Machinist Duties & Responsibilities

The role and function of a Machinist includes the following duties and responsibilities:

  • Work from blueprints, sketches or computer-aided design (CAD), and computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) files
  • Turn, mill, drill, shape, and grind machine parts to specifications
  • Align, secure, and adjust cutting tools and workpieces
  • Monitor the feed and speed of machines
  • Measure, examine, and test completed products for defects
  • Present finished workpieces to customers and make modifications if needed
  • Set up, operate, and disassemble manual, automatic, and computer-numeric controlled (CNC) machine tools
  • Smooth the surfaces of parts or products

Note that this is not an exhaustive list of Machinist duties and responsibilities. Job functions for specific Machinist roles may vary, depending on the industry and type of employer.