The Directorate General of Training (DGT) under Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship offers a range of vocational training courses catering to the need of different sectors of the economy/ labour market. The vocational training programs are delivered under the aegis of Directorate General of Training (DGT). Craftsman Training Scheme (CTS) with variants and Apprenticeship Training Scheme (ATS) are two pioneer programs of DGT for propagating vocational training.

Mechanic Lens/ Prism Grinding trade under CTS is delivered nationwide through network of ITIs. The course is of one year duration. It mainly consists of Domain area and Core area. The Domain area (Trade Theory & Practical) imparts professional skills and knowledge, while Core area (Workshop Calculation science, Engineering Drawing and Employability Skills) imparts requisite core skills, knowledge and life skills. After passing out the training program, the trainee is awarded National Trade Certificate (NTC) by DGT which is recognized worldwide.

Candidates need broadly to demonstrate that they are able to:

• Read & interpret technical parameters/document, plan and organize work processes, identify necessary materials and tools;
• Perform task with due consideration to safety rules, accident prevention regulations and environmental protection stipulations;
• Apply professional skill, knowledge, core skills & employability skills while performing jobs.
• Document the technical parameters related to the task undertaken.

JOB ROLE

Glass Cutter, Other; Glass Cracker; Glass Trimmer cuts glass tubes, rods, sheets or other articles to specified sizes and shapes, using hand tools or cutting machine. Lays stock of glass sheet, tubes or rods on padded surface of table, places pattern on glass article, marks out and cuts pattern with glass cutter tool; breaks away excess glass by hand or with notched tool. Stocks cut part aside for removal. May grind and smoothen edges, using belt sander.

Mirror Silverer; Silverer Mirror coats new and old mirror glass with silvering solutions. Weighs and mixes ingredients according to formula to prepare silvering solution of required consistency; places cleaned mirror glass on silvering table; covers surface of glass with silvering solution and levels glass by means of wedges so that solution may not run off; allows silvering solution to remain on glass for prescribed period, drains excess of solution from glass and washes silvered glass in distilled water; dries mirror on drying table; coats silvered surface of glass with copper solution and protective paint to protect silvering from moisture. May spray silvering solution over glass surface using spray gun.

Lens Grinder; operates grinding machine to grind surfaces of lens blanks to required curvature and thickness. Selects metal grinding disc with required dioptric curve and clamps it on spindle of machine. Places metal block with mounted lens blank in position against grinding disc. Starts machine and applies various grades of abrasives or emery paste to disc as required periodically during grinding process for surfacing the lens blank; removes block from machine after specified time and examines blanks for defects. Uses different curvature metallic discs for surfacing both sides of the lens blank in case of cylindrical or spherical lenses. May mount blanks on metal block.

Lens Polisher (Optical); sets and operates machine to polish surfaces of lens blank to high lustre. Selects and fits felt-lined polishing mould of required size and curvature on lower spindle of machine; position block on which lens blanks are mounted against polishing tool; starts machine and applies rouge or any other polishing compound to disc periodically during polishing process to polish blank to required level of lustre. Stops machine and removes block after specified time to examine blanks for defects. May operate battery of polishing machines. May operate cylindrical polishing machine

LEARNING OUTCOME

Learning outcomes are a reflection of total competencies of a trainee and assessment will be carried out as per the assessment criteria.

• 1. Plan and organize the work to make job as per specification applying different types of basic fitting operation and check for dimensional accuracy following safety precaution. [Basic fitting operation – marking, Hack-sawing, Chiseling, Filing, Drilling, Taping and Grinding etc. Accuracy: ± 0.25mm]
• 2. Produce glass mirrors from sheet glass.[Different processes- cleaning, marking, drilling, forming, grinding, sensitizing, polishing etc.
• 3. Perform different surface preparation- such as Silvering, Coppering, Painting of Glass mirrors Inspection and testing of Glasses and Glass mirrors.
• 4. Prepare furniture mirror, concave and convex mirror, dentist mirror, periscope etc.
• 5. Identify and demonstrate materials, parameters of different Lenses.
• 6. Make Lenses and Prisms. [Different operations-Curve generation, Grinding, Smoothing, Polishing & Hand Polishing, Centering & Edging, Inspection of various parameters, Cementing of lenses, Fusion Lenses , Anti reflection coatings.
• 7. Make spectacles lenses and carry out inspection & quality Control.
• 8. Make Prism & other flat surfaces. [Process-Removal from block, Cleaning, Measurement of parameters, Anti-reflection coating, Cementing (if applicable.
• 9. Surface finish on optical components by – continued Anti-reflection coatings on optics, Cementing of optical components, Silvering of Lenses and Prisms [ Processes- Manufacture of front surface & back surface mirrors, Chemical silvering on optics, Vacuum deposition of different materials on optics.]
• 10. Work with different optical instruments and devices [Telescope, Microscope, Binoculars, Periscope, Range Finder, Theodolites, Night Vision devices, Lensometer,, Auto Refractometer,, Slit refraction unit, Phoropter, Retinoscope.]
• 11. Make various spectacles, prism & magnifying glasses.