Will “Optical Laboratory Mechanic” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
97% Chance of Automation
“Optical Laboratory Mechanic” will almost certainly be replaced by robots.
This job is ranked #656 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.
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Job Description
Cut, grind, and polish eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. Assemble and mount lenses into frames or process other optical elements. Includes precision lens polishers or grinders, centerer-edgers, and lens mounters.
Job Details
- The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 51-9083.00
- The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 34,220.00
- The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 16.00
- Currently, there are 28,570 people on this job
☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians”.
Also Known As…
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Surfacing Technician
- Polisher
- Optical Technician
- Optical Lab Technician (Optical Laboratory Technician)
- Line Operator
- Lens Grinder and Polisher
- Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician)
- Grinder
- Finishing Lab Technician
- Edger Technician
- Test Technician
- Surfacer
- Surface Room Shop Optician
- Surface Grinder
- Spotter
- Spectacle Truer
- Prism Measurer
- Prescription Eyeglass Maker
- Precision Optical Goods Worker
- Precision Lens Polisher
- Precision Lens Grinder
- Precision Lens Generator
- Precision Lens Centerer and Edger
- Optical Worker
- Optical Mechanic
- Optical Instrument Assembler
- Optical Goods Drilling Machine Operator
- Optical Goods Drill Operator
- Optical Element Coater
- Optical Coating Technician
- Ophthalmic Technician
- Lens Silverer
- Lens Shaper Grinder
- Lens Polisher
- Lens Mounter
- Lens Mold Setter
- Lens Maker
- Lens Grinder
- Lens Generator
- Lens Finisher
- Lens Fabricating Machine Tender
- Lens Edger
- Lens Dotter
- Lens Cutter
- Lens Coating Technician
- Lens Cementer
- Layout Technician
- Laboratory Operations Coordinator (Lab Operations Coordinator)
- Laboratory Monitor (Lab Monitor)
- Hospital Laboratory Technician (Hospital Lab Technician)
- Hand Lens Polisher
- Hand Glass Cutter
- Glass Silverer
- Glass Frame Fitter
- Glass Cutter
- Eyeglass Maker
- Eyeglass Lens Cutter
- Eyeglass Cutter
- Eyeglass Assembler
- Edge Grinder
- Driller
- Dotter
- Diamond Grinder
- Cylinder Worker
- Cylinder Grinder
- Contact Lens Technician
- Contact Lens Manufacturer
- Contact Lens Lathe Operator
- Contact Lens Cutter
- Contact Lens Blocker and Cutter
- Contact Lens Blocker
- Beveler
- Bevel Polisher
- Benchroom Shop Optician
- Bench Hand
- Artificial Plastic Eye Maker
- Artificial Glass Eye Maker
Tasks for “Optical Laboratory Mechanic”
- Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
- Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
- Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
- Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
- Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
- Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
- Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
- Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.
- Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
- Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
- Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.
- Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
- Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
- Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
- Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.
- Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.
Related Technology & Tools
- Riveting hammers
- Nut wrenches
- Lens cutting machines
- Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet Nd:YAG lasers
- Angling pliers
- Soldering torches
- Exophthalometers
- Soldering irons
- Pupilometers
- Phillips screwdrivers
- Potential acuity meters PAM
- Wheel cutters
- Specular microscopes
- Lens groovers
- Keratometers
- Self-closing tweezers
- Lens sizing pliers
- Rimless scribe tools
- Nylon-brass mallets
- Lens thickness calipers
- Retinal cameras
- Flathead screwdrivers
- Pachymeters
- pH testers
- Soldering clamps
- Lens polishing machines
- Finger-piece pliers
- Lens grinding machines
- Side cutting pliers
- Optical prisms
- Pad removing tweezers
- Pupillary distance rulers
- Prescription lens aligners
- Bent post pliers
- Tapered eyewire closure pliers
- Electric soldering kits
- Bench polishers
- Edge polishers
- Frame shaping pliers
- Trial lens sets
- Phoropters
- Lensometers
- 3-way screwdrivers
- Optical chain nose pliers
- Snipe nose pliers
- Carbon dioxide CO2 lasers
- Optical slit lamps
- Flat nose pliers
- Zylonite files
- Sagitta gauges
- Handheld tonometers
- Argon lasers
- Optical tweezers
- Frame adjusting pliers
- Cutting pliers
- Chipping pliers
- Hex nut wrenches
- Mini screwdrivers
- Lens tinting equipment
- Ultrasonic cleaners
- Mini power drills
- Screw extracting pliers
- Screw grippers
- Spectrophotometers
- Visual field testers
- Lens coating machines
- Drill presses
- Deblocking pliers
- Corneal topographers
- Stereopsis testers
- Ball cutters
- Lab snips
- Diagnostic retinoscopes
- Rimless assembly measuring tools
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Eyeglass design software
- Microsoft Outlook