Will “Clay Mixer” 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
- Clay Artisan
- Ceramic Artist
- Artist
Tasks for “Clay Mixer”
- Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.
- Design clay forms and molds, and decorations for forms.
- Position balls of clay in centers of potters' wheels, and start motors or pump treadles with feet to revolve wheels.
- Mix and apply glazes, and load glazed pieces into kilns for firing.
- Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.
- 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.
- Operate drying chambers to dry or finish molded ceramic ware.
- Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.
- 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.
- Verify accuracy of shapes and sizes of objects, using calipers and templates.
- Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces.
- Maintain supplies of tools, equipment, and materials, and order additional supplies as needed.
- Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures.
- Teach pottery classes.
- Adjust pressures, temperatures, and trimming tool settings as required.
- Start machine units and conveyors and observe lights and gauges on panel board to verify operational efficiency.
- 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.
Related Technology & Tools
- Personal computers
- Spray booths
- Raku tongs
- Layout templates
- Fettling knives
- Hake brushes
- Safety glasses
- Ceramics kilns
- Scoring tools
- Dust masks
- Electric kilns
- Handheld sprayers
- Clay mixers
- Insulated gloves
- Kick wheels
- Pug mills
- Precision rulers
- Texturing brushes
- Pyrometers
- Pottery wheels
- Air compressors
- Carving spatulas
- Clay extruders
- Clay cutters
- Oxyprobes
- Slab rollers
- Kiln glasses
- Clay presses
- Spring scales
- Carving tools
- Portable pottery wheels
- Triple beam balances
- Digital scales
- Laptop computers
- Banding wheels
- Drying ovens
- Air cleaners
- Ball mills
- Lace tools
- Hole cutters
- Tile cutters
- Cleanup tools
- Kiln gloves
- Mold trimming knives
- Grinding wheels
- Dipping tongs
- Thickness gauges
- Conveyor feeding systems
- Dial calipers
- Gas kilns
- Slip trail applicators
- Pottery molds
- Microsoft Excel
- Inventory control software
- Microsoft Outlook