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