Fabrication Engineering Tradesperson

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Engineering Production Worker
Sheet Metal Trades Worker
Welder (First Class) (Aus)

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Practical or MechanicalSkill Level 2Skill Level 3

Fabrication engineering tradespersons cut, shape, join and finish metal to make, maintain or repair metal products and structures. They may produce moulds or patterns for metal castings, apply coatings Future Growth Static and work with a variety of materials.

Sawing metal

Specialisations: Sheetmetal Worker (Light Fabrication); Welder - First Class

Recent changes in the industry are leading to a number of trade jobs being merged into broad occupational areas. The new training structure allows apprentices to develop a mix of skills from the traditional trades or occupations.

  • Blacksmith: A blacksmith shapes bars, rods and blocks of metal using hand or power tools to produce or repair metal articles. Blacksmiths also make and repair agricultural equipment, mining and quarrying machinery, or ornamental steelwork such as gates and fences. They can specialise in forge-smithing, hammer-smithing or tool-smithing.


Blacksmith

  • Boilermaker (Heavy Fabrication): A boilermaker (heavy fabrication) cuts, shapes, assembles and joins heavy gauge metal parts to produce or repair containers that have to withstand pressure, such as ships, boilers and storage tanks. Boilermakers trained in structural fabrication may be involved in fitting, assembling and joining aluminium and steel in the construction or repair of towers, bridges, structural supports, girders and ships.

  • Engineering Patternmaker: An engineering patternmaker designs, constructs and machines full size engineering models (called patterns) out of polyurethane, aluminium, cast iron, epoxy resin and timber, using digital 3D or 2D information. A completed pattern (called tooling) is supplied to related manufacturers like foundries, die casters, vacuum formers and machinery producers.

  • Foundry Worker: A foundry worker assists tradespeople and semi-skilled workers to cast metal into shapes used as parts for machinery, motor vehicles, railway engines, stove parts and wheels.

Foundry Workers

  • Moulder/Coremaker: A moulder/coremaker makes sand moulds from which many kinds of metal objects are cast. They may make moulds for goods ranging from truck wheels, crankshafts and bulldozer blades, to door handles and water taps, or for the structural frames of equipment used in mining, quarrying and forestry. The moulding process is commonly automated or semi-automated.

Crafting in metal

Knowledge, skills and attributes

  • enjoy working with machines
  • interested in computer-programmable machinery
  • able to cope with the physical demands of the job
  • strength to handle materials, tools and machines
  • good hand-eye coordination
  • able to work in a team or independently
  • patient
  • able to carry out accurate work
  • safety-conscious.

Duties and Tasks

Fabrication engineering tradespeople may perform the following tasks:

  • examine detailed drawings or specifications to find out job, material and equipment requirements
  • cut, roll, shape, bend, mould, spin, heat or hammer metal products to fabricate parts or sub-assemblies
  • heat treat metal parts and components
  • set up and/or operate hand and machine tools, welding equipment or Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machines
  • assemble parts and structures by lining up and joining them by welding, bolting or riveting
  • finish products by cleaning, polishing, filing or bathing them in acid solutions, or by applying protective or decorative coatings.
Did You Know?

The highest welding temperature of burning is 5000 degree Celsius!
(Source: Deilmetall)

The earliest recorded welds were in 3,500 B.C. The Bronze Age.

Welding was attempted in space in 1969 by Russian astronauts (cosmonauts)!

Russian Stamp

Approximately half the products we use required welding at some stage.

The average age of a welder today is over 50 years old. This means this career is in very high demand of new workers to replace them when they retire within the next ten years.
(Source: Visual)

Welding can also be performed underwater! The record for the deepest underwater weld was set by the US navy in 2005 and was 2000ft deep underwater!

Approximately 950 hours are spent welding a race car for the NASCAR championships.

(Source: Careers in Welding)


Working conditions

Fabrication engineering tradespeople work in workshops or production areas that can be noisy, hot and dusty. They usually spend most of their day standing and often need to bend, crouch or climb. Some may be required to work in confined spaces or at heights, and shift work may be involved. They may work in a team or alone. Workshops are generally spacious, ventilated and well lit.

Fabrication engineering tradespeople must be aware of safety regulations and must wear protective equipment to minimise heat and noise levels, and to guard against corrosive chemicals.

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become a qualified Fabrication engineering tradesperson, you usually need to complete an apprenticeship.

Fabrication Engineering Tradesperson

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