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

Tasks

Core Tasks Include:

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.
Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
Observe meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
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 parts, such as dies, from machines after production runs are finished.
Connect water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.
Smooth and clean inner surfaces of molds, using brushes, scrapers, air hoses, or grinding wheels, and fill imperfections with refractory material.
Perform maintenance work such as cleaning and oiling machines.

Supplemental Tasks Include:

Position and secure workpieces on machines, and start feeding mechanisms.
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.
Spray, smoke, or coat molds with compounds to lubricate or insulate molds, using acetylene torches or sprayers.
Adjust equipment and workpiece holding fixtures, such as mold frames, tubs, and cutting tables, to ensure proper functioning.
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.
Preheat tools, dies, plastic materials, or patterns, using blowtorches or other equipment.
Operate hoists to position dies or patterns on foundry floors.
Obtain and move specified patterns to work stations, manually or using hoists, and secure patterns to machines, using wrenches.
Repair or replace damaged molds, pipes, belts, chains, or other equipment, using hand tools, hand-powered presses, or jib cranes.
Maintain inventories of materials.
Select coolants and lubricants, and start their flow.
Select and install blades, tools, or other attachments for each operation.

The data sources for the information displayed here include: O*NET™. (Using onet291)