Will “Bench Mechanic” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔
Unknown Chance of Automation
Sadly, the research paper did not provide any information about this occupation. Maybe have a look at our directory?
Job Description
Cast, anneal, solder, hammer, or shape gold, silver, pewter or other metals to form jewelry or other metal items such as goblets or candlesticks.
Job Details
- The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 51-9071.07
☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Precious Metal Workers”.
Also Known As…
- Precious Metal Workers
- Silversmith
- Restoration Silversmith
- Platinum Smith
- Pewterer
- Goldsmith
- Fabricator
- Caster
- Artist
- Stone Setter
- Stamper
- Special Order Jeweler
- Solderer
- Silversmith Apprentice
- Polisher
- Platinumsmith
- Pewter Finisher
- Pewter Fabricator
- Pewter Caster
- Mold Maker
- Metal Polisher
- Metal Finisher
- Metal Engraver
- Jewelsmith
- Jewelry Repairer
- Jewelry Maker
- Jewelry Finisher
- Jewelry Designer
- Jeweler
- Hammersmith
- Goldsmith Apprentice
- Engraver
- Chaser
- Bronze Chaser
- Brass Chaser
- Bench Mechanic
- Bench Jeweler
Tasks for “Bench Mechanic”
- Cut and file pieces of jewelry such as rings, brooches, bracelets, and lockets.
- Trim gates and sharp points from cast parts, using band saws.
- Position articles over snarling tools and raise design areas, using foot-powered hammers.
- Determine placement of auxiliary parts, such as handles and spouts, and mark locations of parts.
- Research reference materials, analyze production data, and consult with interested parties to develop ideas for new products.
- Rotate molds to distribute alloys and to prevent formation of air pockets.
- Heat ingots or alloy mixtures to specified temperatures, stir mixtures, skim off impurities, and fill molds to form ingots from which parts are cast.
- Sand interior mold parts to remove glaze residue, apply new glaze to molds, and allow it to dry for mold assembly.
- Engrave decorative lines on items, using engraving tools.
- Pierce and cut open designs in ornamentation, using hand drills and scroll saws.
- Weigh and mix alloy ingredients, using formulas and knowledge of ingredients' chemical properties.
- Secure molded items in chucks of lathes, and activate lathes to finish inner and outer surfaces of items.
- Verify that bottom edges of articles are level, using straightedges or by rocking them back and forth on flat surfaces.
- Polish articles by hand or by using a polishing wheel.
- Carry castings or finished items to storage areas or to different work stations.
- Design silver articles, such as jewelry and serving pieces.
- Hammer out dents and bulges, selecting and using hammers and dollies with heads that correspond in curvature to article surfaces.
- Glue plastic separators to handles of coffeepots and teapots.
- Design and fabricate models of new casting molds, and chipping and turning tools used to finish product surfaces.
- Peen edges of scratches or holes to repair defects, using peening hammers.
- Wire parts such as legs, spouts, and handles to article bodies in preparation for soldering.
- Strike molds to separate dried castings from molds.
- Weigh completed items to determine weights and record any deviations.
- Form concavities in bottoms of articles to improve stability, using tracing punches and hammers.
- Examine articles to determine the nature of defects requiring repair, such as dents, uneven bottoms, scratches, or holes.
- Assemble molds, wrap molds in heat-resistant cloth, and ladle molten alloy into mold openings, repeating casting processes as necessary to produce specified numbers of parts.
- Solder parts together or fill holes and cracks with metal solder, using gas torches.
- Rout out locations where parts are to be joined to items, using routing machines.
- Shape and straighten damaged or twisted articles by hand or using pliers.
- Strike articles with small tools, or punch them with hammers, to indent them or restore embossing.
- Anneal precious metal objects such as coffeepots, tea sets, and trays in gas ovens for prescribed times to soften metal for reworking.
- Position and align auxiliary parts in jigs and join parts, using solder and blowtorches.
Related Technology & Tools
- Tongs
- Double horn anvils
- Jewelers' loupes
- Jewelers screwdrivers
- Embossing hammers
- Wire twisting pliers
- Tracing punches
- Diamond tweezers
- Head and shank tweezers
- Silversmiths' hammers
- Flat horn anvils
- Flat nose pliers
- Dapping punches
- Hole punching pliers
- Wire cutters
- Plastic mallets
- Mini band saws
- Flask tongs
- Stone gauges
- Jewelers' chain-nose pliers
- Automatic lathes
- Locking tweezers
- Digital calipers
- Flush cutters
- Foot-powered hammers
- Precision rulers
- Dead-blow hammers
- Disc cutters
- Routing machines
- Bur gauges
- Parallel jaw pliers
- Jeweler's saws
- Dapping cutters
- Precision files
- Riveting hammers
- Ball peen hammers
- Soldering tweezers
- Stone setting pliers
- Hex anvils
- Peening hammers
- Polishing wheels
- Stamping dies
- Sidecutters
- Bent chain nose pliers
- Looping pliers
- Split ring pliers
- Binocular magnifiers
- Ring bending pliers
- Flex shaft machines
- Wire gauges
- Burnishers
- Engraving tools
- Jewelers shears
- Ring shank pliers
- Vibratory tumblers
- Adjustable bench vises
- Rotary tumblers
- Rolling mills
- Gas torches
- Crucible tongs
- Beading pliers
- Gold testers
- Ring clamps
- Jewelry mandrels
- Draw tongs
- Round nose pliers
- Hand drills
- Planishing hammers
- Straightedges
- Metal designing software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Adobe Systems Adobe Illustrator
- Web browser software