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