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”
- Measure sizes of stones' bore holes and cuts to ensure adherence to specifications, using precision measuring instruments.
- 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.
- Assign polish, symmetry, and clarity grades to stones, according to established grading systems.
- Advise customers and others on the best use of gems to create attractive jewelry items.
- Secure stones in metal mountings, using solder.
- 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.
- Select shaping wheels for tasks, and mix and apply abrasives, bort, or polishing compounds.
- Replace, true, and sharpen blades, drills, and plates.
- Sort rough diamonds into categories based on shape, size, color, and quality.
- Regulate the speed of revolutions and reciprocating actions of drilling mechanisms.
- Immerse stones in prescribed chemical solutions to determine specific gravities and key properties of gemstones or substitutes.
- Lap girdles on rough diamonds, using diamond girdling lathes.
- Hold stones, gems, dies, or styluses against rotating plates, wheels, saws, or slitters to cut, shape, slit, grind, or polish them.
- 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.
- Examine gems during processing to ensure accuracy of angles and positions of cuts or bores, using magnifying glasses, loupes, or shadowgraphs.
- Dismantle lapping, boring, cutting, polishing, and shaping equipment and machinery to clean and lubricate it.
- 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.
- Estimate wholesale and retail value of gems, following pricing guides, market fluctuations, and other relevant economic factors.
- Regrind drill points, and advance drill cutting points according to specifications for channel depths and shapes.
- 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.
Related Technology & Tools
- Bench refractometers
- Chipping hammers
- Vibratory tumblers
- Sphere machines
- Stone polishers
- Jewelers' loupes
- Arbors
- Angle grinders
- Lapidary slitters
- Optically magnified facet machines
- Digital balances
- Rock picks
- Precision rulers
- Gem drills
- Glass bevelers
- Spectrophotometers
- Thermal conductivity testers
- Revolving saws
- Belt sanders
- Precision file sets
- Ultrasonic cleaners
- Handheld magnifiers
- Bead drilling vises
- Digital polariscopes
- Glass cutting saws
- Jewelers kits
- Jewelers' mandrels
- Digital still cameras
- Precision tape measures
- Polishing laps
- Crack hammers
- Diamond grinders
- Inspection microscopes
- Mini drills
- Specific gravity liquid sets
- Trim saws
- Piezo microtorches
- Cutting laps
- Mini hand clamps
- Diamond saws
- Grinders
- Jewelers' hammers
- Ring saws
- Cross peen hammers
- Diamond girding lathes
- Digital micrometers
- Steam cleaners
- Mini bench vises
- Faceting machines
- Vibrating laps
- Polishing wheels
- Lapidary units
- Ultraviolet UV lights
- Digital calipers
- Glass polishers
- Laser engraving tools
- Business accounting software
- Web browser software
- Gem identification databases
- Inventory tracking software
- GemCad
- Jewelry design software
- Spectrophotometer analysis software