A professional who sets up and operates power shear to cut metal objects, such as plates, sheets, slabs, billets, or bars to specified dimensions and angle. Respnsibilities include:

• Turns handwheels to adjust rake (angle) and pressure of blade.
• Positions and clamps stops and side guides to set length and angle of cut, using rule, built-in gauges, or template.
• Lifts workpiece manually or by hoist or crane to machine bed or roller table and positions it against side guide and end stops.
• Starts machine which clamps workpiece and lowers blade to cut metal.
• Lays out cutting lines on metal, using rule, square, or template when shearing single pieces.
• May tilt bed, blade, or install fixtures to shear, bevel, or trim fabricated items.
• May set up and operate shear on production line in which shear is fed by conveyor, such as automobile frame line or rolling mill.
• May operate portable shear to cut sheet metal.
• May inspect work, using tape, compass, gauge, template, or micrometer to verify dimensions.
• May be designated by type of shear as gate-shear operator ii; or by application of shear as square-shear operator i; staple-shear operator.
• May operate shear that automatically shears to uniform length metal sheets, plates, or structural shapes fed into machine by continuous coil or conveyor and be designated shear operator, automatic i.