A professional who tends one or more previously set up gear-cutting machines, such as gear shapers, hobbers, finishers, and generators, to machine spline or gear teeth on metal blanks. Respnsibilities include:

• Positions and secures workpiece on arbor, or in chuck, fixture, or automatic feeding mechanism.
• Starts machine and flow of coolant and observes operation.
• Adjusts machine stops and changes worn cutter, using wrenches.
• Verifies conformance to specifications, using fixed gauges, micrometers, and preset dial indicators.
• May machine plastics or other nonmetallic materials.
• May be required to have experience with particular material, product, or size, type, or trade name of machine.