What You'll Do

  • Convert blueprints into shop drawings to be followed in the construction or assembly of sheet metal products.
  • Install assemblies, such as flashing, pipes, tubes, heating and air conditioning ducts, furnace casings, rain gutters, or downspouts in supportive frameworks.
  • Select gauges or types of sheet metal or nonmetallic material, according to product specifications.
  • Fasten seams or joints together with welds, bolts, cement, rivets, solder, caulks, metal drive clips, or bonds to assemble components into products or to repair sheet metal items.
  • Fabricate or alter parts at construction sites, using shears, hammers, punches, or drills.
  • Trim, file, grind, deburr, buff, or smooth surfaces, seams, or joints of assembled parts, using hand tools or portable power tools.
  • Finish parts, using hacksaws or hand, rotary, or squaring shears.
  • Maintain equipment, making repairs or modifications when necessary.
  • Shape metal material over anvils, blocks, or other forms, using hand tools.
  • Transport prefabricated parts to construction sites for assembly and installation.

Essential Skills

Reading Comprehension 3.12/5
Critical Thinking 3.12/5
Monitoring 3.12/5
Coordination 3.12/5
Active Listening 3.0/5
Speaking 3.0/5
Mathematics 3.0/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.0/5
Time Management 3.0/5
Active Learning 2.88/5
Instructing 2.88/5
Complex Problem Solving 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

Attention to Detail, Dependability, Initiative, Achievement/Effort, Cooperation

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Visualization 3.62/5
Near Vision 3.62/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 3.38/5
Manual Dexterity 3.38/5
Multilimb Coordination 3.38/5
Information Ordering 3.25/5
Selective Attention 3.25/5
Finger Dexterity 3.25/5

Technologies & Tools

Applied Production ProFab Applied Production ProFold Autodesk AutoCAD Computer aided design CAD software Computer aided manufacturing CAM software Corte Certo FCC Software AutoPOL Series JETCAM Expert Merry Mechanization SMP/IS Microsoft Excel Microsoft Office software Microsoft Windows Microsoft Word PTC Creo Parametric QuickPen DuctDesigner 3D Revcad Software Sheet Lightning Siemens NX Spreadsheet software Striker Systems SS-Profile WiCAM PN4000

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.56/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.38/5)
  • Initiative (High importance: 4.07/5)
  • Achievement/Effort (High importance: 4.04/5)
  • Cooperation (High importance: 4.02/5)

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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:

AC Sheet Metal Installer (Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Installer) Air Duct Mechanic Aircraft Metalsmith Aircraft Sheet Metal Mechanic Angle Bender Aviation Metalsmith Beam Worker Ceiling Installer Chute Builder Commercial Sheet Metal Service Installer Coppersmith Cornice Maker Cowlman Deburr Tech (Deburr Technician) Duct Installer Dural Mechanic Duralumin Mechanic Duralumin Metalworker Extrusion Former Fabrication Technician (Fabrication Tech) Fairing Man Fairing Worker Field Installer Geothermal Sheet Metal Worker Gutter Hanger Gutter Installer Heating Duct Installer Hood Maker Hood Technician (Hood Tech) HVAC Sheet Metal Installer (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Installer) HVAC Sheet Metal Mechanic (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Mechanic) HVAC Sheet Metal Specialist (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning Sheet Metal Specialist) Journeyman Sheet Metal Worker Layout Worker Metal Ceiling Builder Metal Ceiling Hanger Metal Fabricator Metal Technician (Metal Tech) Metal Work Duct Installer Metal Worker Metalsmith Press Brake Operator Sheet Metal Assembler Sheet Metal Duct Installer Sheet Metal Erector Sheet Metal Fabricator Sheet Metal Former Sheet Metal Installer Sheet Metal Journeyman Sheet Metal Layout Mechanic Sheet Metal Layout Worker Sheet Metal Mechanic Sheet Metal Operator Sheet Metal Smith Sheet Metal Technician (Sheet Metal Tech) Sheet Metal Work Furnace Installer Sheet Metal Worker Spouting Installer Template Fitter Template Layout Worker Tin Worker Tinker Tinner Tinsmith Whitesmith Wind Turbine Sheet Metal Worker