A professional who sets up and operates heavy-duty power press to bend, form, stretch, and straighten metal plates, metal extrusions, formed sheet metal, structural shapes, forgings, and weldments as specified by blueprints, layout, and templates. Respnsibilities include:

• Plans sequence of operations, applying knowledge of physical properties of metal.
• Measures and sights along workpiece, using tape, rule, straightedge, and transit, to mark reference lines.
• Selects and positions flat, V-block, radius, or special purpose die sets into ram and bed of machine, using jib or crane.
• Aligns and bolts dies to ram and bed of machine, using gauges, templates, feelers, shims, and wrenches.
• Turns handwheel or levers to set depth and pressure of ram stroke.
• Preheats workpiece in furnace, using hand torch.
• Lifts and positions workpiece between dies of machine, using jib or crane and sledge.
• Starts machine to lower ram which bends or straightens workpiece between dies.
• Repositions workpiece and changes dies when making multiple or successive passes.
• Hand forms or finishes workpiece, using hand sledge and anvil.
• Grinds out burrs and sharp edges, using portable grinder.
• Inspects and marks job number on finished workpiece.
• May bend or straighten cold metal.
• May set dies to punch and blank heavy metal.
• May operate horizontal power press to bend or straighten long pieces of bar stock or structural shapes.
• May operate press equipped with two or more rams to bend angles or flanges or bend to radius by successive passes; or operate multiple acting hydraulic press to perform deep progressive and reverse draw operations of sheet metal.
• May be designated according to type press operated as bulldozer operator ii; stretch-press operator; or according to shape product produced as dishing-machine operator.