Details for Etchers and Engravers
Description
Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials for identification or decorative purposes. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.
Tasks
- Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges.
- Engrave and print patterns, designs, etchings, trademarks, or lettering onto flat or curved surfaces of a wide variety of metal, glass, plastic, or paper items, using hand tools or hand-held power tools.
- Position and clamp workpieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures.
- Determine machine settings, and move bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates.
- Examine engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving.
- Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.
- Start machines and lower cutting tools to beginning points on patterns.
- Clean and polish engraved areas.
- Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces.
- Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration.
- Observe actions of cutting tools through microscopes and adjust stylus movement to ensure accurate reproduction.
- Sandblast exposed areas of glass to cut designs in surfaces, using spray guns.
- Set reduction scales to attain specified sizes of reproduction on workpieces, and set pantograph controls for required heights, depths, and widths of cuts.
- Neutralize workpieces to remove acid, wax, or enamel, using water, solvents, brushes, or specialized machines.
- Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses.
- Prepare workpieces for etching or engraving by cutting, sanding, cleaning, polishing, or treating them with wax, acid resist, lime, etching powder, or light-sensitive enamel.
- Insert cutting tools or bits into machines and secure them with wrenches.
- Print proofs or examine designs to verify accuracy of engraving, and rework engraving as required.
- Transfer image to workpiece, using contact printer, pantograph stylus, silkscreen printing device, or stamp pad.
- Sketch, trace, or scribe layout lines and designs on workpieces, plates, dies, or rollers, using compasses, scribers, gravers, or pencils.
- Guide stylus over template, causing cutting tool to duplicate design or letters on workpiece.
- Remove completed workpieces and place them in trays.
- Carve designs and letters onto metal for transfer to other surfaces.
- Remove wax or tape from etched glassware by using a stylus or knife, or by immersing ware in hot water.
- Select and insert required templates into pattern frames beneath the stylus of a machine cutting tool or router.
- Cut outlines of impressions with gravers, and remove excess material with knives.
- Fill etched characters with opaque paste to improve readability.
- Brush or wipe acid over engraving to darken or highlight inscriptions.
- Expose workpieces to acid to develop etch patterns such as designs, lettering, or figures.
- Use computer software to design patterns for engraving.
Interests
- Realistic - Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Education, training, experience
- Education - These occupations usually require a high school diploma.
- Training - Employees in these occupations need anywhere from a few months to one year of working with experienced employees. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
- Experience - Some previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Knowledge
- Production and Processing -Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
Skills
None found.
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