Daily tasks/Routine activities

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

2. 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.

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

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

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

6. Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.

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

8. Clean and polish engraved areas.

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

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

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

12. Reduce artwork to be used, using reduction cameras.

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

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

15. Neutralize workpieces to remove acid, wax, or enamel, using water, solvents, brushes, or specialized machines.

Key knowledge areas

The following key knowledge areas help  an Engraver execute his duties  better.

Production and Processing — Knowledge of raw materials, production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective manufacture and distribution of goods.

English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

Customer and Personal Service — 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.

Computers and Electronics — Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

Administration and Management — 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.

Skills

The following skills aid an Engraver carry out his/her duties with ease ;.

Critical Thinking — Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Active Listening — Giving 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.

Time Management — Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Operation Monitoring — Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Speaking — Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Abilities

Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.

Control Precision — The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.

Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.

Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).

Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.