Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Occupation Details

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

The main tasks and work activities of Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic are to monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed, measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications, inspect metal, plastic, or composite products, operate metal or plastic forming equipment. In general, for the Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic, operation Monitoring, active Listening, monitoring, reading Comprehension and other 6 skills are required.

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Job Description
Education	These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related Experience	Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job Training	Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
Example	These occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.

The following chart shows the education/training levels for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic jobs. 56.98% of Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 11.15% of Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic have Post-Secondary Certificate.

Less than a High School Diploma

30.31%

High School Diploma (or the equivalent)

56.98%

Post-Secondary Certificate

11.15%

Some College Courses

1.56%

Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)

0.00%

Bachelor's Degree and Above

0.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
Position and secure workpieces on machines, and start feeding mechanisms.
Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
Remove finished or cured products from dies or molds, using hand tools, air hoses, and other equipment, stamping identifying information on products when necessary.
Skim or pour dross, slag, or impurities from molten metal, using ladles, rakes, hoes, spatulas, or spoons.
Trim excess material from parts, using knives, and grind scrap plastic into powder for reuse.
Cool products after processing to prevent distortion.
Install dies onto machines or presses and coat dies with parting agents, according to work order specifications.
Mix and measure compounds, or weigh premixed compounds, and dump them into machine tubs, cavities, or molds.
Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
Spray, smoke, or coat molds with compounds to lubricate or insulate molds, using acetylene torches or sprayers.
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.
Adjust equipment and workpiece holding fixtures, such as mold frames, tubs, and cutting tables, to ensure proper functioning.
Remove parts, such as dies, from machines after production runs are finished.
Inventory and record quantities of materials and finished products, requisitioning additional supplies as necessary.
Pour or load metal or sand into melting pots, furnaces, molds, or hoppers, using shovels, ladles, or machines.
Unload finished products from conveyor belts, pack them in containers, and place containers in warehouses.
Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.

Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or MaterialInspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
Making Decisions and Solving ProblemsAnalyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or PeopleAssessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed.
Measure dimensions of completed products or workpieces to verify conformance to specifications.
Inspect metal, plastic, or composite products.
Operate metal or plastic forming equipment.
Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
Remove workpieces from molds.
Mark products, workpieces, or equipment with identifying information.
Skim impurities from molten metal.
Operate grinding equipment.
Trim excess material from workpieces.
Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products.
Load materials into production equipment.
Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
Monitor instruments to ensure proper production conditions.
Apply parting agents or other solutions to molds.
Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
Study blueprints or other instructions to determine equipment setup requirements.
Set equipment guides, stops, spacers, or other fixtures.

Skills and Abilities for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Active ListeningGiving 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.
MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.

Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Perceptual SpeedThe ability to quickly and accurately compare similarities and differences among sets of letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns. The things to be compared may be presented at the same time or one after the other. This ability also includes comparing a presented object with a remembered object.
Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
Static StrengthThe ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Reaction TimeThe ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Rate ControlThe ability to time your movements or the movement of a piece of equipment in anticipation of changes in the speed and/or direction of a moving object or scene.
Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.

Power grinderse.g. Air angle die grinders
Compressed air gune.g. Air guns
Respiratorse.g. Air purifying respirators
Heat resistant clothinge.g. Aluminized suits
Hammerse.g. Aluminum hammers
Hammerse.g. Brass hammers
Die casting machinee.g. Cold chamber die casting machines
Spray gune.g. Compressed air sprayers
Utility knivese.g. Deflashing tools
Pry barse.g. Die bars
Die casting diee.g. Die cast dies
Handheld thermometere.g. Digital handheld thermometers
Micrometerse.g. Digital micrometers
Psychrometerse.g. Digital psychrometers
Radius gaugee.g. Digital radius gauges
Surface thermometerse.g. Digital surface thermometers
Stop watche.g. Digital timers
Torque wrenchese.g. Digital torque wrenches
Longnose plierse.g. Duckbill pliers
Overhead cranee.g. Electric overhead traveling EOT cranes

Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
MathematicsKnowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.

Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic Occupation Detailed Description

Tasks and Work Activities of Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Skills and Abilities for Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic