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