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Pourers and Casters, Metal - 51-4052.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Operate hand-controlled mechanisms to pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds to produce castings or ingots.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Casting Operator
  • Die Cast Operator (DCO)
  • Direct Chill Caster (DC Caster)
  • Iron Pourer
  • Ladleman
  • Melter
  • Metal Handler
  • Pourer
  • Vacuum Caster

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Add metal to molds to compensate for shrinkage.
  • Assemble and embed cores in casting frames, using hand tools and equipment.
  • Collect samples, or signal workers to sample metal for analysis.
  • Examine molds to ensure they are clean, smooth, and properly coated.
  • Load specified amounts of metal and flux into furnaces or clay crucibles.
  • Position equipment such as ladles, grinding wheels, pouring nozzles, or crucibles, or signal other workers to position equipment.
  • Pour and regulate the flow of molten metal into molds and forms to produce ingots or other castings, using ladles or hand-controlled mechanisms.
  • Pull levers to lift ladle stoppers and to allow molten steel to flow into ingot molds to specified heights.
  • Read temperature gauges and observe color changes, adjusting furnace flames, torches, or electrical heating units as necessary to melt metal to specifications.
  • Remove metal ingots or cores from molds, using hand tools, cranes, and chain hoists.
  • Remove solidified steel or slag from pouring nozzles, using long bars or oxygen burners.
  • Repair and maintain metal forms and equipment, using hand tools, sledges, and bars.
  • Skim slag or remove excess metal from ingots or equipment, using hand tools, strainers, rakes, or burners, collecting scrap for recycling.
  • Stencil identifying information on ingots and pigs, using special hand tools.
  • Transport metal ingots to storage areas, using forklifts.
  • Turn valves to circulate water through cores, or spray water on filled molds to cool and solidify metal.

Detailed Work Activities

  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate coolant flow.
  • Adjust equipment controls to regulate flow of production materials or products.
  • Adjust temperature controls of ovens or other heating equipment.
  • Apply parting agents or other solutions to molds.
  • Assemble mechanical components or machine parts.
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Collect samples of materials or products for testing.
  • Engrave designs, text, or other markings onto materials, workpieces, or products.
  • Inspect production equipment.
  • Load materials into production equipment.
  • Maintain production or processing equipment.
  • Monitor instruments to ensure proper production conditions.
  • Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
  • Move products, materials, or equipment between work areas.
  • Operate forklifts or other loaders.
  • Place materials into molds.
  • Remove workpieces from molds.
  • Repair templates, patterns, or molds.
  • Signal others to coordinate work activities.
  • Skim impurities from molten metal.
  • Trim excess material from workpieces.

Military Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Busher
  • Caster
  • Ingot Header
  • Ladle Pourer
  • Melter
  • Mold Maker
  • Pourer, Metal
  • Steel Pourer