A professional who sets up and operates engine lathes to machine metallic and nonmetallic workpieces according to specifications, tooling instructions, and standard charts, applying knowledge of machining methods. Respnsibilities include:

• Reads blueprint or job order for specifications, such as dimensions and tolerances, tooling instructions on holding devices, feed rates, cutting speeds, depth of cuts, and cutting tools.
• Positions and secures tools in holders, using wrenches.
• Lifts workpiece manually or with hoist, and positions and secures workpiece in holding device, machine table, chuck, centers, or fixture, using clamps and wrenches.
• Sets specified rotation speed, feed rate, and depth of cut, and positions tool in relation to workpiece.
• Starts machine, turns handwheels to feed tool to workpiece, and engages feed.
• Turns valve handle to direct flow of coolant against tool and workpiece.
• Observes cutting action of machine to detect excessive wear or malfunction.
• Verifies conformance of machined workpiece to specifications, using micrometers, calipers, and fixed gauges.
• May scribe reference lines on workpiece, using scale, or template and scriber, to lay out interrelated surfaces, lengths, and depths of cut.
• May compute unspecified dimensions and machine settings, using knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics.
• May set up tracing attachment that guides cutting tool to follow movement of tracing stylus along template to duplicate template profile on turned workpiece and be designated Tracing-Lathe Set-Up Operator.
• May be required to have experience with custom or production work, or with particular material, product, level of precision, or size, type, or trade name of machine.