Careers > Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic

$54.97K Median Salary 200 Job Openings (Annual Projection) -4.2% Job Growth

Find Colleges for this Career Find Certificates for this Career

About This Career

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

Reported Job Titles

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

Career data shown for:

Skills You'll Need

Click on skills to find related courses.

Abilities

Near Vision

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Control Precision

Manual Dexterity

Problem Sensitivity

Visualization

Deductive Reasoning

Finger Dexterity

Information Ordering

Selective Attention

Category Flexibility

Inductive Reasoning

Oral Comprehension

Oral Expression

Speech Clarity

Speech Recognition

Written Comprehension

Knowledge

Production and Processing

Mechanical

Mathematics

Design

Engineering and Technology

Skills

Operations Monitoring

Operation and Control

Quality Control Analysis

Active Listening

Complex Problem Solving

Critical Thinking

Monitoring

Reading Comprehension

Speaking

Technology Skills

Computer aided design CAD software

Computer aided manufacturing CAM software

Spreadsheet software

Electronic mail software

Tools

Scribers

Rulers

Power saws

Casting machines

Micrometers

Tape measures

Drill press or radial drill

Cold chisels

Wire cathode electrode discharge machine

Calipers

Manual press brake

Hoists

Shaper cutter

Disc sander

Compasses

Horizontal turning center

Utility knives

Core drying ovens

Squares

Milling machines

Hand trucks or accessories

Planing machines

Turret lathe

Boring machines

Foundry ladles

Laser measuring systems

Foundry crucibles

Traveling column milling machine

Bench scales

Positioning jig

Metal band sawing machine

Foundry flasks

Power grinders

Protractors

Power routers

Personal computers

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.
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.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
Deductive Reasoning: The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
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).
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
Inductive Reasoning: The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
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.
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.
Written Comprehension: The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.

Knowledge

Production and Processing: Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Mechanical: Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
Mathematics: Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Design: Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.
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.

Skills

Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
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.
Complex Problem Solving: Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Technology Skills

Computer aided design CAD software: Autodesk AutoCAD; Autodesk Revit
Computer aided manufacturing CAM software: 1CadCam Unigraphics; Geometric CAMWorks; Siemens NX
Spreadsheet software: Microsoft Excel
Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook

Tools

Scribers: Scriber markers
Rulers: Precision rulers; Steel rules
Power saws: Chain saws
Casting machines: Centrifugal casting machines; Permanent mold casting machines
Micrometers:
Tape measures: Diameter tape measures
Drill press or radial drill: Drill presses; Punch presses; Radial drills
Cold chisels: Flat cold chisels
Wire cathode electrode discharge machine: Electrical discharge machines EDM
Calipers: Dial calipers; Digital calipers; Vernier calipers
Manual press brake: Arbor presses
Hoists: Hoisting equipment
Shaper cutter: Shaping machines
Disc sander: Disc sanders
Compasses:
Horizontal turning center: Turning lathes
Utility knives: Precision knives
Core drying ovens: Drying oven units
Squares:
Milling machines: Machining centers
Hand trucks or accessories: Handcarts
Planing machines: Planers
Turret lathe: Turret lathes
Boring machines: Boring bars; Computerized numerical control CNC boring machines; Line boring machines; Screw pocket machines
Foundry ladles: Foundry transfer ladles
Laser measuring systems: Laser shearography flaw detectors; Verisurf Master3DGage
Foundry crucibles: Melting kettles
Traveling column milling machine: Computer numerical controlled CNC milling machines
Bench scales: Digital bench scales
Positioning jig: Sharpening jigs
Metal band sawing machine: Bandsaws
Foundry flasks: Foundry molding flasks
Power grinders: Underwater power grinders
Protractors:
Power routers:
Personal computers: