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Model Makers, Metal and Plastic

$57.62K Median Salary 300 Job Openings (Annual Projection) -2.9% Job Growth

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About This Career

Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, milling and engraving machines, and jig borers to make working models of metal or plastic objects. Includes template makers.

Reported Job Titles

Metal Model Maker, Model Builder, Model Maker, Molding Technician, Pattern Finisher, Prototype Special Build

Career data shown for:

Skills You'll Need

Click on skills to find related courses.

Abilities

Near Vision

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Visualization

Reaction Time

Control Precision

Manual Dexterity

Problem Sensitivity

Finger Dexterity

Information Ordering

Oral Comprehension

Auditory Attention

Deductive Reasoning

Multilimb Coordination

Oral Expression

Selective Attention

Trunk Strength

Written Comprehension

Category Flexibility

Far Vision

Flexibility of Closure

Inductive Reasoning

Perceptual Speed

Speech Clarity

Speech Recognition

Knowledge

Design

Mathematics

Engineering and Technology

Mechanical

Production and Processing

Skills

Operation and Control

Operations Monitoring

Monitoring

Quality Control Analysis

Critical Thinking

Troubleshooting

Active Listening

Judgment and Decision Making

Speaking

Time Management

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software

Computer aided manufacturing CAM software

Office suite software

Word processing software

Computer aided design CAD software

Tools

Three dimensional printing machine

Drill press or radial drill

Soldering iron

Tracer or duplicating or contouring lathe

Tinners snips

Workshop cranes

Hydraulic press brake

Micrometers

Grease guns

Hardness testers

Wire cathode electrode discharge machine

Calipers

Smooth cut file

Ohmmeters

Hoists

Comparators

Scribers

Vertical machining center

Milling machines

Simple harmonic oscillator

Autocollimator

Capacitance meters

Integrated circuit testers

Electrical frequency meters

Boring machines

Calibrated resistance measuring equipment

Grinding machines

Tungsten inert gas welding machine

Gas welding or brazing or cutting apparatus

Power routers

Oscilloscopes

Metal band sawing machine

Signal generators

Mallets

Engraving machines

Power saws

Abilities

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.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
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.
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.
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.
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).
Oral Comprehension: The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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.
Oral Expression: The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
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.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Far Vision: The ability to see details at a distance.
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.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
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.
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.

Knowledge

Design: Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Engineering and Technology: Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Skills

Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Troubleshooting: Determining causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it.
Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Judgment and Decision Making: Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Time Management: Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Computer aided manufacturing CAM software: 1CadCam Unigraphics; Geometric CAMWorks; Siemens NX
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD; Autodesk Revit

Tools

Three dimensional printing machine: Three-dimensional prototyping printer
Drill press or radial drill: Drill presses; Punch presses; Radial drills
Soldering iron: Soldering irons
Tracer or duplicating or contouring lathe: Lathes
Tinners snips: Compound snips; Snips; Straight snips; Tin snips
Workshop cranes: Hydraulic cranes
Hydraulic press brake: Hydraulic squeezers
Micrometers:
Grease guns:
Hardness testers:
Wire cathode electrode discharge machine: Electrical discharge machines EDM
Calipers: Dial calipers; Digital calipers; Vernier calipers
Smooth cut file: Flat smooth cut files
Ohmmeters: Digital ohmmeters
Hoists: Hoisting equipment
Comparators: Optical comparators
Scribers: Scriber markers
Vertical machining center: Vertical machining centers
Milling machines: Machining centers
Simple harmonic oscillator: Audio-oscillators
Autocollimator: Visual autocollimators
Capacitance meters: Capacitance testers
Integrated circuit testers: Logic analyzers
Electrical frequency meters: Frequency meters
Boring machines: Boring bars; Computerized numerical control CNC boring machines; Line boring machines; Screw pocket machines
Calibrated resistance measuring equipment: Digital resistance meters; Resistance meters; Resistivity meters
Grinding machines: Profile grinders
Tungsten inert gas welding machine: Tungsten inert gas TIG welding equipment
Gas welding or brazing or cutting apparatus: Brazing torches
Power routers:
Oscilloscopes: Sampling oscilloscopes
Metal band sawing machine: Bandsaws
Signal generators: Function generators
Mallets: Rawhide mallets
Engraving machines: Laser engravers
Power saws: Chain saws

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