Will “Lathe Operator” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
Unknown Chance of Automation
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Job Description
Fabricate, finish, or evaluate the quality of gems and diamonds used in jewelry or industrial tools.
Job Details
- The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 51-9071.06
☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Gem and Diamond Workers”.
Also Known As…
- Gem and Diamond Workers
- Quality Control Specialist
- Lapidarist
- Gemologist
- Facetor
- Diamond Setter
- Diamond Sawer
- Diamond Polisher
- Diamond Picker
- Diamond Grader
- Diamond Cutter
- Stone Setter Apprentice
- Spotter
- Sapphire Stylus Grinder
- Phonograph Needle Tip Maker
- Pearl Restorer
- Pearl Peller
- Pearl Cutter
- Oliving Machine Operator
- Lapidary Apprentice
- Lapidary
- Jewelry Designer
- Jewelry Cutter
- Jeweler
- Jewel Setter
- Jewel Sawyer
- Jewel Blocker and Sawyer
- Jewel Bearing Maker
- Grader
- Girdler
- Gem Stone Cutter
- Gem Expert
- Gem Cutter
- Gem Carver
- Diamond Sorter
- Diamond Sizer and Grader
- Diamond Setter Apprentice
- Diamond Selector
- Diamond Mounter
- Diamond Driller
- Diamond Die Polisher
- Diamond Die Driller
- Diamond Cleaver
- Diamond Cleaner
- Diamond Assorter
- Brilliandeer Lopper
- Bench Jeweler
Tasks for “Lathe Operator”
- Secure gems or diamonds in holders, chucks, dops, lapidary sticks, or blocks for cutting, polishing, grinding, drilling, or shaping.
- Identify and document stones' clarity characteristics, using plot diagrams.
- Secure stones in metal mountings, using solder.
- Estimate wholesale and retail value of gems, following pricing guides, market fluctuations, and other relevant economic factors.
- Replace, true, and sharpen blades, drills, and plates.
- Examine gem surfaces and internal structures, using polariscopes, refractometers, microscopes, and other optical instruments, to differentiate between stones, to identify rare specimens, or to detect flaws, defects, or peculiarities affecting gem values.
- Regulate the speed of revolutions and reciprocating actions of drilling mechanisms.
- Measure sizes of stones' bore holes and cuts to ensure adherence to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
- Dismantle lapping, boring, cutting, polishing, and shaping equipment and machinery to clean and lubricate it.
- Immerse stones in prescribed chemical solutions to determine specific gravities and key properties of gemstones or substitutes.
- Hold stones, gems, dies, or styluses against rotating plates, wheels, saws, or slitters to cut, shape, slit, grind, or polish them.
- Examine gems during processing to ensure accuracy of angles and positions of cuts or bores, using magnifying glasses, loupes, or shadowgraphs.
- Sort rough diamonds into categories based on shape, size, color, and quality.
- Place stones in clamps on polishing machines and polish facets of stones, using felt-covered or canvas-covered polishing wheels and polishing compounds such as tripoli and rouge.
- Examine diamonds or gems to ascertain the shape, cut, and width of cut stones, or to select the cuts that will result in the biggest, best quality stones.
- Advise customers and others on the best use of gems to create attractive jewelry items.
- Assign polish, symmetry, and clarity grades to stones, according to established grading systems.
- Regrind drill points, and advance drill cutting points according to specifications for channel depths and shapes.
- Lap girdles on rough diamonds, using diamond girdling lathes.
- Split gems along pre-marked lines to remove imperfections, using blades and jewelers' hammers.
- Locate and mark drilling or cutting positions on stones or dies, using diamond chips and power hand tools.
- Select shaping wheels for tasks, and mix and apply abrasives, bort, or polishing compounds.
Related Technology & Tools
- Optically magnified facet machines
- Jewelers' hammers
- Digital calipers
- Sphere machines
- Digital micrometers
- Mini bench vises
- Faceting machines
- Polishing laps
- Chipping hammers
- Precision file sets
- Arbors
- Lapidary units
- Laser engraving tools
- Ultrasonic cleaners
- Precision rulers
- Ultraviolet UV lights
- Piezo microtorches
- Precision tape measures
- Cross peen hammers
- Cutting laps
- Specific gravity liquid sets
- Bead drilling vises
- Jewelers kits
- Steam cleaners
- Thermal conductivity testers
- Vibrating laps
- Jewelers' mandrels
- Bench refractometers
- Ring saws
- Crack hammers
- Spectrophotometers
- Handheld magnifiers
- Diamond girding lathes
- Mini hand clamps
- Diamond saws
- Glass bevelers
- Mini drills
- Digital still cameras
- Digital polariscopes
- Polishing wheels
- Glass polishers
- Revolving saws
- Lapidary slitters
- Vibratory tumblers
- Trim saws
- Belt sanders
- Rock picks
- Gem drills
- Angle grinders
- Stone polishers
- Grinders
- Inspection microscopes
- Digital balances
- Jewelers' loupes
- Glass cutting saws
- Diamond grinders
- GemCad
- Gem identification databases
- Spectrophotometer analysis software
- Jewelry design software
- Web browser software
- Business accounting software
- Inventory tracking software