A professional who sets up and operates one or more electrical-discharge machines to shape metal workpieces to specifications, following standard charts and manuals, and applying knowledge of electrical-discharge machining processes and methods, electric currents and circuitry, metal properties, and shop mathematics. Respnsibilities include:

• Examines blueprint of product and plans operations.
• Positions and secures workpiece on machine table with clamps, vise, or fixture.
• Positions and secures electrode in holder on surface plate, verifying concentricity, alignment, and depth, using measuring instruments, such as calipers and dial indicators.
• Mounts electrode and holder on machine spindle, using vernier dials on machine to verify alignment of electrode and workpiece.
• Positions gauge blocks, dial indicator, and spindle stop on machine so that descending electrode will stop at specified depth when indicator feeler point touches gauge blocks.
• Turns valve to adjust flow of dielectric coolant over electrode and workpiece or to immerse them in circulating bath.
• Turns controls to adjust machine setting, such as voltage, current, frequency, and electrode feed rate, according to information on charts or knowledge of electrical discharge machining procedures.
• Starts machine and observes beginning of operation.
• May move controls to rotate electrode or workpiece.
• May inspect completed workpiece visually and with templates and other measuring instruments.
• May compute settings from specifications and knowledge of machine capacities.
• May give tool maker specifications, such as allowances between blueprint dimensions and dimensions of electrode to be made.
• Important variables may be indicated by trade names of machine used.