CNC Press Brake Operator

Summary

The CNC Press Brake Operator sets up, operates, and monitors CNC press brake equipment to form components that meet blueprint, quality, and production requirements. The operator prepares and verifies bending programs, confirms tooling and material requirements, inspects formed parts, and makes authorized adjustments to maintain dimensional accuracy and consistent production while following approved work instructions and safety procedures.

Essential Functions include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Prepare, load, verify, and make authorized edits to CNC press brake programs using blueprints, setup sheets, and part specifications; confirm bend sequences and support improvements in forming accuracy, setup time, and cycle time
• Set up, operate, and monitor CNC press brake equipment; verify material type, thickness, blank dimensions, and job quantities against production requirements
• Complete machine setup using approved instructions, including punch and die selection, tooling installation, backgauge positioning, and forming parameters; verify setup requirements and perform routine operator checks and housekeeping within training and authorization
• Read and interpret blueprints, bend details, setup sheets, and work instructions; handle and position blanks using approved methods, verify part orientation, and identify and organize formed parts to maintain job and material traceability
• Inspect first-piece, in-process, and finished parts for bend angles, flange dimensions, overall dimensions, and surface condition using appropriate measuring instruments; document results, segregate nonconforming parts, and make approved adjustments to maintain specifications
• Monitor machine status, alarms, tooling condition, and material flow; address routine forming and operating issues only within approved procedures and training, escalate equipment or quality concerns to maintenance, quality, or engineering, and record production quantities, scrap, and downtime

Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each duty satisfactorily. The requirements below represent the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to set up and operate CNC press brake equipment safely and effectively. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education and Experience

• High school diploma or GED required; technical or vocational training in metal fabrication, CNC equipment, or industrial automation preferred
• Three years of machine-operation or metal-fabrication experience preferred, including setup and operation of CNC press brake equipment; CNC press brake experience strongly preferred
• Experience with CNC bending programs, bend sequencing, punch and die selection, backgauge setup, material thickness, springback, blueprint tolerances, and precision inspection equipment
• Experience with handling sheet material and formed components, organizing tooling, and using approved material-handling equipment preferred; ability to recognize common machine alarms and follow approved response procedures

Language Skills

Ability to read and understand blueprints, CNC press brake programs, bend sequences, setup instructions, safety procedures, and quality documentation. Ability to clearly communicate machine status, tooling and material concerns, equipment alarms, part-quality issues, and production updates to supervisors, maintenance, quality, and engineering personnel.

Mathematical Skills

Ability to perform shop math using decimals, fractions, tolerances, angles, material thicknesses, bend dimensions, and basic production calculations. Ability to read measuring instruments and compare measured bend angles and linear dimensions with blueprint specifications.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those required to safely set up, operate, inspect, and support CNC press brake equipment and associated material-handling equipment. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, reach, use hands to handle material and controls, and maintain awareness around CNC press brakes, tooling, and material-handling equipment. The employee may occasionally stoop, kneel, crouch, and lift or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, color vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus for setup, machine operation, and inspection work.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of a CNC press brake and metal-forming area. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.While performing the duties of this job, the employee works around moving mechanical parts, press brake tooling, sheet material, sharp edges, and material-handling equipment. Metal-forming operations involve pinch points and may generate noise. Required personal protective equipment, machine guarding and safeguarding devices, lockout/tagout procedures, and approved tooling and material-handling safety practices must be followed. The noise level is typically moderate but may vary by operation.

Three D Metals Compensation Philosophy

At Three D Metals, we believe our employees should share in our success. We are committed to providing competitive and equitable compensation that recognizes each employee’s experience, skills, and contributions. Our compensation approach considers market competitiveness, geographic differences, internal equity, and individual impact, with the goal of attracting, rewarding, and retaining talented people who help our customers and our company succeed.