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…
- Ophthalmic Laboratory Technicians
- Surfacing Technician
- Polisher
- Optical Technician
- Optical Lab Technician (Optical Laboratory Technician)
- Line Operator
- Lens Grinder and Polisher
- Lab Technician (Laboratory Technician)
- Grinder
- Finishing Lab Technician
- Edger Technician
- Test Technician
- Surfacer
- Surface Room Shop Optician
- Surface Grinder
- Spotter
- Spectacle Truer
- Prism Measurer
- Prescription Eyeglass Maker
- Precision Optical Goods Worker
- Precision Lens Polisher
- Precision Lens Grinder
- Precision Lens Generator
- Precision Lens Centerer and Edger
- Optical Worker
- Optical Laboratory Mechanic
- Optical Instrument Assembler
- Optical Goods Drilling Machine Operator
- Optical Goods Drill Operator
- Optical Element Coater
- Optical Coating Technician
- Ophthalmic Technician
- Lens Silverer
- Lens Shaper Grinder
- Lens Polisher
- Lens Mounter
- Lens Mold Setter
- Lens Maker
- Lens Grinder
- Lens Generator
- Lens Finisher
- Lens Fabricating Machine Tender
- Lens Edger
- Lens Dotter
- Lens Cutter
- Lens Coating Technician
- Lens Cementer
- Layout Technician
- Laboratory Operations Coordinator (Lab Operations Coordinator)
- Laboratory Monitor (Lab Monitor)
- Hospital Laboratory Technician (Hospital Lab Technician)
- Hand Lens Polisher
- Hand Glass Cutter
- Glass Silverer
- Glass Frame Fitter
- Glass Cutter
- Eyeglass Maker
- Eyeglass Lens Cutter
- Eyeglass Cutter
- Eyeglass Assembler
- Edge Grinder
- Driller
- Dotter
- Diamond Grinder
- Cylinder Worker
- Cylinder Grinder
- Contact Lens Technician
- Contact Lens Manufacturer
- Contact Lens Lathe Operator
- Contact Lens Cutter
- Contact Lens Blocker and Cutter
- Contact Lens Blocker
- Beveler
- Bevel Polisher
- Benchroom Shop Optician
- Bench Hand
- Artificial Plastic Eye Maker
- Artificial Glass Eye Maker
Tasks for “Optical Mechanic”
- Position and adjust cutting tools to specified curvature, dimensions, and depth of cut.
- Set dials and start machines to polish lenses or hold lenses against rotating wheels to polish them manually.
- Control equipment that coats lenses to alter their reflective qualities.
- Inspect, weigh, and measure mounted or unmounted lenses after completion to verify alignment and conformance to specifications, using precision instruments.
- Clean finished lenses and eyeglasses, using cloths and solvents.
- Assemble eyeglass frames and attach shields, nose pads, and temple pieces, using pliers, screwdrivers, and drills.
- 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.
- Remove lenses from molds and separate lenses in containers for further processing or storage.
- Inspect lens blanks to detect flaws, verify smoothness of surface, and ensure thickness of coating on lenses.
- Immerse eyeglass frames in solutions to harden, soften, or dye frames.
- Set up machines to polish, bevel, edge, or grind lenses, flats, blanks, or other precision optical elements.
- Mount, secure, and align finished lenses in frames or optical assemblies, using precision hand tools.
- Select lens blanks, molds, tools, and polishing or grinding wheels, according to production specifications.
- Mount and secure lens blanks or optical lenses in holding tools or chucks of cutting, polishing, grinding, or coating machines.
- Adjust lenses and frames to correct alignment.
- Repair broken parts, using precision hand tools and soldering irons.
- Shape lenses appropriately so that they can be inserted into frames.
Related Technology & Tools
- Lens thickness calipers
- Lens coating machines
- Riveting hammers
- Wheel cutters
- Ultrasonic cleaners
- Snipe nose pliers
- Optical chain nose pliers
- Frame shaping pliers
- Handheld tonometers
- pH testers
- Visual field testers
- Specular microscopes
- Optical slit lamps
- Argon lasers
- Pad removing tweezers
- Spectrophotometers
- Ball cutters
- Exophthalometers
- Drill presses
- Pachymeters
- Diagnostic retinoscopes
- Lens tinting equipment
- Cutting pliers
- Soldering irons
- Rimless scribe tools
- Stereopsis testers
- Frame adjusting pliers
- Lens cutting machines
- Nut wrenches
- Mini screwdrivers
- Prescription lens aligners
- Self-closing tweezers
- Hex nut wrenches
- Optical tweezers
- Angling pliers
- Deblocking pliers
- Corneal topographers
- Lens polishing machines
- Neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet Nd:YAG lasers
- Soldering torches
- Tapered eyewire closure pliers
- Phillips screwdrivers
- Mini power drills
- Lab snips
- Pupillary distance rulers
- Optical prisms
- Trial lens sets
- Soldering clamps
- Potential acuity meters PAM
- Flathead screwdrivers
- 3-way screwdrivers
- Lens sizing pliers
- Phoropters
- Flat nose pliers
- Side cutting pliers
- Carbon dioxide CO2 lasers
- Bent post pliers
- Bench polishers
- Chipping pliers
- Retinal cameras
- Screw extracting pliers
- Screw grippers
- Lensometers
- Keratometers
- Lens grinding machines
- Nylon-brass mallets
- Rimless assembly measuring tools
- Pupilometers
- Lens groovers
- Electric soldering kits
- Finger-piece pliers
- Zylonite files
- Edge polishers
- Sagitta gauges
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Electronic medical record EMR software
- Eyeglass design software
- Microsoft PowerPoint