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