Will “Clay Artisan” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
Unknown Chance of Automation
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Job Description
Operate production machines such as pug mill, jigger machine, or potter's wheel to process clay in manufacture of ceramic, pottery and stoneware products.
Job Details
- The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 51-9195.05
☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Potters, Manufacturing”.
Also Known As…
- Potters, Manufacturing
- Production Potter
- Potter
- Jigger Machine Operator
- Jigger Artisan
- Glazer
- Clay Mixer
- Thrower
- Studio Potter
- Sculptor
- Press Operator
- Pottery Machine Operator
- Pot Maker
- Mold Maker
- Model Maker
- Model and Mold Maker
- Jiggerman
- Etcher
- Clay Artist
- Ceramic Artist
- Artist
Tasks for “Clay Artisan”
- Operate pug mills to blend and extrude clay.
- Teach pottery classes.
- Verify accuracy of shapes and sizes of objects, using calipers and templates.
- Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.
- Mix and apply glazes, and load glazed pieces into kilns for firing.
- Operate drying chambers to dry or finish molded ceramic ware.
- Design clay forms and molds, and decorations for forms.
- Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.
- Raise and shape clay into wares such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.
- Operate jigger machines to form ceramic ware, such as bowls, cups, plates, and saucers.
- Examine finished ware for defects and measure dimensions, using rule and thickness gauge.
- Start machine units and conveyors and observe lights and gauges on panel board to verify operational efficiency.
- Adjust pressures, temperatures, and trimming tool settings as required.
- Maintain supplies of tools, equipment, and materials, and order additional supplies as needed.
- Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels.
- Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces.
- Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.
- Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures.
- Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.
- Press thumbs into centers of revolving clay to form hollows, and press on the inside and outside of emerging clay cylinders with hands and fingers, gradually raising and shaping clay to desired forms and sizes.
Related Technology & Tools
- Pottery molds
- Carving tools
- Oxyprobes
- Layout templates
- Pug mills
- Ball mills
- Banding wheels
- Mold trimming knives
- Ceramics kilns
- Safety glasses
- Clay presses
- Fettling knives
- Electric kilns
- Hake brushes
- Handheld sprayers
- Portable pottery wheels
- Pyrometers
- Conveyor feeding systems
- Precision rulers
- Slip trail applicators
- Kick wheels
- Spray booths
- Clay mixers
- Grinding wheels
- Cleanup tools
- Raku tongs
- Slab rollers
- Air compressors
- Tile cutters
- Kiln glasses
- Thickness gauges
- Scoring tools
- Insulated gloves
- Kiln gloves
- Triple beam balances
- Texturing brushes
- Drying ovens
- Dust masks
- Dipping tongs
- Air cleaners
- Clay extruders
- Digital scales
- Laptop computers
- Gas kilns
- Pottery wheels
- Dial calipers
- Lace tools
- Personal computers
- Carving spatulas
- Clay cutters
- Hole cutters
- Spring scales
- Inventory control software
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Excel