Application
The unit of competency defines the skills and knowledge required by a foundry tradesperson to supervise ferrous melting and casting operations in a foundry to ensure specifications are met and safety procedures maintained. This work is performed under the overall direction of a metallurgist.
No licensing, legislative or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of publication.
Band: B
Unit Weight: 4
Elements and Performance Criteria
Elements describe the essential outcomes. | Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. | ||
1 | Determine job requirements | 1.1 | Follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) |
1.2 | Comply with work health and safety (WHS) requirements at all times | ||
1.3 | Use appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) in accordance with SOPs | ||
1.4 | Identify job requirements from specifications, drawings, job sheets or work instructions | ||
2 | Identify specifications for required casting | 2.1 | Identify required material specification and mould requirements |
2.2 | Identify any special melting and casting requirements for the job | ||
2.3 | Identify safety procedures for the required melting and casting operation | ||
2.4 | Identify and follow regulations and codes of practice relevant to foundry and individual melting, pouring and casting operation | ||
3 | Verify metal charges to melting | 3.1 | Select required components to give the required metal specification |
3.2 | Calculate required charge of each component | ||
3.3 | Recommend changes and/or additions to the charge | ||
3.4 | Monitor the preparation of the charge, including checking for contaminants | ||
4 | Monitor furnace operation | 4.1 | Check that the furnace is in good operational condition and that appropriate lining is present |
4.2 | Organise for maintenance and repairs as required | ||
4.3 | Identify metal or alloy specification for required casting | ||
4.4 | Monitor a melt to ensure the product meets specification | ||
5 | Monitor pouring of molten metal | 5.1 | Check pouring area is secure and that all non-essential personnel are excluded |
5.2 | Check all members of the pouring crew are wearing appropriate PPE | ||
5.3 | Ensure escape routes are known in advance by all members of the pouring crew | ||
5.4 | Check emergency pour out pit is operational and other safety measures are in place | ||
5.5 | Ensure moulds are ready to receive liquid metal, ensure access ways and pouring ways are clear, and that there are appropriate spaces between each mould | ||
5.6 | Check pouring is undertaken at correct temperature and in efficient order | ||
5.7 | Ensure pouring basin and moulds are ready to receive liquid metal | ||
5.8 | Take required samples for analysis | ||
6 | Control hazards | 6.1 | Identify hazards in the metal melting/pouring process |
6.2 | Assess the risks arising from those hazards | ||
6.3 | Implement procedures to control those hazards in line with procedures and duty of care | ||
Foundation Skills
This section describes those required skills (reading, writing, oral communication and numeracy) that are essential to workplace performance in this unit of competency.
Foundation skills essential to performance are explicit in the performance criteria of this unit of competency.
Range Statement
This field allows for different work environments and conditions that may affect performance. Essential operating conditions that may be present (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) are included. | |
Moulds include one (1) or more of the following: | sand die investment |
Contaminants include one (1) or more of the following: | non-specified metal rubber grease water paint and non-metallics closed containers or pipes pressure containers, including aerosols |
Material specification includes one (1) or more of the following: | ferrous metals ferrous alloys contaminants |
Competency Field
Casting and moulding