Watch clips from "How It's Made" to see how objects like artificial limbs, nails, footballs, mustard, and more are made. Choose a few to watch--which one surprised you most?

Watch how the objects all around us are made.

Read about benefits of manual labor. While these points are geared toward construction, they can apply to a whole variety of manual labor careers. Does manual labor seem like a path you're interested in?

Explore the benefits of manual labor.

Watch a video demonstrating how cores and coreboxes work when making molds and castings. Does this look like something you're interested in doing?

Watch how cores and coreboxes work.

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.

The ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.

The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

The ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.

The ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.

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.

The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.

The ability to quickly respond (with the hand, finger, or foot) to a signal (sound, light, picture) when it appears.

The ability to focus on a single source of sound in the presence of other distracting sounds.

Foundry Mold and Coremakers

Make or form wax or sand cores or molds used in the production of metal castings in foundries.

Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, transportation, machine operation, agriculture, animal services, physical or manual labor, athletics, or protective services.

Realistic

Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or human resources.

Conventional

Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the fields of humanities, mathematics/statistics, information technology, or health care service.

Investigative

Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts, applied arts and design, performing arts, music, creative writing, media, or culinary art.

Artistic

Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.

Social

Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertising, finance, management/administration, professional advising, public speaking, politics, or law.

Enterprising

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, and rules of composition and grammar.

Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.

Knowledge and prediction of physical principles, laws, their interrelationships, and applications to understanding fluid, material, and atmospheric dynamics, and mechanical, electrical, atomic and sub-atomic structures and processes.

Knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.

Knowledge of the practical application of engineering science and technology. This includes applying principles, techniques, procedures, and equipment to the design and production of various goods and services.

Knowledge of the chemical composition, structure, and properties of substances and of the chemical processes and transformations that they undergo. This includes uses of chemicals and their interactions, danger signs, production techniques, and disposal methods.

Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.

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

Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.

Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.

Controlling operations of equipment or systems.

Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.

Molders and Molding Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic

Production Occupations

Metal Workers and Plastic Workers

Clean and smooth molds, cores, and core boxes, and repair surface imperfections.

Sift and pack sand into mold sections, core boxes, and pattern contours, using hand or pneumatic ramming tools.

Position patterns inside mold sections, and clamp sections together.

Position cores into lower sections of molds, and reassemble molds for pouring.

Sprinkle or spray parting agents onto patterns and mold sections to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.

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.

Lift upper mold sections from lower sections, and remove molded patterns.

Cut spouts, runner holes, and sprue holes into molds.

Tend machines that bond cope and drag together to form completed shell molds.

Autodesk AutoCAD

Dassault Systemes SolidWorks

PTC Creo Parametric

CNC Software Mastercam

Inventory tracking software

Machine control software

Centrifugal casting machines

Coremaking machines

Die casting machines

Vacuum casting machines

Cupola furnaces

Foundry ovens

Shearing machines

Foundry sand testing equipment

Dial indicators

Core blowers

Digital micrometers

Vent gas scrubbers

Heat treating furnaces

Multipurpose screwdrivers

Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.

Performing general physical activities includes doing activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling materials.

Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.

Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.

Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.

Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.

Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.

Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).

Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?

Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets

Every day

How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?

How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?

How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?

Once a week or more but not every day

Number of hours typically worked in one week.

More than 40 hours

40 hours

Continually or almost continually

More than half the time

How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?

Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable

Never

How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?

Constant contact with others

How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?

How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?

Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams

Foundry Mold and Coremakers

Overview

Career

What Foundry Mold and Coremakers Do

Other Job Titles Foundry Mold and Coremakers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Foundry Mold and Coremakers

Overview

Career

What Foundry Mold and Coremakers Do

Other Job Titles Foundry Mold and Coremakers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Foundry Mold and Coremakers

Majors Related to Career