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Etchers and Engravers - 51-9194.00

O*NET-SOC 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.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Engraver
  • Etcher
  • Acid Etch Operator
  • Laser Engraver
  • Photo Engraver
  • Screen Making Technician
  • Computer Engraver
  • Electronic Engraver Operator
  • Mechanical Engraver Operator
  • Metals Engraver

SOC Occupation Groups

51-0000 Production Occupations
51-9000 Other Production Occupations
51-9190 Miscellaneous Production Workers
51-9194.00 Etchers and Engravers

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges.
  • Brush or smear abrasives on cutting wheels.
  • Brush or wipe acid over engraving to darken or highlight inscriptions.
  • Carve designs and letters onto metal for transfer to other surfaces.
  • Clean and polish engraved areas.
  • Cut outlines of impressions with gravers, and remove excess material with knives.
  • Determine machine settings, and move bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates.
  • 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.
  • Examine engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving.
  • Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces.
  • Expose workpieces to acid to develop etch patterns such as designs, lettering, or figures.
  • Fill etched characters with opaque paste to improve readability.
  • Guide stylus over template, causing cutting tool to duplicate design or letters on workpiece.
  • Insert cutting tools or bits into machines and secure them with wrenches.
  • Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses.
  • Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.
  • Neutralize workpieces to remove acid, wax, or enamel, using water, solvents, brushes, or specialized machines.
  • Observe actions of cutting tools through microscopes and adjust stylus movement to ensure accurate reproduction.
  • Position and clamp workpieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures.
  • Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration.
  • 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.
  • Print proofs or examine designs to verify accuracy of engraving, and rework engraving as required.
  • Reduce artwork to be used, using reduction cameras.
  • Remove completed workpieces and place them in trays.
  • Remove wax or tape from etched glassware by using a stylus or knife, or by immersing ware in hot water.
  • Sandblast exposed areas of glass to cut designs in surfaces, using spray guns.
  • Select and insert required templates into pattern frames beneath the stylus of a machine cutting tool or router.
  • Select and mount wheels and miters on lathes, and equip lathes with water to cool wheels and prevent dust when grinding glass.
  • Set reduction scales to attain specified sizes of reproduction on workpieces, and set pantograph controls for required heights, depths, and widths of cuts.
  • Sketch, trace, or scribe layout lines and designs on workpieces, plates, dies, or rollers, using compasses, scribers, gravers, or pencils.
  • Start machines and lower cutting tools to beginning points on patterns.
  • Transfer image to workpiece, using contact printer, pantograph stylus, silkscreen printing device, or stamp pad.

Detailed Work Activities

  • adjust production equipment/machinery setup
  • apply protective coating to products
  • cast metal objects
  • compute production, construction, or installation specifications
  • cut, shape, fit, or join wood or other construction materials
  • engrave variety of materials and products
  • etch or cut designs in glass, metal, or plastic
  • examine products or work to verify conformance to specifications
  • fabricate, assemble, or disassemble manufactured products by hand
  • file, sand, grind, or polish metal or plastic objects
  • hand carve objects from stone or other materials
  • install equipment or attachments on machinery or related structures
  • load or unload material or workpiece into machinery
  • maintain safe work environment
  • make independent judgment in assembly procedures
  • measure, weigh, or count products or materials
  • monitor production machinery/equipment operation to detect problems
  • monitor the quantity of assembly output
  • operate graphic reproduction equipment
  • operate metal or plastic fabricating equipment/machinery
  • perform repetitive tasks in assembly setting
  • precision cast patterns, molds, or dies
  • read technical drawings
  • read work order, instructions, formulas, or processing charts
  • sharpen metal objects
  • understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
  • use engraving techniques
  • use hand or power tools
  • use precision measuring tools or equipment

Military Crosswalk Titles

No information available.

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Engraver
  • Engraver I
  • Engraver, Block
  • Engraver, Hand, Hard Metals
  • Engraver, Hand, Soft Metals
  • Engraver, Pantograph I
  • Engraver, Picture
  • Roller Engraver, Hand
  • Siderographer
  • Sketch Maker II

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Bowling-Ball Engraver
  • Die Maker
  • Engraver
  • Engraver Apprentice, Decorative
  • Engraver I
  • Engraver II
  • Engraver, Block
  • Engraver, Hand, Hard Metals
  • Engraver, Hand, Soft Metals
  • Engraver, Machine I
  • Engraver, Machine II
  • Engraver, Pantograph I
  • Engraver, Pantograph II
  • Engraver, Picture
  • Engraver, Rubber
  • Engraver, Seals
  • Etched-Circuit Processor
  • Etcher
  • Etcher, Hand
  • Glass Calibrator
  • Glass Decorator
  • Internal Carver
  • Music Engraver
  • Optical-Glass Etcher
  • Roller Engraver, Hand
  • Siderographer
  • Silk-Screen Etcher
  • Sketch Maker II