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”
- Teach pottery classes.
- Mix and apply glazes, and load glazed pieces into kilns for firing.
- 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.
- Raise and shape clay into wares such as vases and pitchers, on revolving wheels, using hands, fingers, and thumbs.
- 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.
- Pull wires through bases of articles and wheels to separate finished pieces.
- Adjust pressures, temperatures, and trimming tool settings as required.
- 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 pug mills to blend and extrude clay.
- Smooth surfaces of finished pieces, using rubber scrapers and wet sponges.
- Operate drying chambers to dry or finish molded ceramic ware.
- Move pieces from wheels so that they can dry.
- Perform test-fires of pottery to determine how to achieve specific colors and textures.
- Examine finished ware for defects and measure dimensions, using rule and thickness gauge.
- Design clay forms and molds, and decorations for forms.
- Maintain supplies of tools, equipment, and materials, and order additional supplies as needed.
- 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.
Related Technology & Tools
- Dust masks
- Hole cutters
- Oxyprobes
- Banding wheels
- Carving tools
- Pottery molds
- Personal computers
- Pyrometers
- Laptop computers
- Carving spatulas
- Lace tools
- Grinding wheels
- Triple beam balances
- Hake brushes
- Air cleaners
- Air compressors
- Scoring tools
- Spray booths
- Tile cutters
- Digital scales
- Dipping tongs
- Layout templates
- Clay presses
- Insulated gloves
- Cleanup tools
- Ball mills
- Conveyor feeding systems
- Drying ovens
- Clay extruders
- Raku tongs
- Kiln gloves
- Texturing brushes
- Precision rulers
- Spring scales
- Ceramics kilns
- Slip trail applicators
- Clay mixers
- Gas kilns
- Pug mills
- Mold trimming knives
- Fettling knives
- Dial calipers
- Kiln glasses
- Kick wheels
- Safety glasses
- Slab rollers
- Thickness gauges
- Clay cutters
- Handheld sprayers
- Portable pottery wheels
- Electric kilns
- Pottery wheels
- Microsoft Excel
- Inventory control software
- Microsoft Outlook