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