Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
Work Activities
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Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
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Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
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Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
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Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
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Read specifications, blueprints, and work orders to determine setups, temperatures, and time settings required to mold, form, or cast plastic materials, as well as to plan production sequences.
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Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
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Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.
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Cool products after processing to prevent distortion.
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Remove parts, such as dies, from machines after production runs are finished.
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Operate hoists to position dies or patterns on foundry floors.
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Install dies onto machines or presses and coat dies with parting agents, according to work order specifications.
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Unload finished products from conveyor belts, pack them in containers, and place containers in warehouses.
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Perform maintenance work such as cleaning and oiling machines.
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Remove finished or cured products from dies or molds, using hand tools, air hoses, and other equipment, stamping identifying information on products when necessary.
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Obtain and move specified patterns to work stations, manually or using hoists, and secure patterns to machines, using wrenches.
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Inventory and record quantities of materials and finished products, requisitioning additional supplies as necessary.
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Select and install blades, tools, or other attachments for each operation.
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Repair or replace damaged molds, pipes, belts, chains, or other equipment, using hand tools, hand-powered presses, or jib cranes.
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Select coolants and lubricants, and start their flow.
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Adjust equipment and workpiece holding fixtures, such as mold frames, tubs, and cutting tables, to ensure proper functioning.
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Maintain inventories of materials.
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Position and secure workpieces on machines, and start feeding mechanisms.
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Trim excess material from parts, using knives, and grind scrap plastic into powder for reuse.
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Smooth and clean inner surfaces of molds, using brushes, scrapers, air hoses, or grinding wheels, and fill imperfections with refractory material.
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Mix and measure compounds, or weigh premixed compounds, and dump them into machine tubs, cavities, or molds.
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Spray, smoke, or coat molds with compounds to lubricate or insulate molds, using acetylene torches or sprayers.
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Preheat tools, dies, plastic materials, or patterns, using blowtorches or other equipment.
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Pour or load metal or sand into melting pots, furnaces, molds, or hoppers, using shovels, ladles, or machines.
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Clamp metal and plywood strips around dies or patterns to form molds.
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Pull level and toggle latches to fill molds, to regulate tension on sheeting, and to release mold covers.
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Skim or pour dross, slag, or impurities from molten metal, using ladles, rakes, hoes, spatulas, or spoons.
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Shape molds to specified contours, using sand, and trowels and related tools.
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Assemble shell halves, patterns, and foundry flasks, and reinforce core boxes, using glue, clamps, wire, bolts, rams, or machines.
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Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
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Arm-Hand Steadiness
The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
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Manual Dexterity
The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
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Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
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Production and Processing
Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
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Mechanical
Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
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Mathematics
Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
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Currently Employed
16,470
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Yearly Projected Openings
1,570
- Education High school diploma or equivalent
- Work Experience No work experience
- Training 1 to 12 months on-the-job training
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Looking for technical training programs?
Check out these programs:
Realistic: People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.They do well at jobs that need:
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Dependability
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Attention to Detail
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Cooperation
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Integrity
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Independence
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Initiative
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Metal cutters
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Hammers
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Foundry ladles
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Die casting machine
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Casting machines
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Spreadsheet software
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Office suite software
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Industrial control software
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Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
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Analytical or scientific software
