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Etchers and Engravers Occupation Detailed Description

Etchers and Engravers career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Etchers and Engravers

The main tasks and work activities of Etchers and Engravers are to set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications, engrave designs, text, or other markings onto materials, workpieces, or products, mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment, determine production equipment settings. In general, for the Etchers and Engravers, reading Comprehension, operation Monitoring, monitoring, active Listening and other 5 skills are required.
Etchers and Engravers Job Description
EducationThese occupations usually require a high school diploma.
Related ExperienceSome previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is usually needed. For example, a teller would benefit from experience working directly with the public.
Job TrainingEmployees 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.
ExampleThese occupations often involve using your knowledge and skills to help others. Examples include orderlies, counter and rental clerks, customer service representatives, security guards, upholsterers, and tellers.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Etchers and Engravers jobs. 53.86% of Etchers and Engravers have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 0.75% of Etchers and Engravers have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
32.66%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
53.86%
Post-Secondary Certificate
0.75%
Some College Courses
0.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
12.72%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
0.01%

Tasks and Work Activities of Etchers and Engravers

  • 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.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Controlling Machines and ProcessesUsing either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkDeveloping specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and EventsIdentifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical EquipmentServicing, repairing, adjusting, and testing machines, devices, moving parts, and equipment that operate primarily on the basis of mechanical (not electronic) principles.
  • Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or PeopleAssessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
  • Monitor Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsMonitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or SubordinatesProviding information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Thinking CreativelyDeveloping, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Set equipment controls to meet cutting specifications.
  • Engrave designs, text, or other markings onto materials, workpieces, or products.
  • Mount materials or workpieces onto production equipment.
  • Determine production equipment settings.
  • Inspect finishes of workpieces or finished products.
  • Calculate dimensions of workpieces, products, or equipment.
  • Measure materials to mark reference points, cutting lines, or other indicators.
  • Operate cutting equipment.
  • Mount attachments or tools onto production equipment.
  • Clean workpieces or finished products.
  • Polish materials, workpieces, or finished products.
  • Review blueprints or other instructions to determine operational methods or sequences.
  • Mix substances to create chemical solutions.
  • Monitor equipment operation to ensure that products are not flawed.
  • Apply protective or decorative finishes to workpieces or products.
  • Cut industrial materials in preparation for fabrication or processing.
  • Inspected printed materials or other images to verify quality.
  • Operate equipment to print images or bind printed images together.
  • Draw guide lines or markings on materials or workpieces using patterns or other references.
  • Remove products or workpieces from production equipment.

Skills and Abilities for Etchers and Engravers

  • Reading ComprehensionUnderstanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
  • Operation MonitoringWatching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • Quality Control AnalysisConducting tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance.
  • Operation and ControlControlling operations of equipment or systems.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Arm-Hand SteadinessThe ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
  • Control PrecisionThe ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Finger DexterityThe ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • VisualizationThe ability to imagine how something will look after it is moved around or when its parts are moved or rearranged.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Written ComprehensionThe ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
  • Category FlexibilityThe ability to generate or use different sets of rules for combining or grouping things in different ways.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Deductive ReasoningThe ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
  • Fluency of IdeasThe ability to come up with a number of ideas about a topic (the number of ideas is important, not their quality, correctness, or creativity).
  • Adjustable wrenchese.g. Adjustable wrenches
  • Applicator brushese.g. Applicator brushes
  • Metal engraving machinee.g. Automatic feeding eyelet machines
  • Bench grindere.g. Bench grinders
  • Bench visese.g. Bench vises
  • Drill press or radial drille.g. Benchtop drill presses
  • Binocular light compound microscopese.g. Binocular benchtop microscopes
  • Burnishere.g. Burnishing tools
  • Cross and straight pein hammere.g. Chasing hammers
  • Semiconductor process systemse.g. Contact printers
  • Paint systems ovense.g. Curing ovens
  • Compassese.g. Drafting compasses
  • Horizontal turning centere.g. Engraving lathes
  • Cold chiselse.g. Flat cold chisels
  • Engraverse.g. Gravers
  • Arborse.g. Hand arbors
  • Metal engraving machinee.g. Laser engraving systems
  • Magnifying lampe.g. Magnifying lamps
  • Magnifierse.g. Magnifying lenses
  • Metal engraving machinee.g. Mechanical engraving systems
  • Production and ProcessingKnowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • MechanicalKnowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.
  • DesignKnowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models.