Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.

“Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.” is a core task performed by Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic. Among the occupation's 16 rated tasks, workers place it 12th by importance (#5 most important). About 99% of workers say it is relevant to their job.

This is a single occupation-specific task statement from O*NET. The figures below describe how central the task is to the job and what independent studies measure about AI and this kind of work — not a prediction that the task will be automated.

Work activities this task rolls up to

O*NET groups concrete tasks into broader work activities shared across many occupations.

• Operate cutting or grinding equipment. in Controlling Machines and Processes
• Repair tools or equipment. in Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment
• Maintain tools or equipment. in Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment

AI exposure

The OpenAI / Eloundou “GPTs are GPTs” study rates this task E0. No direct exposure — current language models give little or no time savings on this task.

Exposure measures whether a model could meaningfully speed the task up — it is an estimate of overlap with model capabilities, not a measure of whether the work will be done by software. The study's intermediate score (β) for this task is 0.00. Automation potential label: T0.

Other tasks in this occupation

• Adjust machine controls and change tool settings to keep dimensions within specified tolerances. · importance 4.3
• Move controls to set cutting speeds and depths and feed rates, and to position tools in relation to workpieces. · importance 4.3
• Study blueprints, layouts or charts, and job orders for information on specifications and tooling instructions, and to determine material requirements and operational sequences. · importance 4.3
• Inspect sample workpieces to verify conformance with specifications, using instruments such as gauges, micrometers, and dial indicators. · importance 4.2
• Move toolholders manually or by turning handwheels, or engage automatic feeding mechanisms to feed tools to and along workpieces. · importance 4.2
• Compute unspecified dimensions and machine settings, using knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics. · importance 4.1
• Crank machines through cycles, stopping to adjust tool positions and machine controls to ensure specified timing, clearances, and tolerances. · importance 4.1
• Position, secure, and align cutting tools in toolholders on machines, using hand tools, and verify their positions with measuring instruments. · importance 4.1
• Start lathe or turning machines and observe operations to ensure that specifications are met. · importance 4.0
• Refill, change, and monitor the level of fluids, such as oil and coolant, in machines. · importance 3.9
• Lift metal stock or workpieces manually or using hoists, and position and secure them in machines, using fasteners and hand tools. · importance 3.7
• Install holding fixtures, cams, gears, and stops to control stock and tool movement, using hand tools, power tools, and measuring instruments. · importance 3.6
• Select cutting tools and tooling instructions, according to written specifications or knowledge of metal properties and shop mathematics. · importance 3.5
• Mount attachments, such as relieving or tracing attachments, to perform operations, such as duplicating contours of templates or trimming workpieces. · importance 3.5

See all tasks on the Lathe and Turning Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic page.

Sources for this page

Every figure above traces to a named public dataset and the exact release below — not hand-written opinion. See the full methodology for what each measure does and does not mean.

• O*NET 30.3 U.S. Department of Labor / National Center for O*NET Development
• “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130 OpenAI / academic

Data compiled June 2, 2026. Figures are estimates, not advice.

@misc{singulariki-task-11999,
  title  = {Replace worn tools, and sharpen dull cutting tools and dies, using bench grinders or cutter-grinding machines.},
  author = {{Singulariki}},
  year   = {2026},
  note   = {O*NET 30.3; “GPTs are GPTs” (Eloundou et al.) arXiv 2303.10130. Accessed June 7, 2026},
  url    = {https://singulariki.com/tasks/task-11999}
}