A professional who sets up and operates numerically controlled horizontal lathe to perform machining operations, such as turning, boring, facing, and threading parts, such as castings, forgings, and bar stock. Respnsibilities include:

• Reads process sheets, blueprints, and sketches of part to determine machining to be done, dimensional specifications, set up, and operating requirements.
• Inserts beginning point of tape in reading head of control unit.
• Mounts workpiece between centers, in chuck, or to faceplate, manually or using hoist.
• Selects and installs preset tooling in tool posts, turrets or indexing heads, and automatic-tool-change magazine, in sequence specified on process sheet.
• Depresses buttons, toggles, or sets tape and starts machining operation.
• Observes numerical displays on control panel and compares with data on process sheet to verify dimensional adjustments, feed rates, and speeds of machining cuts.
• Turns dials and switches to override tape control and correct machine performance, applying practical knowledge of lathe operation.
• Inspects first-run piece and spot-checks succeeding pieces for conformance to specifications, using micrometers and precision dial gauges.
• Studies job packet and organizes materials for next run during automatic tape-controlled cycles to shorten changeover time.
• May set tools before positioning them in lathe, using precision gauges and instruments.
• May set up and operate another machine tool during tape-controlled machining cycles.
• May machine nonmetallic materials.
• May be designated by type of lathe operated as engine lathe operator, numerical control; turret lathe operator, numerical control.