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