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