Foundry mold and coremakers make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.

  • Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.
  • Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections.
  • Form and assemble slab cores around patterns, and position wire in mold sections to reinforce molds, using hand tools and glue.
  • Move and position workpieces, such as mold sections, patterns, and bottom boards, using cranes, or signal others to move workpieces.
  • Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.
  • Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring.
  • Tend machines that bond cope and drag together to form completed shell molds.
  • Cut spouts, runner holes, and sprue holes into molds.
  • Operate ovens or furnaces to bake cores or to melt, skim, and flux metal.
  • Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together.
  • Lift upper mold sections from lower sections, and remove molded patterns.
  • Rotate sweep boards around spindles to make symmetrical molds for convex impressions.
  • Pour molten metal into molds, manually or with crane ladles.
Work Context

Work Context information for this career will be available soon.

Work Activities
  • Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Controlling Machines and Processes — Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Clean production equipment.
  • Smooth metal surfaces or edges.
  • Lift materials or workpieces using cranes or other lifting equipment.
  • Signal others to coordinate work activities.
  • Apply parting agents or other solutions to molds.
  • Position patterns on equipment, materials, or workpieces.
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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.

Skills

Monitoring
  • Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.

Abilities

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.
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.
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.
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.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Computer aided design CAD software
  • Autodesk AutoCAD Hot Technology
  • Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Hot Technology
  • PTC Creo Parametric Hot Technology
Data base user interface and query software
  • Data entry software Hot Technology
Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
  • CNC Software Mastercam
  • Computer aided manufacturing CAM software
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