How-D Paul
Thanks for your kind comments and posting your own point of view, anything that begins talk amongst ourselves is better than silent acceptance of a trade that was once belonged to all of us. I don't always agree wholeheartedly with my own opinions either. Complex situations are seldom solved with simple answers and I certainly don't understand all of the factors involved. Your timeline means you were there at the same time I was and I respect the years you've put in.
I do feel that the word inevitable suggests (maybe semantics at work here) that fate is responsible for the decline of the trade, as though it was an unavoidable consequence. When you hit Rapid Travel without retracting the spindle enough it's also inevitable that the machine crashed. However, much like bad trade policies, this could have been avoided by paying more attention to the consequence of your actions. I think that the pattern makers who evolved still found employment, I worked with a few of them. Those that did not evolve experienced more difficult times. So evolution/change, if accepted as a natural course, could benefit those that choose to adapt with (instead of react to). I don't regard the third world workplace/wages as a natural progression, it seems more akin to some of the shameful standards and incidents of the industrial revolution. Globalization was/is a matter that was bound to happen as technology advanced. But much like the machine crash, it didn't have to end up the results we have.
I'm not a Luddite and feel that technology has been a great benefit in some areas. I haven't ground in the cutting profile on a split die bushing in a long time, wire EDM has granted me freedom from this. The VMC has also liberated me from poking all the mounting/clearance holes in the die set. Jig grinding a profile in a die section happens much quicker with the wire (although I sorta miss the old Moore...). Design and the inescapeable engineering changes happen more efficiently from technology too. No more waiting for prints to be drawn by hand or hours of calculations to arrive at a design decision. I've been using CAD for over 10 years and I find it to be a powerful and capable tool in design.
No, the thrust of my poorly worded post is aimed at those that fed off the industry we all built. The people that did the work, whether out in the shop or in the office were the ones that took the brunt of the storm. Those that were just along for the ride left the trade in pursuit of greener pastures just before the collapse of the industry. I was raised to think that you work hard to get ahead in life. I think there's quite a few that undeservedly profit from the efforts of others and that this is symptomatic of a much larger problem. I was suggesting that we could all begin to evaluate what little is still within our control in the machine tool trades and to choose our actions carefully.
I'm all in favor of outsourcing, so long as EVERYBODY's job is on the line and it's a level playing field, otherwise it's a stick used by the few to beat others into submission. I've worked with factory people from all over the world and find that we all chew the same problems most of the time. I also find that those with a sense of entitlement are similar regardless of nationality and expect disproportionate compensation.
I have to go feed horses now, I hope this message finds you all well today.
Originally Posted by Die61  Ronin,
Good post, I agree with most of your comments.
Die maker here since late 70's, owned 2 shops, freelance die designed for 12 years.
As per the dinosaur handle, & the pattern makers before us......it was inevitable!
Tool shops have searched for a means to reduce their largest expense, labour, since way before I was in the trade.
CNC's & solid modeling did it for them/us.
Unfortunately it also reduced the level of shop floor skill, & the # of die makers required to complete a given project.
I learned to build dies from pencil drawings and manual machines. As you well know that level of skill is NOT required in modern tool shops utilizing CNC milling, wire/laser cutting, etc.
My die makers earned 100K + per year back in the early 90's when we just started to implement CNC's, & as a shop we were extremely profitable (+40% net).
As you also know, tooling prices have plummeted in the past 10 years forcing the shops to find further means to reduce their costs. I know of some die shops who take full advantage of the times & out source all the machine work, only to assemble & prove the tool.
Just my .02!
Paul |