Mouldmaker

Mouldmakers manually create moulds for the production of metal products. They mix sand and hardening materials to obtain a specialised mixture. They then use a pattern and one or more cores to produce the right shape impression in this material. The shaped material is then left to set, later to be used as a mould in the production of ferrous and non-ferrous metal castings.

Excludes people producing moulds for non-metallic materials.
Excludes people using machines. Includes people producing jewellery and bijouterie.

The duties of a mouldmaker include, but are not limited to:

• Reading blueprints, following instructions, and using CAD programs to plan the molds that must be constructed.
• Creating new tooling for molds, die-casting, and metal stamping according to specifications from the design team.
• Setting up equipment and ensuring each piece of equipment is appropriate for the intended mold design.
• Mixing modeling materials and melting metal pieces for creating molds.
• Maintaining and repairing existing tooling and molds.
• Creating prototype products, fixtures, and jigs to check the effectiveness of newly created molds.
• Analyzing and correcting mold malfunctions.
• Disassembling mold tooling for cleaning and repairs.

The following job titles also refer to mouldmaker:

foundry sand moulder
mold maker
hand-moulded casting worker
mould maker

A high school diploma is generally required to work as a mouldmaker. An associate’s degree in tool making or a related field may be advantageous. Completion of an accredited mold making apprenticeship program may be advantageous.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Mouldmaker is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to mouldmaker.

moulding machine operator
foundry operative
foundry moulder
sectional belt mould assembler
casting mould maker

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of mouldmaker. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of mouldmaker with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

geotechnician
metallurgical technician
welding inspector
metal furnace operator
metal production supervisor

These skills are necessary for the role of mouldmaker.

• Attend to detail in casting processes: Attend in the metal processing casting work to specificities and details concerning the quality of the casting and moulds.
• Construct moulds: Construct moulds for the casting of objects in plaster, clay, glass, plastic or metal. Use casting machines and materials such as rubber, plaster or fibreglass.
• Select mould types: Select the appropriate type and size of mould based on the operation.
• Insert mould structures: Insert mould structures using the appropriate hand tools.
• Maintain moulds: Clean and repair moulds, e.g. by smoothening out imperfections on the surface.
• Fill moulds: Fill up moulds with appropriate materials and ingredient mixes.
• Repair mould defects: Repair mould malfunctions and damage, e.g. cracks or broken edges; use hand tools, mould boxes and patterns.
• Move filled moulds: Replace filled-up moulds; understand how to load moulds into the oven and how to store filled-up moulds onto a rack.
• Ensure mould uniformity: Oversee uniformity of moulds; use casting equipment and tools such as hand press.
• Provide pouring holes in moulds: Cut spouts, runner holes, and sprue holes into moulds.
• Match product moulds: Change moulds to match product specification. Run test samples and check for proper specifications.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of mouldmaker. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Non-ferrous metal processing: Various processing methods on non-ferrous metals and alloys such as copper, zinc and aluminium.
• Ferrous metal processing: Various processing methods on iron and iron-containing alloys such as steel, stainless steel and pig iron.
• Jewellery processes: Materials and processes involved in creating jewellery items like earrings, necklaces, rings, brackets, etc.
• Types of metal manufacturing processes: Metal processes linked to the different types of metal, such as casting processes, heat treatment processes, repair processes and other metal manufacturing processes.
• Manufacturing of jewellery: The manufacturing of different type of jewellery such as rings or necklaces out of various metal types such as silver, gold, diamond and other precious stones.
• Precious metal processing: Various processing methods on precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of mouldmaker. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Maintain cores: Clean and repair cores, e.g. by smoothing out imperfections on the surface.
• Repair core defects: Repair core malfunctions and damage, e.g. cracks or broken edges; use hand tools, core boxes and patterns.
• Maintain core parts: Carry out minor repair tasks and maintenance of cores and core parts.
• Manage time in casting processes: Work on castings with the necessary sense of timing in regards to quality, for example when measuring how long moulds must rest before they are used in further casting processes.
• Ensure core uniformity: Oversee uniformity of cores; use casting machinery and equipment and tools such as a hand press.
• Coordinate mouldmaking shifts: Manage coordination of all activities across each mouldmaking shift.
• Mark processed workpiece: Inspect and mark parts of the workpiece to indicate how they will fit into the finished product.
• Prepare technical reports: Prepare technical reports that describe results and processes of scientific or technical research, or assess its progress. These reports help researchers to keep up to date with recent findings.
• Supervise work: Direct and supervise the day-to-day activities of subordinate personnel.
• Insert reinforcement in mould: Insert chaplets and other kinds of reinforcing steel structures to a mould in order to fix different parts.
• Follow manufacturing work schedule: Follow the planning set up by manufacturing companies’ managers exactly to ensure one production process is not delayed due to another and they follow each other smoothly.

7211 – Metal moulders and coremakers

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References

1. Mouldmaker – ESCO