Patternmakers, Wood
People classed as Patternmakers, Wood plan, lay out, and construct wooden unit or sectional patterns used in forming sand molds for castings. The strongest interest signal is Realistic (6.6 of 7), then Artistic (4.1) and Conventional, which gives it the code RAC. The preparation level is medium preparation, typically one or two years of vocational training, an apprenticeship or an associate’s degree. O*NET’s skill data points to reading comprehension, operations monitoring, and operation and control as the ones to build. Expect to read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups. If you want hands-on work with tools, machines or the physical world, keep it on your list. If you need leading, persuading and making business decisions, it may feel thin.
What they do
Plan, lay out, and construct wooden unit or sectional patterns used in forming sand molds for castings.
Main tasks
- Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.
- Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, and screws.
- Lay out patterns on wood stock and draw outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products, based on blueprint specifications and sketches, and using marking and measuring devices.
- Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.
- Divide patterns into sections according to shapes of castings to facilitate removal of patterns from molds.
- Verify dimensions of completed patterns, using templates, straightedges, calipers, or protractors.
Skills
- Reading Comprehension
- Operations Monitoring
- Operation and Control
- Monitoring
- Complex Problem Solving
- Quality Control Analysis
Who this career fits
May suit you if
- You like ending the day with a physical result you can point to.
- You want room to make something in your own way.
- You are willing to put in a year or two of focused training.
- You are comfortable relying on reading comprehension and operations monitoring.
May not suit you if
- You would rather stay away from physical, hands-on tasks.
- You want to lead people or run the business side. Enterprising rates 1.3 out of 7 here.
- You need to start within a few months, with no training period.
Interest profile
O*NET rates each occupation from 1 to 7 on six interest types. The code RAC takes the three highest, and Realistic comes first here.
Preparation
Medium preparation. Expect vocational school, an apprenticeship, related experience or an associate’s degree, usually one or two years in total.
Most-reported requirement in the O*NET survey: High School Diploma or the equivalent (such as a GED). This reflects what workers reported most often and is not a legal minimum. Licensing rules can differ by state or industry, so confirm what applies where you plan to work.
Also called
- Mold Maker
- Pattern Engineer
- Pattern Maker
- Patternmaker
- Wood Pattern Maker
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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA). Used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.