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Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic - 51-4072.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Machine Operator
  • Production Technician
  • Process Technician
  • Injection Press Operator
  • Die Cast Technician
  • Press Operator
  • Core Machine Operator
  • Eight Arm Operator
  • Cup Fabricating Machine Operator
  • Cup Operator

SOC Occupation Groups

51-0000 Production Occupations
51-4000 Metal Workers and Plastic Workers
51-4070 Molders and Molding Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4072.00 Molding, Coremaking, and Casting Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Adjust equipment and workpiece holding fixtures, such as mold frames, tubs, and cutting tables, to ensure proper functioning.
  • Assemble shell halves, patterns, and foundry flasks, and reinforce core boxes, using glue, clamps, wire, bolts, rams, or machines.
  • Clamp metal and plywood strips around dies or patterns to form molds.
  • Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.
  • Cool products after processing to prevent distortion.
  • Install dies onto machines or presses, then coat dies with parting agents, according to work order specifications.
  • Inventory and record quantities of materials and finished products; requisition additional supplies as necessary.
  • Maintain inventories of materials.
  • Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects in order to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
  • Mix and measure compounds, or weigh premixed compounds; then dump them into machine tubs, cavities, or molds.
  • Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
  • Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
  • Obtain and move specified patterns to work stations, manually or using hoists, and secure patterns to machines, using wrenches.
  • Operate hoists to position dies or patterns on foundry floors.
  • Perform maintenance work such as cleaning and oiling machines.
  • Position and secure workpieces on machines, and start feeding mechanisms.
  • Pour or load metal or sand into melting pots, furnaces, molds, or hoppers, using shovels, ladles, or machines.
  • Preheat tools, dies, plastic materials, or patterns, using blowtorches or other equipment.
  • Pull level and toggle latches to fill molds, to regulate tension on sheeting, and to release mold covers.
  • 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.
  • Remove finished or cured products from dies or molds, using hand tools, air hoses and other equipment; stamp identifying information on products when necessary.
  • Remove parts such as dies from machines after production runs are finished.
  • Repair or replace damaged molds, pipes, belts, chains, or other equipment, using hand tools, hand-powered presses, or jib cranes.
  • Select and install blades, tools, or other attachments for each operation.
  • Select coolants and lubricants, and start their flow.
  • Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
  • Shape molds to specified contours, using sand, and trowels and related tools.
  • Skim or pour dross, slag, or impurities from molten metal, using ladles, rakes, hoes, spatulas, or spoons.
  • Smooth and clean inner surfaces of molds, using brushes, scrapers, air hoses, or grinding wheels, and fill imperfections with refractory material.
  • Spray, smoke, or coat molds with compounds to lubricate or insulate molds, using acetylene torches or sprayers.
  • Trim excess material from parts, using knives, and grind scrap plastic into powder for reuse.
  • Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
  • Unload finished products from conveyor belts, pack them in containers, and place containers in warehouses.

Detailed Work Activities

  • adjust production equipment/machinery setup
  • attach or mark identification onto products or containers
  • cast metal objects
  • clean equipment or machinery
  • compute production, construction, or installation specifications
  • construct molds
  • cut, shape, fit, or join wood or other construction materials
  • examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
  • fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
  • file, sand, grind, or polish metal or plastic objects
  • install equipment or attachments on machinery or related structures
  • load control media in machine controller
  • load or unload material or workpiece into machinery
  • load, unload, or stack containers, materials, or products
  • maintain consistent production quality
  • maintain or repair industrial or related equipment/machinery
  • maintain production or work records
  • make independent judgment in assembly procedures
  • measure, weigh, or count products or materials
  • monitor production machinery/equipment operation to detect problems
  • move or fit heavy objects
  • operate hoist, winch, or hydraulic boom
  • operate metal or plastic fabricating equipment/machinery
  • perform safety inspections in manufacturing or industrial setting
  • precision cast patterns, molds, or dies
  • read specifications
  • read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
  • repair plastics manufacturing equipment
  • requisition stock, materials, supplies or equipment
  • set up production equipment or machinery
  • signal directions or warnings to coworkers
  • understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
  • use hand or power tools
  • use hand or power woodworking tools
  • use precision measuring tools or equipment
  • use spray application production equipment

Military Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Caster
  • Injection-Molding-Machine Operator
  • Mold Setter
  • Molder, Pattern
  • Plastic Process Technician

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Blocker, Metal Base
  • Blow-Molding-Machine Tender
  • Bullet-Casting Operator
  • Bullet-Slug-Casting-Machine Operator
  • Cake-Press Operator
  • Caster
  • Casting Operator
  • Casting-Machine Operator
  • Casting-Machine Operator, Automatic
  • Casting-Wheel Operator
  • Centrifugal-Casting-Machine Operator I
  • Centrifugal-Casting-Machine Operator II
  • Centrifugal-Casting-Machine Operator III
  • Centrifugal-Casting-Machine Tender
  • Compression-Molding-Machine Operator
  • Compression-Molding-Machine Tender
  • Contact-Lens Molder
  • Coremaker, Machine I
  • Coremaker, Machine II
  • Coremaker, Machine III
  • Corrugator Operator
  • Diamond Blender
  • Die-Casting-Machine Operator I
  • Die-Casting-Machine Operator II
  • Die-Casting-Machine Setter
  • Injection-Molding-Machine Operator
  • Injection-Molding-Machine Tender
  • Machine Molder
  • Mold Setter
  • Molder, Lead Ingot
  • Molder, Pattern
  • Molder, Pipe Covering
  • Molder, Punch
  • Pig-Machine Operator
  • Plastic Process Technician
  • Preform-Machine Operator
  • Remelter
  • Rotor Casting-Machine Operator
  • Setter, Molding-and-Coremaking Machines
  • Shell Molder
  • Shot Dropper
  • Type-Casting Machine Operator
  • Vacuum Caster
  • Vacuum Plastic-Forming-Machine Operator