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Etchers and Engravers - 51-9194.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials. Includes such workers as etcher-circuit processors, pantograph engravers, and silk screen etchers.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

Acid Etch Operator
Award Machine Operator
Chemical Engraver
Electronic Engraver
Engraver

Etcher
Laser Engraver
Photo Engraver
Screen Making Technician
Wet Process Technician

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

51-4033.00	Grinding, Lapping, Polishing, and Buffing Machine Tool Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4035.00	Milling and Planing Machine Setters, Operators, and Tenders, Metal and Plastic
51-4062.00	Patternmakers, Metal and Plastic
51-4111.00	Tool and Die Makers
51-5111.00	Prepress Technicians and Workers
51-9022.00	Grinding and Polishing Workers, Hand
51-9071.00	Jewelers and Precious Stone and Metal Workers
51-9123.00	Painting, Coating, and Decorating Workers
51-9195.00	Molders, Shapers, and Casters, Except Metal and Plastic
51-9195.03	Stone Cutters and Carvers, Manufacturing

Tasks

Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges.
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.
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.
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.
Use computer software to design patterns for engraving.

Detailed Work Activities

Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products.
Calculate dimensions of workpieces, products, or equipment.
Clean workpieces or finished products.
Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
Design templates or patterns.
Determine production equipment settings.
Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
Engrave designs, text, or other markings onto materials, workpieces, or products.
Fill cracks, imperfections, or holes in products or workpieces.
Immerse objects or workpieces in cleaning or coating solutions.
Inspect finishes of workpieces or finished products.
Inspected printed materials or other images to verify quality.
Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators.
Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed.
Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
Operate cutting equipment.
Operate equipment to print images or bind printed images together.
Polish materials, workpieces, or finished products.
Position patterns on equipment, materials, or workpieces.
Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.
Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
Select production equipment according to product specifications.
Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.
Trim excess material from workpieces.