Description
Engrave designs, lettering, and logos on metal, glass, plastic, wood, and similar materials using hand tools, lasers, or mechanical engraving machines; set up work, adjust tooling, and verify accuracy and finish.
- • Position and clamp workpieces, plates, tags, or rollers in holding fixtures.
- • Adjust depths and widths of cuts by setting worktable heights and machine controls.
- • Engrave designs, patterns, trademarks, or lettering on flat or curved surfaces using hand tools, handheld power tools, laser, or CNC engraving machines.
- • Set machine parameters to reproduce designs on plates, tags, or rollers.
- • Examine engraved work for cut quality, burrs, rough spots, and incomplete detail.
- • Measure and compute dimensions of lettering, designs, or patterns to be engraved.
- • Start machines and position cutting tools at pattern starting points.
- • Clean and polish engraved areas and finished parts.
- • Review sketches, diagrams, samples, blueprints, or photos to plan methods and layouts.
- • Set reduction scales and pantograph controls for required heights, depths, and widths of cuts.
- • Prepare workpieces by cutting, sanding, cleaning, polishing, or applying transfer media.
- • Insert cutting tools or bits into machines and secure them with wrenches.
- • Run proofs or test engravings to verify accuracy; rework as required.
- • Transfer images to workpieces using contact printers, pantograph stylus, laser software, or stamp pads.
- • Sketch, trace, or scribe layout lines and designs on workpieces, plates, dies, or rollers.
- • Guide stylus over templates or operate controls to duplicate designs or letters on workpieces.
- • Remove completed workpieces and place them in trays or racks.
- • Fill engraved characters with paint, enamel, or opaque paste to improve readability.
- • Apply blackening, oxidizing, or color-fill compounds to highlight inscriptions.
- • Use computer software to design artwork and set up engraving paths or toolpaths.
- • Focus lasers and set power, speed, and frequency; adjust ventilation for safe, precise engraving.
- • Deburr, tumble, or hand-finish edges to achieve specified surface finish.
- • Maintain and clean engraving tools, bits, collets, lenses, and machine components.
- • Document job specifications, layouts, and serializations for traceability.
- • Follow safety procedures and use PPE when operating engraving equipment and handling materials.
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O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
