Will “Pottery Machine Operator” 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
- Pot Maker
- Mold Maker
- Model Maker
- Model and Mold Maker
- Jiggerman
- Etcher
- Clay Artist
- Clay Artisan
- Ceramic Artist
- Artist
Tasks for “Pottery Machine Operator”
- Raise and shape clay into wares such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.
- Design clay forms and molds, and decorations for forms.
- Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces.
- Examine finished ware for defects and measure dimensions, using rule and thickness gauge.
- 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.
- Teach pottery classes.
- Operate jigger machines to form ceramic ware, such as bowls, cups, plates, and saucers.
- Operate drying chambers to dry or finish molded ceramic ware.
- 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.
- Operate pug mills to blend and extrude clay.
- 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.
- Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.
- Adjust pressures, temperatures, and trimming tool settings as required.
- 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.
- Start machine units and conveyors and observe lights and gauges on panel board to verify operational efficiency.
- Adjust wheel speeds according to the feel of the clay as pieces enlarge and walls become thinner.
Related Technology & Tools
- Electric kilns
- Cleanup tools
- Banding wheels
- Conveyor feeding systems
- Precision rulers
- Kick wheels
- Hake brushes
- Slab rollers
- Clay cutters
- Drying ovens
- Mold trimming knives
- Safety glasses
- Hole cutters
- Laptop computers
- Air compressors
- Pottery molds
- Ceramics kilns
- Layout templates
- Portable pottery wheels
- Dust masks
- Air cleaners
- Raku tongs
- Insulated gloves
- Digital scales
- Clay mixers
- Lace tools
- Spring scales
- Pottery wheels
- Clay extruders
- Carving spatulas
- Carving tools
- Scoring tools
- Pug mills
- Gas kilns
- Fettling knives
- Tile cutters
- Triple beam balances
- Dipping tongs
- Clay presses
- Ball mills
- Texturing brushes
- Personal computers
- Grinding wheels
- Thickness gauges
- Kiln gloves
- Kiln glasses
- Slip trail applicators
- Spray booths
- Oxyprobes
- Handheld sprayers
- Pyrometers
- Dial calipers
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Inventory control software