How to become a Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic 2024

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic Lay out, machine, fit, and assemble castings and parts to metal or plastic foundry patterns, core boxes, or match plates.

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic is Also Know as

In different settings, Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic is titled as

Die Cast Die Maker
Fixture Builder
Layout Technician
Metal Pattern Maker
Pattern Maker
Pattern Maker Programmer
Pattern Repair Person
Patternmaker
Wax Molder

Education and Training of Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic is categorized in Job Zone Three: Medium Preparation Needed

Experience Required for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

Education Required for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.

Degrees Related to Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

Training Required for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.

Related Ocuupations

Some Ocuupations related to Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic in different industries are

What Do Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic do?

Set up and operate machine tools, such as milling machines, lathes, drill presses, and grinders, to machine castings or patterns.
Read and interpret blueprints or drawings of parts to be cast or patterns to be made, compute dimensions, and plan operational sequences.
Verify conformance of patterns or template dimensions to specifications, using measuring instruments such as calipers, scales, and micrometers.
Program computerized numerical control machine tools.
Design and create templates, patterns, or coreboxes according to work orders, sample parts, or mockups.
Assemble pattern sections, using hand tools, bolts, screws, rivets, glue, or welding equipment.
Repair and rework templates and patterns.
Lay out and draw or scribe patterns onto material, using compasses, protractors, rulers, scribes, or other instruments.
Clean and finish patterns or templates, using emery cloths, files, scrapers, and power grinders.
Construct platforms, fixtures, and jigs for holding and placing patterns.
Mark identification numbers or symbols onto patterns or templates.
Select pattern materials such as wood, resin, and fiberglass.
Apply plastic-impregnated fabrics or coats of sealing wax or lacquer to patterns used to produce plastic.
Paint or lacquer patterns.
Create computer models of patterns or parts, using modeling software.

Qualities of Good Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
Arm-Hand Steadiness: The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
Problem Sensitivity: The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
Manual Dexterity: The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Finger Dexterity: The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
Information Ordering: The 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).
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Fluency of Ideas: The ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
Visual Color Discrimination: The ability to match or detect differences between colors, including shades of color and brightness.
Multilimb Coordination: The 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.
Perceptual Speed: The 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.
Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Written Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in writing so others will understand.
Time Sharing: The ability to shift back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information (such as speech, sounds, touch, or other sources).
Originality: The ability to come up with unusual or clever ideas about a given topic or situation, or to develop creative ways to solve a problem.
Hearing Sensitivity: The ability to detect or tell the differences between sounds that vary in pitch and loudness.
Flexibility of Closure: The ability to identify or detect a known pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in other distracting material.
Mathematical Reasoning: The ability to choose the right mathematical methods or formulas to solve a problem.
Number Facility: The ability to add, subtract, multiply, or divide quickly and correctly.
Depth Perception: The ability to judge which of several objects is closer or farther away from you, or to judge the distance between you and an object.
Trunk Strength: The 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.
Extent Flexibility: The ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
Speed of Closure: The ability to quickly make sense of, combine, and organize information into meaningful patterns.
Gross Body Coordination: The ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
Stamina: The ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
Dynamic Strength: The ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
Wrist-Finger Speed: The ability to make fast, simple, repeated movements of the fingers, hands, and wrists.
Rate Control: The 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.
Response Orientation: The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
Gross Body Equilibrium: The ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
Memorization: The ability to remember information such as words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.
Explosive Strength: The ability to use short bursts of muscle force to propel oneself (as in jumping or sprinting), or to throw an object.
Night Vision: The ability to see under low-light conditions.
Peripheral Vision: The ability to see objects or movement of objects to one's side when the eyes are looking ahead.
Glare Sensitivity: The ability to see objects in the presence of a glare or bright lighting.
Sound Localization: The ability to tell the direction from which a sound originated.
Spatial Orientation: The ability to know your location in relation to the environment or to know where other objects are in relation to you.
Speed of Limb Movement: The ability to quickly move the arms and legs.
Dynamic Flexibility: The ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with your body, arms, and/or legs.

Tools Used by Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

2/3 axis computer numerically controlled CNC milling machines
Bandsaws
Benchtop drill presses
Computer numerical control CNC turning centers
Crucible furnaces
Digital bench scales
Digital calipers
Digital micrometers
Disc sanders
Dividers
Draw knives
Drying chambers
Electric hoists
Flat cold chisels
Foundry casting ladles
Foundry flasks
Gating systems
Horizontal turning centers
Jig borers
Laser scanner coordinate capturing equipment
Layout compasses
Layout squares
Manual brake presses
Measuring tapes
Metalworking scribers
Personal computers
Planers
Power grinders
Power routers
Precision positioning jigs
Precision rulers
Protractors
Radial arm saws
Shaping cutters
Shrinkage rulers
Table saws
Three-dimensional routers
Warehouse hand trucks
Wire electrical discharge machining EDM equipment

Technology Skills required for Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

3D Systems Geomagic Design X
Autodesk AutoCAD
Delcam PowerMILL
Mastercam computer-aided design and manufacturing software
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Outlook

US Universities

How to become Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic in 2024