A professional who sets up and operates turret lathes to perform series of machining operations, such as turning, boring, threading, and facing, on metal workpieces, such as castings, forgings, and bar stock, according to specifications, tooling instructions, standard charts, and knowledge of turning procedures. Respnsibilities include:

• Reads blueprint, job order, tooling instructions, and standard charts for such specifications as dimensions, tolerances, and tooling instructions, such as type of holding fixtures, cutting speeds, feed rates, and cutting tools to be used.
• Positions and secures tools in toolholders on turret and cross-slide, using wrenches.
• Moves controls to set specified rotation speeds, feed rates, and depth of cuts.
• Positions and secures workpiece in chuck or to faceplate, using wrenches.
• Indexes turret and adjusts positions of tools at each station in relation to workpiece to assure clearance between moving parts and machining of specified dimensions and tolerances.
• Observes operation and indexes turret between operations.
• Verifies conformance of machined workpieces to specifications, using micrometers, calipers, and fixed gauges.
• Turns valve and directs flow of coolant against tool and workpiece.
• May compute such data as dimensions, rotation speeds, feed rates, and machining times, using knowledge of shop mathematics and metal properties.
• May work on nonmetallic materials, such as plastics.
• May be required to have experience with custom or production work or with particular material, product, level of precision, or machine of size, type, or trade name.