Stone engraver

Stone engravers use hand tools, machines and chemical products to etch and carve patterns and inscriptions on stone surfaces.

The following job titles also refer to stone engraver:

stone carver
stone hand engraver
engraver of stone
laser engraver
stone etcher
hand carver
decorative stonemason
bespoke stone engraver

High school diploma is generally required to work as stone engraver. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Stone engraver is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to stone engraver.

glass engraver
stone polisher
stone driller
nailing machine operator
stone splitter

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of stone engraver. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of stone engraver with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

automated assembly line operator
plastic and rubber products manufacturing supervisor
pulp control operator
product development engineering technician
industrial robot controller

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of stone engraver.

Types of engraving stone: Different types of stone suitable for engraving. The appearance, cost and usual applications of each type, and their properties relevant to the engraving process.
Quality standards: The national and international requirements, specifications and guidelines to ensure that products, services and processes are of good quality and fit for purpose.
Types of engraving needles: Various types of needles used for engraving, their qualities and their applications.

These skills are necessary for the role of stone engraver.

Position engraving equipment: Position and clamp work pieces, plates, or rollers in holding fixtures.
Engrave patterns: Engrave and print designs and patterns onto a variety of surfaces.
Ensure equipment availability: Ensure that the necessary equipment is provided, ready and available for use before start of procedures.
Sketch designs on workpieces: Sketch or scribe layouts and designs on workpieces, plates, dies or rollers. Use compasses, scribers, gravers, pencils, etc.
Inspect stone surface: Inspect the surface of the stone to identify any uneven areas.
Operate engraving equipment: Operate mechanical engraving tools and machines, set controls of cutting tools. Make adjustments if necessary.
Adjust properties of cut: Adjust cut sizes and depths of cutting tools. Adjust heights of worktables and machine-arms.
Prepare workpieces for etching: Prepare 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 are applied and vary from rough to very fine ones.
Prepare workpieces for engraving: Prepare 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 are applied from rougher ones to very fine ones.
Clean engraved areas: Polish and clean engraved etching areas.
Wash stone: Wash the stone chips obtained while drilling, by using water hose.
Cool workpiece: Cool down the workpiece to keep it safe and comfortable to work with. Cooling a workpiece with water has the added benefit of removing dust and debris.
Measure materials: Measure the raw materials prior to their loading in the mixer or in machines, ensuring they conform with the specifications.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of stone engraver. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Quality and cycle time optimisation: The most optimal rotation or cycle time and over-all quality of a tool or a machine’s processes.
Engraving technologies: The characteristics of various materials and methods used to engrave something on a surface.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of stone engraver. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Inspect quality of products: Use 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 tools: Supply the machine with the necessary tools and items for a particular production purpose.
Operate forklift: Operate a forklift, a vehicle with a pronged device in front for lifting and carrying heavy loads.
Remove inadequate workpieces: Evaluate which deficient processed workpieces do not meet the set-up standard and should be removed and sort the waste according to regulations.
Troubleshoot: Identify operating problems, decide what to do about it and report accordingly.
Remove processed workpiece: Remove individual workpieces after processing, from the manufacturing machine or the machine tool. In case of a conveyor belt this involves quick, continuous movement.
Perform test run: Perform tests putting a system, machine, tool or other equipment through a series of actions under actual operating conditions in order to assess its reliability and suitability to realise its tasks, and adjust settings accordingly.
Identify customer’s needs: Use appropriate questions and active listening in order to identify customer expectations, desires and requirements according to product and services.
Maintain engraving equipment: Regular maintenance of cutting wheels and other mechanic engraving tools.
Transpose designs to engravings: Examine diagrams, sketches, blueprints and samples, and calculate how they are to be engraved onto work pieces.
Supply machine: Ensure 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 resources: Read and interpret such 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.
Report defective manufacturing materials: Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
Use painting techniques: Apply painting techniques such as ‘trompe l’oeil’, ‘faux finishing’ and aging techniques.
Program a cnc controller: Set up the desired product design in the CNC controller of the CNC machine for product manufacturing.
Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
Post-process stone workpiece: Perform operations on a sculpted or engraved stone workpiece to make it resistant to stains, discolouration, and others types of damage.
Set up the controller of a machine: Set up and give commands to a machine by dispatching the appropriate data and input into the (computer) controller corresponding with the desired processed product.
Polish stone surfaces: Polish stone using polishing tools and machines in order to obtained a smooth and lustrous product.
Determine quality of engraving: Quality control of engravings and etchings; check for cuts, burns, rough spots and irregular or incomplete engraving.
Pack stone products: Use lifting equipment to lower the heavy pieces into boxes and guide them by hand to make sure they take the right place. Wrap the pieces in a protective material. When all the pieces are in the box, secure them with separating material such as cardboard to prevent them from moving and from sliding against each other during transportation.

7113 – Stonemasons, stone cutters, splitters and carvers

References

1. Stone engraver – ESCO