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

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

$37.05K Median Salary 14.4K Job Openings (Annual Projection) -6% Job Growth

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About This Career

Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.

Reported Job Titles

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

Career data shown for:

Skills You'll Need

Click on skills to find related courses.

Abilities

Arm-Hand Steadiness

Manual Dexterity

Control Precision

Multilimb Coordination

Deductive Reasoning

Information Ordering

Near Vision

Perceptual Speed

Category Flexibility

Finger Dexterity

Oral Comprehension

Oral Expression

Problem Sensitivity

Rate Control

Reaction Time

Speech Clarity

Static Strength

Trunk Strength

Written Comprehension

Auditory Attention

Flexibility of Closure

Inductive Reasoning

Selective Attention

Speech Recognition

Visualization

Knowledge

Production and Processing

Mechanical

Mathematics

Skills

Operations Monitoring

Active Listening

Monitoring

Operation and Control

Reading Comprehension

Critical Thinking

Quality Control Analysis

Speaking

Time Management

Technology Skills

Spreadsheet software

Computer aided manufacturing CAM software

Electronic mail software

Enterprise resource planning ERP software

Office suite software

Word processing software

Analytical or scientific software

Industrial control software

Tools

Casting machines

Hammers

Injection molding machines

Power grinders

Foundry ladles

Metal cutters

Die casting machine

Pressure transducer

Hex keys

Hydraulic hand crimp tool

Micrometers

Screwdrivers

Tape measures

Slings

Radius gauge

Respirators

Heat tracing equipment

Psychrometers

Compressed air gun

Pry bars

Safety glasses

Surface thermometers

Pullers

Cleaning scrapers

Pressure indicators

Utility knives

Extruders

Forklifts

Die casting die

Handheld thermometer

Limit switch

Thickness measuring devices

Overhead crane

Longnose pliers

Machine tending robot

Strain gauges

Pressure or steam cleaners

Torque wrenches

Spray gun

Powered platform truck

Borescope inspection equipment

Adjustable widemouth pliers

Trim press

Wire brushes

Needlenose pliers

Heat resistant clothing

Power clamp

Stop watch

Round nose pliers

Thermocouples

Abilities

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.
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.
Control Precision: The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
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.
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).
Near Vision: The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
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.
Category Flexibility: The ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Reaction Time: The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.
Speech Clarity: The ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
Static Strength: The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
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.
Auditory Attention: The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.
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).
Selective Attention: The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
Speech Recognition: The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
Visualization: The ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.

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.

Skills

Operations Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
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.
Monitoring: Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Operation and Control: Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
Reading Comprehension: Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
Quality Control Analysis: Conducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
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
Electronic mail software: IBM Notes; Microsoft Exchange; Microsoft Outlook
Enterprise resource planning ERP software: Oracle JD Edwards EnterpriseOne; Oracle PeopleSoft; Oracle PeopleSoft Financials; SAP software
Office suite software: Microsoft Office software
Word processing software: 3M Post-it App; Evernote; Google Docs; Microsoft Word
Analytical or scientific software: Statistical analysis software; TapRooT
Industrial control software: Industrial Scientific iNET; QuestSuite Professional

Tools

Casting machines: Centrifugal casting machines; Permanent mold casting machines
Hammers:
Injection molding machines:
Power grinders: Underwater power grinders
Foundry ladles: Foundry transfer ladles
Metal cutters: Aviation snips
Die casting machine: Cold chamber die casting machines; Hot chamber die casting machines
Pressure transducer: Fluid pressure transducers
Hex keys: Allen wrenches; Hex wrenches
Hydraulic hand crimp tool: Hand crimpers
Micrometers:
Screwdrivers: Mini screwdriver sets
Tape measures: Diameter tape measures
Slings: Rigging equipment
Radius gauge: Diameter gauges; Digital radius gauges
Respirators: Half-face respirators; Respirator hose masks
Heat tracing equipment: Infrared thermometers
Psychrometers:
Compressed air gun: Compressed air guns
Pry bars:
Safety glasses: Protective safety glasses
Surface thermometers: Field thermometers
Pullers: Comealongs
Cleaning scrapers:
Pressure indicators: Pressure meters
Utility knives: Precision knives
Extruders: Computer numerically controlled CNC Extruders; Single screw extruders; Tuber machines; Twin-barrel extrusion machines
Forklifts:
Die casting die: Die cast dies
Handheld thermometer: Handheld thermometers
Limit switch: Mechanical limit switches
Thickness measuring devices: Digital thickness gauges
Overhead crane: Electric overhead traveling EOT cranes
Longnose pliers:
Machine tending robot: Loading robots
Strain gauges:
Pressure or steam cleaners: Pressure cleaners
Torque wrenches: Hydraulic torque wrenches
Spray gun: Automated sprayers
Powered platform truck: Powered industrial trucks
Borescope inspection equipment: Video borescopes
Adjustable widemouth pliers: Oil filter pliers
Trim press: Trim presses
Wire brushes: Wire cleaning brushes
Needlenose pliers:
Heat resistant clothing: Aluminized suits
Power clamp: Mold clamps
Stop watch: Digital stopwatches
Round nose pliers:
Thermocouples: