan machine setups and operational sequences.
  • Turn valves to direct flow of coolant against cutting wheels and workpieces during grinding.
  • Inspect dies to detect defects, assess wear, and verify specifications, using micrometers, steel gauge pins, and loupes.
  • Duplicate workpiece contours, using tracer attachments.
  • Straighten workpieces and remove dents, using straightening presses and hammers.
  • Attach workpieces to grinding machines and form specified sections and repair cracks, using welding or brazing equipment.
  • Place workpieces in electroplating solutions or apply pigments to surfaces of workpieces to highlight ridges and grooves.
  • Fit parts together in pre-assembly to ensure that dimensions are accurate.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentServicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Apply solutions to production equipment.
  • Operate grinding equipment.
  • Watch operating equipment to detect malfunctions.
  • Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
  • Inspect finishes of workpieces or finished products.
  • Package products for storage or shipment.
  • Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
  • Smooth metal surfaces or edges.
  • Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
  • Select production equipment according to product specifications.
  • Lubricate production equipment.
  • Maintain production or processing equipment.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Replace worn equipment components.
  • Remove accessories, tools, or other parts from equipment.
  • Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.
  • Calculate specific material, equipment, or labor requirements for production.
  • Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
  • Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements.
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate coolant flow.

Skills and Abilities for Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners

  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • RepairingRepairing machines or systems using the needed tools.
  • Equipment MaintenancePerforming routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • TroubleshootingDetermining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
  • Equipment SelectionDetermining the kind of tools and equipment needed to do a job.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
  • Flexibility of ClosureThe ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
  • Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
  • Rate ControlThe ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Auditory AttentionThe ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
  • Hearing SensitivityThe ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
  • Static StrengthThe ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Pressure indicatorse.g. Air pressure gauges
  • Automatic lathe or chucking machinee.g. Automatic metalworking lathes
  • Grinding wheelse.g. Bench grinding wheels
  • Power grinderse.g. Computer numerically controlled CNC grinders
  • Countersink tool or counterbore toole.g. Counterbores
  • Power grinderse.g. Cutter grinders
  • Hole gaugee.g. Dial bore gauges
  • Dial indicator or dial gaugee.g. Dial indicators
  • Angle gaugee.g. Digital angle gauges
  • Caliperse.g. Digital calipers
  • Micrometerse.g. Digital micrometers
  • Radius gaugee.g. Digital radius gauges
  • Power grinderse.g. Drill grinders
  • Overhead cranee.g. Fixed overhead cranes
  • Gauge blocke.g. Gauge block sets
  • Hand reamere.g. Hand reamer sets
  • Bench grindere.g. Industrial bench grinders
  • Milling machinese.g. Machining centers
  • Chuckse.g. Magnetic chucks
  • Metal broaching machinese.g. Metal broaching machinery
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.