Expand mobile version menu

Molding/Coremaking/Casting Machine Worker

salary graphic

AVG. SALARY

$43,500

education graphic

EDUCATION

High school preferred +

job outlook graphic

JOB OUTLOOK

Stable

What They Do

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

About This Career

Sets up, operates, or tends metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.

This career is part of the Manufacturing cluster Production pathway.

A person in this career:

  • Measures and visually inspects products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
  • Observes continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
  • Sets up, operates, or tends metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
  • Turns valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
  • Reads 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.
  • Observes meters and gauges to verify and record temperatures, pressures, and press-cycle times.
  • Connects water hoses to cooling systems of dies, using hand tools.
  • Removes parts, such as dies, from machines after production runs are finished.
  • Performs maintenance work such as cleaning and oiling machines.
  • Smooths and cleans inner surfaces of molds, using brushes, scrapers, air hoses, or grinding wheels, and fills imperfections with refractory material.

Working Conditions and Physical Demands

People who do this job report that:

  • You would often handle loads up to 10 lbs., sometimes up to 20 lbs. You might do a lot of walking or standing, or you might sit but use your arms and legs to control machines, equipment or tools.
  • Work in this occupation involves use of protective items such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, a hard hat, or personal flotation devices
  • Exposure to pollutants, gases, dust, fumes, odors, poor ventilation, etc.
  • Conditions are very hot (above 90 F) or very cold (under 32 F)
  • Work in this occupation involves using your hands to hold, control, and feel objects more than one-third of the time
  • Exposed to hazardous equipment such as saws, machinery, or vehicular traffic more than once a month
  • Sound and noise levels are loud and distracting
  • Work in this occupation involves standing more than one-third of the time
  • Work in this occupation involves walking or running more than one-third of the time

Working in this career involves (physical activities):

  • Picking out a particular sound in the presence of other sounds
  • Seeing clearly up close
  • Speaking clearly enough to be able to be understood by others
  • Identifying and understanding the speech of another person
  • Lifting, pushing, pulling, or carrying objects
  • Using abdominal and lower back muscles repeatedly or over time without tiring

Work Hours and Travel

  • Overtime work
  • Rotating shift work

Specialty and Similar Careers

Careers that are more detailed or close to this career:

  • Core Machine Operator
  • Die Cast Technician
  • Diecast Machine Operator
  • Machine Operator
  • Mold Setter
  • Mold Technician
  • Molder
  • Process Technician
  • Production Technician