What You'll Do

  • Observe continuous operation of automatic machines to ensure that products meet specifications and to detect jams or malfunctions, making adjustments as necessary.
  • Measure and visually inspect products for surface and dimension defects to ensure conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
  • Set up, operate, or tend metal or plastic molding, casting, or coremaking machines to mold or cast metal or thermoplastic parts or products.
  • Position and secure workpieces on machines, and start feeding mechanisms.
  • Turn valves and dials of machines to regulate pressure, temperature, and speed and feed rates, and to set cycle times.
  • Remove finished or cured products from dies or molds, using hand tools, air hoses, and other equipment, stamping identifying information on products when necessary.
  • Skim or pour dross, slag, or impurities from molten metal, using ladles, rakes, hoes, spatulas, or spoons.
  • Trim excess material from parts, using knives, and grind scrap plastic into powder for reuse.
  • Cool products after processing to prevent distortion.
  • Install dies onto machines or presses and coat dies with parting agents, according to work order specifications.

Essential Skills

Operations Monitoring 3.38/5
Active Listening 3.25/5
Reading Comprehension 3.12/5
Monitoring 3.12/5
Operation and Control 3.12/5
Speaking 3.0/5
Critical Thinking 3.0/5
Quality Control Analysis 3.0/5
Time Management 3.0/5
Active Learning 2.88/5
Social Perceptiveness 2.88/5
Troubleshooting 2.88/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.
  • Analyst: Investigating problems and finding patterns keeps you engaged.

Common styles

Dependability, Attention to Detail, Cooperation, Integrity, Independence

Want a personal read on fit. Take the free assessment and see your exact compatibility with this career and many related roles.

Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.75/5
Manual Dexterity 3.62/5
Control Precision 3.38/5
Multilimb Coordination 3.38/5
Deductive Reasoning 3.25/5
Information Ordering 3.25/5
Perceptual Speed 3.25/5
Near Vision 3.25/5

Technologies & Tools

FANUC Robotics iRVision HotFlo! Die-Shot Monitor Intera Systems Hawk-i Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Outlook Microsoft Word RobotWare DieCast SAP software Visi-Trak True-Trak 20/20

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Dependability (High importance: 4.34/5)
  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.19/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.0/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 3.82/5)
  • Independence (High importance: 3.79/5)

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How to Become One

Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience may be helpful but is usually not required. Training is often provided on the job.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Aluminum Molder Aluminum Molding Machine Operator Automatic Casting Machine Operator Babbitt Spinner Babbitter Bench Molder Bender Machine Operator Bit Bender Blaster Blow Mold Operator Blow Molding Machine Tender Blow Molding Operator Bonding Machine Operator Brake Drum Molder Brass Molder Bullet Casting Operator Bullet-Slug Casting Machine Operator Cake-Press Operator Cast Associate Caster Caster Operator Casting Machine Operator Casting Machine Set-Up Operator Casting Molder Casting Operator Casting Room Operator Casting Wheel Operator Centrifugal Casting Machine Operator Centrifugal Casting Machine Tender Composite Technician Compression Molding Machine Operator Compression Molding Machine Setter Compression Molding Machine Tender Compression Operator Contact Lens Molder Core Blower Core Carrier Core Filer Core Fitter Core Machine Operator Core Mounter Core Placer Coremaking Machine Setter Corrugator Corrugator Operator Diamond Blender Die Cast Technician Die Caster Die Casting Machine Operator Die Casting Machine Setter Die Maintenance Technician (Die Maintenance Tech) Diecast Machine Operator Direct Chill Casting Operator (DC Casting Operator) Eight Arm Operator Flask Fitter Flask Maker Foundry Pattern Molder Grey Iron Molder Hand Bender Hopper Operator Hot Molder Injection Mold Operator Injection Molding Machine Operator Injection Molding Machine Setter Injection Molding Machine Tender Injection Molding Machinist Injection Molding Maintenance Technician (Injection Molding Maintenance Tech) Injection Molding Operator Injection Molding Process Technician Injection Operator Injection Press Operator Ironmolder Lead Die Molder Lead Ingot Molder Machine Coremaker Machine Molder Machine Operator Manufacturing Assistant Manufacturing Associate Manufacturing Operator Mat Maker Mat Roller Metal Base Blocker Metal Caster Metal Molder Mogul Operator Mold Machine Operator Mold Maintenance Technician (Mold Maintenance Tech) Mold Maker Mold Operator Mold Setter Mold Technician Molder Molding Machine Operator Molding Machine Setter Molding Process Technician Nonferrous Metal Caster Nonferrous Metal Precision Pattern and Die Caster Pattern Molder Pig Machine Operator Pilling Machine Operator Pipe Coremaker Pipe Covering Molder Plastic Cup Fabricating Machine Operator Plastic Duplicator Plastic Joint Maker Plastic Molder Plastic Process Technician Plate Corrector Plate Molder Polymerization Oven Operator Polymerization Oven Tender Preform Machine Operator Process Technician Production Technician Punch Molder Reclamation Kettle Tender Remelter Rotor Casting Machine Operator Rotor Casting Machine Setup Operator Sand Slinger Sand Slinger Operator Setter Setup Technician Shell Mold Bonding Machine Operator Shell Molder Shell Molding Roller Blast Operator Shift Operator Shot Dropper Spout Worker Steel Molder Thermoplastic Technician Turning and Beading Machine Operator Typecasting Machine Operator Vacuum Caster Vacuum Plastic Forming Machine Operator Vanstone Machine Operator Wet End Operator Wheel Molder