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