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