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 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.
- 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.
- Lap girdles on rough diamonds, using diamond girdling lathes.
- Immerse stones in prescribed chemical solutions to determine specific gravities and key properties of gemstones or substitutes.
- 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.
- 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.
- Identify and document stones' clarity characteristics, using plot diagrams.
- Secure gems or diamonds in holders, chucks, dops, lapidary sticks, or blocks for cutting, polishing, grinding, drilling, or shaping.
- 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.
- Estimate wholesale and retail value of gems, following pricing guides, market fluctuations, and other relevant economic factors.
- Advise customers and others on the best use of gems to create attractive jewelry items.
- Replace, true, and sharpen blades, drills, and plates.
- Sort rough diamonds into categories based on shape, size, color, and quality.
- Hold stones, gems, dies, or styluses against rotating plates, wheels, saws, or slitters to cut, shape, slit, grind, or polish them.
- 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.
- Secure stones in metal mountings, using solder.
- Regulate the speed of revolutions and reciprocating actions of drilling mechanisms.
Related Technology & Tools
- Jewelers' mandrels
- Bead drilling vises
- Revolving saws
- Lapidary slitters
- Digital still cameras
- Handheld magnifiers
- Angle grinders
- Vibratory tumblers
- Piezo microtorches
- Chipping hammers
- Digital balances
- Sphere machines
- Glass bevelers
- Diamond girding lathes
- Ultrasonic cleaners
- Digital micrometers
- Jewelers' loupes
- Digital calipers
- Diamond grinders
- Bench refractometers
- Precision tape measures
- Jewelers kits
- Thermal conductivity testers
- Diamond saws
- Jewelers' hammers
- Mini bench vises
- Stone polishers
- Vibrating laps
- Faceting machines
- Polishing laps
- Cross peen hammers
- Glass cutting saws
- Cutting laps
- Precision file sets
- Laser engraving tools
- Belt sanders
- Specific gravity liquid sets
- Trim saws
- Gem drills
- Mini drills
- Spectrophotometers
- Arbors
- Optically magnified facet machines
- Grinders
- Ultraviolet UV lights
- Crack hammers
- Digital polariscopes
- Inspection microscopes
- Rock picks
- Glass polishers
- Precision rulers
- Steam cleaners
- Mini hand clamps
- Ring saws
- Lapidary units
- Polishing wheels
- Spectrophotometer analysis software
- GemCad
- Web browser software
- Business accounting software
- Jewelry design software
- Inventory tracking software
- Gem identification databases