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