A professional who sets up and operates variety of gear-cutting machines, such as gear shapers, hobs, and generators to machine spline, rack, or gear teeth on metal blanks, analyzing specifications according to knowledge of gear designs, shop mathematics, and gear machining procedures. Respnsibilities include:

• Studies blueprint to visualize machining required, and plans sequence of operations.
• Selects machine and method of holding workpiece.
• Computes machine settings from gear specifications.
• Positions and secures workpiece to cutting angle on arbor, in chuck or other holding device, using wrenches.
• Selects, positions, and secures cutters in toolhead, in spindle, or on arbor.
• Sets feed rates and rotation speeds of cutters and workpiece in relation to each other by selecting and mounting gears, cams, or templates, or by moving levers.
• Moves controls to set cutting speeds and depth of stroke and cut for reciprocating cutters, and to position tool and workpiece in relation to each other.
• May select and mount guides to impart twisting motion to spindle for cutting helical gears.
• Starts machine, turns valve handle to start flow of coolant against cutter and workpiece.
• Verifies conformance of machined gear to specifications, using gear measuring wires, involute checker, master gears, optical comparator (shadowgraph), and other special gear inspection equipment.
• May operate broaching machine to broach internal splines or gears.
• May work on nonmetallic materials.
• May be required to have experience with particular gear type, material, or size, type, or trade name of machine.