The Etcher job function is to engrave or etch metal, wood, rubber, or other materials for identification or decorative purposes.
Duties:
The Etcher job function is to adjust depths and sizes of cuts by adjusting heights of worktables, or by adjusting machine-arm gauges. The Etcher engraves and prints 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. The Etcher positions and clamps work pieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures. The Etcher determines machine settings, and moves bars or levers to reproduce designs on rollers or plates. The Etcher examines engraving for quality of cut, burrs, rough spots, and irregular or incomplete engraving. The Etcher measures and computes dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved. The Etcher starts machines and lowers cutting tools to beginning points on patterns. The Etcher cleans and polish engraved areas. The Etcher examines sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photographs to decide how designs are to be etched, cut, or engraved onto work pieces. The Etcher prepares etching chemicals according to formulas, diluting acid with water to obtain solutions of specified concentration.
Knowledge:
The Etcher needs knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods. The Etcher needs knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar. The Etcher needs knowledge 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. The Etcher needs knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming. The Etcher needs knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources. The Etcher needs the knowledge of administrative and clerical procedures and systems such as word processing, managing files, and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office procedures and terminology. The Etcher needs knowledge of design techniques, tools, and principles involved in production of precision technical plans, blueprints, drawings, and models. The Etcher needs knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance. The Etcher needs knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
Skills:
The Etcher gives 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. The Etcher must be able to teach others how to perform their job function that is related to the work of an Etcher. The Etcher needs the skill to understand written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents. The Etcher needs the skill to control operations of equipment or systems that is related to the job function. The Etcher conducts tests and inspections of products, services, or processes to evaluate quality or performance. The Etcher performs routine maintenance on equipment and determining when and what kind of maintenance is needed. The Etcher needs the skill to watch gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly. The Etcher needs skill to determine causes of operating errors and deciding what to do about it. The Etcher needs the skill to select and use instructional methods and procedures appropriate for the situation when learning or teaching new things.
Abilities:
The Etcher needs the ability to keep hand and arm steady while moving the arm or while holding the arm and hand in one position. The Etcher needs the ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions. The Etcher needs the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences. The Etcher needs the ability to see details at close range within a few feet of the observer. Often the Etcher is working with detailed work items that require near vision. The Etcher needs the ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand. The Etcher needs the ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble very small objects.