Patternmakers, Wood

Wood patternmakers create precise patterns and templates used in foundry casting operations — a highly skilled, manual craft requiring extensive knowledge of wood properties, shrinkage allowances, and casting processes. CNC woodworking and 3D printing of patterns is reducing demand for hand-carved wood patterns in some applications, but complex patterns requiring judgment and adjustment still use skilled patternmakers. Through 2027, the occupation continues slow decline as 3D printing and CNC replace traditional pattern-making methods, with AI having minimal additional impact beyond these existing trends.