Career Details :: Layout Workers, Metal and Plastic
Description
Lay out reference points and dimensions on metal or plastic stock or workpieces, such as sheets, plates, tubes, structural shapes, castings, or machine parts, for further processing. Includes shipfitters.
Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Education
Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some may require a bachelor's degree.
Training
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.
Tasks
- Fits and aligns fabricated parts for welding or assembly operations.
- Adds dimensional details to blueprints or drawings by other workers and designs templates of wood, paper, or metal.
- Lifts and positions workpiece in relation to surface plate manually or with hoist, using parallel blocks and angle plates.
- Plans and develops layout from blueprints and templates, applying knowledge of trigonometry, design, effects of heat, and properties of metal.
- Examines workpiece and verifies such requirements as dimensions and squareness, using rule, square, and straightedge.
- Determines reference points and computes layout dimensions and works to tolerances, as close as 0.001 inch.
- Applies pigment to layout surfaces, using paint brush.
- Inspects machined parts to verify conformance to specifications.
- Marks curves, lines, holes, dimensions, and welding symbols onto workpiece, using scribes, soapstone, punches, and hand drill.
- Locates center line and verifies template position, using measuring instruments, including gauge blocks, height gauges, and dial indicators.
- Details location and sequence of cutting, drilling, bending, rolling, punching, and welding operations, using compass, protractor, dividers, and rule.
Related Careers
- Aircraft Rigging Assemblers
- Grinding, Honing, Lapping, and Deburring Machine Set-Up Operators
- Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
- Precision Mold and Pattern Casters, except Nonferrous Metals
- Semiconductor Processors
- Sheet Metal Workers
- Shoe and Leather Workers and Repairers
- Tool and Die Makers
Important Abilities
General Work Activities
- Handling and Moving Objects
- Drafting & Specifying Technical Devices, etc.
- Inspecting Equipment, Structures, Material
- Getting Information Needed to Do the Job
- Performing General Physical Activities
Important Skills
Frequent Work Context
- Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
- Using Hands on Objects, Tools, Controls
- Indoors
- Consequence of Error
- Importance of Being Sure All Is Done
Institutions Offering Related Majors
No institutions found.