Will “Technical Craftsman” be Automated?

Core Skills & Abilities

• Read blueprints, drawings, or written specifications, and consult with designers to determine sizes and shapes of patterns and required machine setups.

• Maintain pattern records for reference.

• Verify dimensions and contours of models during hand-forming processes, using templates and measuring devices.

• Issue patterns to designated machine operators.

• Fit, fasten, and assemble wood parts together to form patterns, models, or sections, using glue, nails, dowels, bolts, screws, and other fasteners.

• Build jigs that can be used as guides for assembling oversized or special types of box shooks.

• Finish patterns or models with protective or decorative coatings such as shellac, lacquer, or wax.

• Mark identifying information on patterns, parts, and templates to indicate assembly methods and details.

• Set up, operate, and adjust a variety of woodworking machines such as bandsaws and planers to cut and shape sections, parts, and patterns, according to specifications.

• Trim, smooth, and shape surfaces, and plane, shave, file, scrape, and sand models to attain specified shapes, using hand tools.

• Plan, lay out, and draw outlines of units, sectional patterns, or full-scale mock-ups of products.

• Construct wooden models, patterns, templates, full scale mock-ups, and molds for parts of products and production tools.

• Select wooden stock, determine layouts, and mark layouts of parts on stock, using precision equipment such as scribers, squares, and protractors.

• Fabricate work aids such as scrapers or templates.