Will “Optical Mechanic” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

97% Chance of Automation

“Optical Mechanic” will almost certainly be replaced by robots.

This job is ranked #656 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.

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Job Description

Cut, grind, and polish eyeglasses, contact lenses, or other precision optical elements. Assemble and mount lenses into frames or process other optical elements. Includes precision lens polishers or grinders, centerer-edgers, and lens mounters.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 51-9083.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 34,220.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 16.00
Currently, there are 28,570 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Optical Mechanic”

Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.
Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.
Lay out lenses and trace lens outlines on glass, using templates.
Examine prescriptions, work orders, or broken or used eyeglasses to determine specifications for lenses, contact lenses, or other optical elements.
Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.
Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.
Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.

Related Technology & Tools

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Exophthalometers
3-way screwdrivers
Screw grippers
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Stereopsis testers
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Drill presses
Trial lens sets
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Lensometers
Phillips screwdrivers
Specular microscopes
Self-closing tweezers
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Soldering torches
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Lens tinting equipment
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Optical slit lamps
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Optical tweezers
Deblocking pliers
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Screw extracting pliers
Lab snips
Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet Nd:YAG lasers
Argon lasers
Spectrophotometers
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Lens groovers
Potential acuity meters PAM
pH testers
Soldering clamps
Rimless scribe tools

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