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Career Details :: Model Makers, Metal and Plastic
Description
Set up and operate machines, such as lathes, milling and engraving machines, and jig borers, to make working models of metal or plastic objects.
Experience
A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
Education
Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training.
Tasks
- Assembles mechanical, electrical, and electronic components into models or prototypes, using hand tools, power tools, and fabricating machines.
- Wires and solders electrical and electronic connections and components.
- Sets up and operates machines, such as lathes, drill presses, punch presses, or bandsaws, to fabricate prototypes or models.
- Drills, countersinks, and reams holes in parts and assemblies for bolts, screws, and other fasteners, using power tools.
- Consults and confers with engineering personnel to discuss developmental problems and recommend modifications to correct or improve performance of product.
- Inspects and tests model or other product to verify conformance to specifications, using precision measuring instruments or circuit tester.
- Aligns, fits, and joins parts, using bolts or screws or by welding or gluing.
- Determines fixtures, machines, tooling, and sequence of operations to fabricate parts, dies, and tooling, according to drawings and sketches.
- Studies blueprint, drawings, or sketches, and computes dimensions for laying out materials and planning model production.
- Makes bridges, plates, wheels, cutting teeth on wheels and pinions, and threaded screws.
- Lays out and marks reference points and dimension on materials, using measuring instruments and drawing or scribing tools.
- Grinds, files, and sands parts to finished dimensions.
- Records specifications, production operations, and final dimensions of model for use in establishing operating standards and machinery procedures.
- Fabricates metal or plastic parts, using hand tools.
- Reworks or alters component model or parts as required to ensure performance of equipment or that parts meet standards.
- Cuts, shapes, and forms metal parts, using lathe, power saw, snips, power brakes and shear, files, and mallets.
- Devises and constructs own tools, dies, molds, jigs, and fixtures, or modifies existing tools and equipment.
Related Careers
- Automotive Body and Related Repairers
- Combination Machine Tool Setters and Set-Up Operators, Metal and Plastic
- Drilling and Boring Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
- Electric Motor and Switch Assemblers and Repairers
- Electro-Mechanical Technicians
- Engine and Other Machine Assemblers
- Office Machine and Cash Register Servicers
- Tool Grinders, Filers, and Sharpeners
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Controlling Machines and Processes
- Drafting & Specifying Technical Devices, etc.
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, Material
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Indoors
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
- Using Hands on Objects, Tools, Controls
- Degree of Automation
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.