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Etchers and Engravers

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

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.

Realistic

Second Interest High-Point

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

First Interest High-Point

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Two: Some Preparation Needed

Miscellaneous Production Workers

Production Occupations

Other Production Occupations

Inspect etched work for depth of etching, uniformity, and defects, using calibrated microscopes, gauges, fingers, or magnifying lenses.

Examine sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto workpieces.

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.

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.

Prepare etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration.

Use computer software to design patterns for engraving.

Expose workpieces to acid to develop etch patterns such as designs, lettering, or figures.

Adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges.

Cut outlines of impressions with gravers, and remove excess material with knives.

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.

Examine engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving.

Transfer image to workpiece, using contact printer, pantograph stylus, silkscreen printing device, or stamp pad.

Set reduction scales to attain specified sizes of reproduction on workpieces, and set pantograph controls for required heights, depths, and widths of cuts.

Observe actions of cutting tools through microscopes and adjust stylus movement to ensure accurate reproduction.

Print proofs or examine designs to verify accuracy of engraving, and rework engraving as required.

Position and clamp workpieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures.

Remove wax or tape from etched glassware by using a stylus or knife, or by immersing ware in hot water.

Guide stylus over template, causing cutting tool to duplicate design or letters on workpiece.

Start machines and lower cutting tools to beginning points on patterns.

Determine machine settings, and move bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates.

Remove completed workpieces and place them in trays.

Insert cutting tools or bits into machines and secure them with wrenches.

Sandblast exposed areas of glass to cut designs in surfaces, using spray guns.

Sketch, trace, or scribe layout lines and designs on workpieces, plates, dies, or rollers, using compasses, scribers, gravers, or pencils.

Fill etched characters with opaque paste to improve readability.

Carve designs and letters onto metal for transfer to other surfaces.

Brush or wipe acid over engraving to darken or highlight inscriptions.

Select and insert required templates into pattern frames beneath the stylus of a machine cutting tool or router.

Etchers and Engravers

Overview

Career

What Etchers and Engravers Do

Other Job Titles Etchers and Engravers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Etchers and Engravers

Overview

Career

What Etchers and Engravers Do

Other Job Titles Etchers and Engravers May Have

Tasks & Responsibilities May Include

Education

Level of Education Attained by Etchers and Engravers

Majors Related to Career

Related Careers

Related Leaders