A professional who sets up and operates straight-line or rotary profile shaping machine that automatically follows contours of model or form to shape single or entire edges of wood furniture parts. Responsibilities include:

• Selects cutterheads or knives to conform to pattern contour, according to type of cut specified on work order.
• Installs cutterheads in vertical spindle of machine or inserts and bolts specified knives in slots of cutterheads already in machine, using handtools.
• Turns handwheel or crank to align knives with contours of model or form.
• Bolts or clamps model or form to bed of machine, using wrenches or air clamps.
• Sets stops on straight-line profiling machine and turns crank to adjust air clamps that hold stock in position for cutting.
• Presses button to start machine and positions stock under clamps and over model or form.
• Moves controls to actuate mechanism that closes clamps; moves carriage, turntable, or form containing stock against rotating cutters until edges of stock are shaped; returns carriage to starting position; and releases clamps for removal of stock.
• May turn thumbscrews or handwheel to regulate speed of carriage, turntable, or drive sprocket, according to type of stock and complexity of contours.
• May compare stock dimensions with pattern to detect cutting defects.