Optical glass cutter

Glass makers, cutters, grinders and finishers blow, mould, press, cut, shape, grind and polish glass, and shape molten glass according to patterns.

• heating glass to a pliable state using gas flames or furnaces and rotating it continuously for even heating;
• blowing and bending glass with special moulds to make laboratory glassware such as flasks, retorts and pipettes;
• grinding and polishing glass articles to remove defects or prepare surfaces for further finishing, and smoothing and polishing sharp edges using polishing belts or wheels;
• inspecting glass articles and finished products, and marking or removing defective items with flaws such as stains, scratches, bubbles or cracks;
• reviewing orders to determine dimensions, cutting locations and number of cuts;
• monitoring gauges, computer systems and video monitors to check processing conditions and making adjustments where necessary;
• placing templates or patterns on glass, measuring dimensions, marking cutting lines and cutting using glass-cutting tools;
• setting up, operating and adjusting computerised or robotic glass-cutting equipment;
• inspecting, weighing and measuring finished articles to verify conformity with technical specifications using micrometers, calipers, magnifiers and rules;
• regulating furnace temperatures according to the type of glass being processed;
• transferring designs for separately coloured pieces from templates using pattern paper and special glass markers;
• applying silver solutions to glass to make mirrors using spray guns;
• cutting, shaping and grinding optical and other glass of specified dimensions and weight for moulding lenses and watch glasses.
• Examples of occupations in this unit group:
• Blower, glass
• Cutter, flat glass
• Grinder, glass
• Cutter-chipper, glass
• Cutter, optical glass
• Worker, glass finishing