I should be starting class in Feb. i am just wandering what i am in store for. Like what kind of math am i gonna be getting into, what can this career path lead into? the class is actually called machine tool technology, is this the first step in a good career like airplane stuff or is it just like hand held tools? very lost please enlighten.

If I got this right....
You enrolled in a class, and now your on the internet asking us what the class is about?
I must be really lost here?

Well, yes you see i am 25 years old and really have no occupational skills except moving furniture and lets just face it that **** sucks. since i was 15 i spent most of my life incarcerated and now i am trying to make a change where better to start then with a new set of skills; besides you really cant make that great of money unless your a over the road driver, and still its not the best. i have been unemployed now for about a month and a half. so i decided id go to school to learn some trade. at first i thought hvac/refrigeration. yet there is a waiting list of 8 months.i was told i could get into the machinist class in February; i reviewed the brochure and it did interest me. i have a 13 month old son and need to think about our future as a family, so i am just trying to prepare for this class as well as see as for ahead in the career so i know what options i may have later in the field.

Well, yes you see i am 25 years old and really have no occupational skills except moving furniture and lets just face it that **** sucks. since i was 15 i spent most of my life incarcerated and now i am trying to make a change where better to start then with a new set of skills; besides you really cant make that great of money unless your a over the road driver, and still its not the best. i have been unemployed now for about a month and a half. so i decided id go to school to learn some trade. at first i thought hvac/refrigeration. yet there is a waiting list of 8 months.i was told i could get into the machinist class in February; i reviewed the brochure and it did interest me. i have a 13 month old son and need to think about our future as a family, so i am just trying to prepare for this class as well as see as for ahead in the career so i know what options i may have later in the field.

Well you can go as far as you want to, or not far at all.
Machinist Jobs Start at "Button Pusher" positions that really needs very little education.
They get as Complicated as Process Engineering or Shop Foreman.
You really need to be Mechanically oriented, and take pride in what you do.
The rest is up to you.

Many people get into machining to "Work as little as possible and make decent money"
This is the wrong field for that, they need to go dirty up some one elses profession, LOL.

thats not me at all i am the type of person when i want to do something i wanna be the best at what i do or at the very least one of the best. after i am through with this class i will have had experience with lathes,mills,grinders,cnc/ram equipment, and the measurement precision tools. i will have 2 certificates: production machine op., and machine set-up op. and the diploma of machinist level 1. i know thats nothing compare to you or maybe other people of the field, i just hope that i will be more qualified after this course then to just push buttons. thats why i am on here now tryin to get advice, as well as preparation for what to expect in class as well as out. such as the types of math i should start brushing up on before hand to give me a little extra edge,and ability to worry less on the difficulty of work it'll take and concentrate more on the learning. so i am open to suggestions. also when i was speaking earlier about where the career will lead i was just wondering what all a machinist can do? like it isnt just making tools right? like what other formal training can i get later to advance further into an in depth career?

Most of the time, most machinist believe Certificates aren't worth the paper they are printed on if you can't back up the knowledge it says you have.

With that said, the biggest thing I see most machinist lacking is machining theory. It is not enough to know "what works" but "why what works".

If you want to be the cream of the crop, never stop learning. Look for those seminars and classses that tool manufactures put on, subscribe to magazines - American machinist, modern machine shop, etc to not only learn your trade, but what is going on in your industry.
Know the Who, what, where,when, and why of Machining practices, tools, machines,insert etc.
Math? KNow it all, there is no such thing as to much math. (This is my weak point)
Know what Lean Manufacturing, 5s, Kaizen...not just machining theory, but shop theory.

First Assignment
Read all of CNC Zone
2nd assignment
Peter Smid - Google that and go from there.
Good luck!

Where can you go;
CNC Operator, Skills vary from "Button Pusher" to part measurement, offset changes etc..
CNC Machinist, this guy knows alot more about machining than an operator, he is who most operators think they are!
Set-up Machinist - Basically a skill level up from a machinist.

Those would be where you'd start out and progress up to. A good set-up man can demand good wages and almost always has a job looking for him.

From there you would start moving into Programming, Process Engineering, Tooling Design,Shop Management.

There are also "Positions within the industry", working for Machine Tool(Thats a Machine) Manufactures. Anything from R&D to Machine Installation. You can work for Cutting Tool Manufacturers developing tooling.

In short; That little class your taking can be training for a decent trade, or it can be an introduction into an industry with no limits.

The guy I buy my Cutting tools from & The guy I buy my CAM system from not only started a machine shop, but every body who works for them started in a machine shop.

When a salesman shows up I have a drill I hand him, "What do you think of that grind?" I ask him then look him in the face....The wrong reaction here and he is done for. (The drill was split backwards when being sharpened.)

Ohh, first thing I guess is..learn where to post stuff.
This is the Machinist feedback in the RFQ forum.
LOL

what you should do is try to get your foot in any machine shop just to see how you like it , dont worry about the pay at first becuase somebody with no experience is not going to get a good wage.
but the good thing about it is that you will be getting some experince to see how parst are being made. school is very good but unless you start making parts thats when bosses are going to reconise you.
good luck

thanks for all the tips ALLtra Mach i will defiantly look into all that.....where should i post these little threads at though i really have no idea how to use this site yet?

