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