Grinder Operator

Grinder Operator

Job Type: Full-Time
Experience Required: Minimum 5 Years Grinding Experience
Department: Manufacturing / Production
Work Environment: Precision Manufacturing / Machine Shop

Position Summary

Millennial Tools, Inc. is seeking an experienced Grinder Operator / Precision Grinder with a minimum of 5 years of hands-on precision grinding experience in a manufacturing or machine-shop environment.

The Grinder Operator will be responsible for setting up and operating precision grinding equipment to manufacture and finish high-precision components according to engineering drawings, customer specifications, work orders, and established quality requirements.

The ideal candidate must have extensive experience with manual surface grinding, precision measurement, grinding-wheel preparation and dressing, workholding, machine setup, and close-tolerance manufacturing. Candidates should be capable of independently setting up grinding operations, interpreting blueprints, inspecting their own work, making necessary machine adjustments, and consistently producing parts within specified tolerances.

This position requires strong attention to detail and the ability to work independently in a precision manufacturing environment.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Set up and operate manual surface grinders and other grinding equipment as applicable.
• Perform precision grinding operations according to engineering drawings, blueprints, work orders, and customer specifications.
• Independently determine appropriate setups and grinding sequences for assigned components.
• Set up and properly secure workpieces using magnetic chucks, vises, fixtures, angle plates, sine plates, and other workholding methods as applicable.
• Select appropriate grinding wheels based on material, hardness, required surface finish, and grinding application.
• Inspect, mount, true, and dress grinding wheels according to proper grinding practices and safety requirements.
• Dress grinding wheels to maintain proper wheel condition, geometry, cutting performance, and surface finish.
• Establish machine settings and make necessary adjustments throughout the grinding process.
• Perform rough and finish grinding operations while maintaining dimensional accuracy and required surface finishes.
• Grind flat, parallel, square, angled, and other precision surfaces as required by the component and blueprint.
• Maintain required dimensions, tolerances, flatness, parallelism, squareness, and surface-finish requirements.
• Monitor grinding operations for excessive heat, burning, chatter, vibration, wheel loading, poor finish, distortion, or other process issues.
• Troubleshoot grinding, setup, wheel, dimensional, and surface-finish problems.
• Make appropriate machine, setup, wheel-dressing, or process adjustments to correct grinding issues.
• Read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, dimensions, tolerances, surface-finish requirements, and GD&T as applicable.
• Perform first-piece and in-process dimensional inspections.
• Verify completed parts against blueprint and customer specifications.
• Use precision measuring and inspection equipment including micrometers, calipers, dial/test indicators, height gauges, gauge blocks, surface plates, and other precision inspection equipment.
• Make necessary grinding-process adjustments based on inspection results.
• Handle precision components carefully to prevent damage to finished surfaces or critical dimensions.
• Identify nonconforming components and communicate quality concerns to appropriate personnel.
• Maintain accurate production, inspection, and job documentation as required.
• Coordinate with machinists, CNC personnel, Quality, and Production regarding job requirements and manufacturing concerns.
• Follow established work orders, production schedules, and job priorities.
• Perform routine cleaning and basic preventative maintenance on grinding equipment.
• Inspect grinding equipment, magnetic chucks, guards, coolant systems, and workholding devices before and during use.
• Maintain grinding machines, tooling, gauges, and surrounding work areas in a clean and organized condition.
• Follow company quality procedures and customer requirements.
• Follow all machine-safety procedures and required PPE requirements.
• Perform other machining, grinding, and production-related duties as assigned.

Qualifications & Experience

• Minimum 5 years of hands-on precision grinding experience required in a manufacturing, machining, tool-and-die, or similar environment.
• Strong experience operating and setting up manual surface grinders.
• Demonstrated ability to independently perform precision grinding operations from blueprint to completed component.
• Strong knowledge of grinding-wheel selection, mounting, inspection, truing, and dressing.
• Strong understanding of grinding techniques, machine setup, workholding, and material removal.
• Ability to independently determine appropriate grinding sequences and setup requirements.
• Strong ability to read and interpret engineering drawings, blueprints, dimensions, tolerances, surface-finish requirements, and GD&T.
• Experience grinding components requiring close dimensional tolerances.
• Experience maintaining tolerances of ±.0005" or tighter strongly preferred.
• Ability to maintain flatness, parallelism, squareness, and required surface finishes.
• Strong proficiency using precision measuring equipment, including micrometers, calipers, indicators, height gauges, gauge blocks, and surface plates.
• Ability to perform first-piece and in-process inspections independently.
• Ability to make machine and process adjustments based on dimensional inspection results.
• Strong ability to recognize and troubleshoot grinding issues including chatter, burning, excessive heat, wheel loading, poor surface finish, dimensional variation, and distortion.
• Experience working with tool steels, hardened steels, stainless steel, and other precision-machining materials strongly preferred.
• Experience grinding hardened precision tooling and close-tolerance components preferred.
• Experience in medical tooling, precision tooling, tool-and-die, mold-making, aerospace, or similar high-precision manufacturing environments is a plus.
• Strong mechanical aptitude and basic shop mathematics skills.
• Strong attention to detail and commitment to producing quality work.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to follow production schedules, work orders, quality procedures, and safety requirements.
• Ability to communicate effectively with Production, Quality, machinists, and management personnel.
• Dependable attendance and ability to maintain consistent productivity and quality.

Education

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Technical, vocational, or machining-related training is preferred.
• Relevant training in precision machining, grinding, tool-and-die, manufacturing technology, or a related field is a plus.
• Equivalent combination of technical training and extensive precision grinding experience may be considered.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to stand and work around grinding and manufacturing equipment for extended periods.
• Ability to perform repetitive machine-operation, setup, inspection, and material-handling activities.
• Ability to bend, reach, kneel, and perform tasks associated with machine setup and grinding operations.
• Ability to safely handle grinding wheels, fixtures, tooling, raw materials, and manufactured components.
• Ability to lift and/or move up to 50 lbs. as required, with assistance when appropriate.
• Ability to safely work around industrial machinery, coolant, grinding residue, metal components, and normal manufacturing noise.
• Ability to perform detailed visual and dimensional inspections.
• Ability to use required personal protective equipment.

Experience Requirement

Precision Grinding: Minimum 5 years required

Applicants must have hands-on experience setting up and operating precision grinding equipment. General manufacturing experience or experience using only handheld grinders does not satisfy the five-year precision grinding requirement.

Candidates should be capable of independently taking a job from blueprint → setup and workholding → wheel selection/preparation → precision grinding → dimensional inspection → completed component.ng setting.

Pay: $15.00 - $25.00 per hour

Expected hours: 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance

Work Location: In person