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