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DesignISCO 7316

Glass engraver

A glass engraver is a person who cuts lettering and ornamental designs into glassware with specialist hand tools.

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Check yourself in a minute: glass engraver

Rate 5 of the 11 essential skills of this occupation (European ESCO data). No account needed.

use glass engraving tools

position engraving equipment

engrave patterns

ensure accurate engravings

use personal protection equipment

About glass engraver

The engraver sketches the lettering and the design intended for a given object, establishes how it sits on the surface, and adjusts its size to the shape of the object, such as the curved wall of a vase. The design is then translated into an engraving, which means deciding which lines go deeper and which are only to be matted.

The engraver works by hand, using glass engraving tools — wheels, diamond burrs, points — and setting the equipment up at the bench: height, angle and support for the piece. Engraving technologies are known, and the depth of a groove is matched to the type of glass.

The engraver ensures the process is correct and finishes the object: cleaning out the design, smoothing the edges of a groove and removing the marks of working. Equipment availability is looked after, meaning the state of wheels and burrs, and personal protective equipment is used, because the work happens in glass dust and beside a spinning tool. Formal requirements are set by the employer.

Key Work Functions

Core areas of responsibility for a glass engraver.

1

Design preparation and layout

  • Sketch lettering and ornamental designs onto glass surfaces
  • Transpose customer designs to glass articles accurately
  • Position engraving equipment correctly for optimal results
2

Engraving execution

  • Operate hand tools and engraving equipment with precision
  • Cut designs into glass articles using appropriate engraving technologies
  • Engrave patterns while maintaining consistent depth and clarity
3

Quality control and finishing

  • Ensure accurate engravings meet customer specifications
  • Clean and polish engraved areas for professional appearance
  • Determine and assess quality of completed engravings
4

Safety and equipment maintenance

  • Use personal protection equipment consistently throughout work
  • Maintain and ensure availability of engraving equipment
  • Handle glass safely to prevent breakage and injuries

European Skills Framework

Skills and knowledge areas required for this occupation based on European classification.

Essential (11)

engraving technologiesengraving technologiesThe characteristics of various materials and methods used to engrave something on a surface.use glass engraving toolsuse glass engraving toolsUse engraving tools which use steel, stone or copper wheels according to the kind of glass or glassware.position engraving equipmentposition engraving equipmentPosition and clamp work pieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures.engrave patternsengrave patternsEngrave and print designs and patterns onto a variety of surfaces.ensure accurate engravingsensure accurate engravingsClosely observe the actions of the mechanical cutting tools, resulting in a flawless engraving process.use personal protection equipmentuse personal protection equipmentMake use of protection equipment according to training, instruction and manuals. Inspect the equipment and use it consistently.ensure equipment availabilityensure equipment availabilityEnsure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.clean engraved areasclean engraved areasPolish and clean engraved etching areas considering the kind of material the area is made of.transpose designs to engravingstranspose designs to engravingsExamine diagrams, sketches, blueprints and samples, and calculate how they are to be engraved onto work pieces.determine quality of engravingdetermine quality of engravingQuality control of engravings and etchings; check for cuts, burns, rough spots and irregular or incomplete engraving.manipulate glassmanipulate glassManipulate the properties, shape and size of glass.
Optional (22) — show
sandcarvingsandcarvingProcess using high pressure sandblasting to carve motifs into materials such as glass, stone, wood and metal.lathe machine partslathe machine partsThe different parts of a lathe machine and their applications, such as the compound, the bed, the sadle, the cross slide, the cutting tool, the lathe dog and more.abrasive machining processesabrasive machining processesThe various machining principles and processes employing abrasives, (mineral) materials that can shape a workpiece by eroding excessive parts of it, such as grinding, honing, sanding, buffing, diamond...protect workpiece components from processingprotect workpiece components from processingCover parts from being treated with chemicals in order to protect them.inspect quality of productsinspect quality of productsUse various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.supply machine with appropriate toolssupply machine with appropriate toolsSupply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose. Monitor the stock and replenish when needed.maintain equipmentmaintain equipmentRegularly inspect and perform all required activities to maintain the equipment in functional order prior or after its use.select engraving templatesselect engraving templatesSelect, prepare and install engraving templates; operate cutting tools and routers.identify customer's needsidentify customer's needsUse appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.operate engraving equipmentoperate engraving equipmentOperate mechanical engraving tools and machines, set controls of cutting tools. Make adjustments if necessary.monitor automated machinesmonitor automated machinesContinuously check up on the automated machine's set-up and execution or make regular control rounds. If necessary, record and interpret data on the operating conditions of installations and equipment...handle etching chemicalshandle etching chemicalsBrush or smear acid over mechanic engraving tools, in order to improve the visibility of the inscriptions.supply machinesupply machineEnsure the machine is fed the necessary and adequate materials and control the placement or automatic feed and retrieval of work pieces in the machines or machine tools on the production line.consult technical resourcesconsult technical resourcesRead and interpret technical resources such as digital or paper drawings and adjustment data in order to properly set up a machine or working tool, or to assemble mechanical equipment.prepare workpieces for engravingprepare workpieces for engravingPrepare mechanical tools and workpieces for engraving by polishing their surface and bevelling the workpiece to remove sharp edges. Polishing is done using different sandpapers and sand films which ap...verify engraving accuracyverify engraving accuracyExamine design results to verify engraving accuracy, rework engraving where needed.inspect etched workinspect etched workInspect finished etchings in detail, using microscopes and magnifying lenses.keep records of work progresskeep records of work progressMaintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.set up the controller of a machineset up the controller of a machineSet up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.use abrasive wheeluse abrasive wheelUse the specific abrasive wheel or the step in the finishing process according to the type of stone or workpiece.compute engraving dimensionscompute engraving dimensionsMeasure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs and patterns to be engraved.prepare workpieces for etchingprepare workpieces for etchingPrepare mechanical tools and work pieces for etching by polishing their surface and bevelling the work piece to remove sharp edges. Polishing is done using different sandpapers and sand films which ar...

Related Occupations

Occupations that need many of the same essential skills, so the move between them is shortest.

jewellery engraver7 shared essential skillsmetal engraver6 shared essential skillsprintmaker6 shared essential skillsstone engraver4 shared essential skillsglass beveller3 shared essential skillsglass installation supervisor2 shared essential skillsglass polisher2 shared essential skills

Frequently asked questions

What does a glass engraver do?

Glass engravers engrave lettering and ornamental designs onto glass articles, using engravers hand tools. They sketch and lay out the lettering and designs on the article, cut the design in the article and finish it.

What skills does a glass engraver need?

A glass engraver needs 11 essential skills, including engraving technologies, use glass engraving tools, position engraving equipment, engrave patterns, ensure accurate engravings.

Will AI replace glass engraver jobs?

The AI disruption score for glass engraver is 36/100 (moderate risk). Skills most exposed to automation: monitor automated machines, keep records of work progress, ensure equipment availability. Most resilient: manipulate glass, handle etching chemicals, use glass engraving tools.

Quick Facts

SectorDesign
ISCO GroupHandicraft and printing workers
Essential Skills11

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