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