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Elements and Performance Criteria

Required Skills

Required skills

critical thinking and analytical skills to select appropriate opal pieces

problemsolving skills to deal with contingencies and OHS issues

numeracy skills to use numerical features of machinery

technical skills to

facet grind and polish stones and maintain equipment

set up equipment to manufacturer specifications

Required knowledge

suitability of opal pieces for faceting

equipment and consumables required for opal faceting process

industry standards for faceting

Evidence Required

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria required skills and knowledge range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the ability to

select opal pieces suitable for faceting

use faceting equipment to produce and polish a faceted opal that conforms to industry standards

follow all OHS requirements for machinery and equipment procedures

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure access to

a faceting machine

appropriate consumables

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge The following examples are appropriate for this unit

observation of processes and procedures

oral andor written questioning on underpinning knowledge and skills

evaluation of the final product and other methods as required

review of portfolios of evidence

review of thirdparty workplace reports of onthejob performance by candidate

Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands eg literacy and the needs of particular groups eg people with disabilities and people who may have literacy or numeracy difficulties such as speakers of languages other than English remote communities and those with interrupted schooling

Guidance information for assessment

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector workplace and job role is recommended

Range Statement

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Faceting machines may include:	Facetron (USA) Gemmasta (Aus) Graves (USA) jamb peg Platform Poly-Metrics (USA) Post Raytech (USA) Ultra Tec (USA).
Machine components may include:	angle vernier (protractor) coarse and fine height adjuster coolant tank forward and reverse switch handpiece (quill) index wheel master lap radial vernier (cheater) sliding post variable speed control.
Laps’ diamond grit size may include:	coarse #80, #100, #120, #180 fine #800, #1000, #1200 medium #220, #320, #360, #400, #600 polish #14000, #50000, #10000 pre-polish #2400, #3000, #8000.
Maintenance checklist may include:	check electrics regularly for faults and water seepage cover machine when not in use keep all laps separate from each other keep whole machine clean oil and clean moving parts read manufacturer manual and keep near machine.
Opal suitable for faceting may include:	Australian clear jelly opal Australian electric blue opal contra-luz Mexican cherry opal Mexican fire opal any transparent opal.
Angles may include:	critical angle 43½º crown main 43º culet angle 44º girdle breaks, main angle plus 6º to 15º pavilion main 45º star facets, main angle minus 15º table facet 0º.