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 drying chambers to dry or finish molded ceramic ware.
- Mix and apply glazes, and load glazed pieces into kilns for firing.
- Adjust pressures, temperatures, and trimming tool settings as required.
- Examine finished ware for defects and measure dimensions, using rule and thickness gauge.
- Teach pottery classes.
- 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.
- Operate jigger machines to form ceramic ware, such as bowls, cups, plates, and saucers.
- Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.
- Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures.
- Raise and shape clay into wares such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.
- 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.
- Start machine units and conveyors and observe lights and gauges on panel board to verify operational efficiency.
- Maintain supplies of tools, equipment, and materials, and order additional supplies as needed.
- Operate pug mills to blend and extrude clay.
- Design clay forms and molds, and decorations for forms.
- Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.
- Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.
- Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.
- Verify accuracy of shapes and sizes of objects, using calipers and templates.
Related Technology & Tools
- Cleanup tools
- Slab rollers
- Banding wheels
- Air cleaners
- Pug mills
- Ceramics kilns
- Dipping tongs
- Texturing brushes
- Hole cutters
- Triple beam balances
- Pottery molds
- Drying ovens
- Clay presses
- Air compressors
- Pyrometers
- Electric kilns
- Clay cutters
- Laptop computers
- Portable pottery wheels
- Raku tongs
- Pottery wheels
- Kick wheels
- Spray booths
- Kiln glasses
- Ball mills
- Carving spatulas
- Slip trail applicators
- Dial calipers
- Tile cutters
- Personal computers
- Dust masks
- Handheld sprayers
- Lace tools
- Mold trimming knives
- Layout templates
- Fettling knives
- Thickness gauges
- Gas kilns
- Grinding wheels
- Spring scales
- Digital scales
- Conveyor feeding systems
- Clay mixers
- Hake brushes
- Clay extruders
- Safety glasses
- Scoring tools
- Carving tools
- Oxyprobes
- Kiln gloves
- Precision rulers
- Insulated gloves
- Microsoft Excel
- Inventory control software
- Microsoft Outlook