Will “Potters, Manufacturing” 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
Also Known As…
- Production Potter
- Potter
- Jigger Machine Operator
- Jigger Artisan
- Glazer
- Clay Mixer
- Thrower
- 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 “Potters, Manufacturing”
- Prepare work for sale or exhibition, and maintain relationships with retail, pottery, art, and resource networks that can facilitate sale or exhibition of work.
- 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.
- Adjust pressures, temperatures, and trimming tool settings as required.
- Raise and shape clay into wares such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.
- Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.
- Operate pug mills to blend and extrude clay.
- Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.
- Verify accuracy of shapes and sizes of objects, using calipers and templates.
- 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.
- Operate drying chambers to dry or finish molded ceramic ware.
- Teach pottery classes.
- Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures.
- 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.
- Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces.
- Start machine units and conveyors and observe lights and gauges on panel board to verify operational efficiency.
- Design clay forms and molds, and decorations for forms.
- Examine finished ware for defects and measure dimensions, using rule and thickness gauge.
Related Technology & Tools
- Cleanup tools
- Dial calipers
- Hole cutters
- Clay mixers
- Handheld sprayers
- Kiln glasses
- Clay presses
- Pug mills
- Texturing brushes
- Lace tools
- Precision rulers
- Triple beam balances
- Electric kilns
- Layout templates
- Insulated gloves
- Air compressors
- Mold trimming knives
- Air cleaners
- Slip trail applicators
- Pottery wheels
- Safety glasses
- Ceramics kilns
- Personal computers
- Clay cutters
- Oxyprobes
- Drying ovens
- Dust masks
- Portable pottery wheels
- Digital scales
- Kiln gloves
- Ball mills
- Kick wheels
- Pottery molds
- Dipping tongs
- Carving tools
- Pyrometers
- Gas kilns
- Slab rollers
- Carving spatulas
- Hake brushes
- Tile cutters
- Fettling knives
- Conveyor feeding systems
- Scoring tools
- Clay extruders
- Thickness gauges
- Spring scales
- Banding wheels
- Raku tongs
- Spray booths
- Laptop computers
- Grinding wheels
- Microsoft Outlook
- Inventory control software
- Microsoft Excel