[QUOTE=ALLtra Mach;555084]Where can you go;
CNC Operator, Skills vary from "Button Pusher" to part measurement, offset changes etc..
CNC Machinist, this guy knows alot more about machining than an operator, he is who most operators think they are!
Set-up Machinist - Basically a skill level up from a machinist.

Before Bill and Hillary there were legitimate apprenticeships for machinist! "A setup man is a step below" a machinist!

"REAL" machinist can estimate, design/ build tooling fixtures, plan, setup, program, inspect and make quality parts without the aid of anyone except the person supplying the tooling and material. He or she are capable of metallurgy, develop processes that best suit the requirements of any particular job.

These types of skills require several years of learning, and hopefully are mentored by "Real"
machinist. These are the budding entrepreneurs that start their own company.

By the way most "real" machinist have past away long ago!

Give it a try and learn as much as you can. If you find yourself understanding the process of what it takes to actually make "anything" You will be proud of your skill and then continue to grow your craft.

Kick ass and take names!

Jim Machinist"

OK,
Well I would say general machining discussion.
And Jim,
Machinist is a general term, I would guess the "Real" machinist you are refering to would be a "Master Machinist", but our trade rarely developes into that any more, as there are too many shortcuts to getting the same, or better results with actually having less knowledge.
But don't ever believe because it's not the "old ways" it's not the "good ways"!

OK,
Well I would say general machining discussion.
And Jim,
Machinist is a general term, I would guess the "Real" machinist you are refering to would be a "Master Machinist", but our trade rarely developes into that any more, as there are too many shortcuts to getting the same, or better results with actually having less knowledge.
But don't ever believe because it's not the "old ways" it's not the "good ways"!

ALLtra My intent was not meant to disqualify your opinion! I can only offer my own, of which has evolved from three generations of machinists and business ownership. I am originally from north Texas and now in Wichita KS. My consulting Co, performed a comprehensive study of 384 manufacturers throughout the Midwest in 2001. We emphasized the requirements and needs for skilled labor in particular Machinist.

I can tell you that the requirements are as varied as the weather! You are correct when you say the machinist trade rarely develops the level of skill required to be a General Machinist. However there are exceptions to that statement. Today's shop sees two types of management structures, one has "centralized skill" at the programmer or setup-person level and above, and relatively unskilled labor at the machines. The other extreme involves shop-floor expertise, where "the operators possess more advanced machinists skills and know the intimate details involved in the machine." Both management structures work, but either way needs investment. The centralized-skill model requires capital investment in automation while the latter takes more training and personnel investment.

Machining operations that produce a product or large lot sizes can do well with the "operator" skill level, while a job shop environment with short runs and varying part configurations / material types can profit best by retaining / training machinists skill levels.

Over thirty years of practicing lean efficiencies have enabled me to provide the total package of work place management that matches employees' needs while also meeting product quality and delivery. I posses a unique ability to apply lean processes, while developing the best model to account for modern technology and lean-manufacturing principles, requiring the least amount of cost and investment. My permissive management style fosters integrity and pride while maintaining respect and discipline throughout the organization.

I can assess a shops efficiency / deficiencies in a afternoon! Its what I do! Anyone needing such support let me know!

Learn something new every day!

Jim Salter

well so far class is going well i am really starting to like it. i rarely have time at night what with my son and trying to study to get on here and chat. as of now i can indicate on the mill, i have learned to indicate the three prong chuck on the mill, and i really hate the 4 pronged chuck, i am having great difficulties i will have the face indicated then when i go to the diameter i throw off the face so i bounce back and forth making little leaway till i finally thro it all off and get pissed off i was on the 4 chuck for like an hour and a half and was still off about .020 so i will ponder it over the weekend and hopefully get it right monday. thanks for all the advice yall and i look forward to talking with ya soon

well so far class is going well i am really starting to like it. i rarely have time at night what with my son and trying to study to get on here and chat. as of now i can indicate on the mill, i have learned to indicate the three prong chuck on the mill, and i really hate the 4 pronged chuck, i am having great difficulties i will have the face indicated then when i go to the diameter i throw off the face so i bounce back and forth making little leaway till i finally thro it all off and get pissed off i was on the 4 chuck for like an hour and a half and was still off about .020 so i will ponder it over the weekend and hopefully get it right monday. thanks for all the advice yall and i look forward to talking with ya soon


OK your indicating "LATHE" chucks not MILL! Those old pesky 4 jaw chucks are a pain!
A simple way is to divide the amount your off by 4. Start with two opposing jaws and work your way around! Indicate the stock your using to chuck on as close to the jaws as you can! This is a hard learning step for a lot of newbie's!

You will have to master indicating before you go to the next step.

Lets keep track of this thread and help this budding machinist succeed!!!


ALL within .0002 please

Jim

thanks for all the tips ALLtra Mach i will defiantly look into all that.....where should i post these little threads at though i really have no idea how to use this site yet?

Your Fine right here!

Keep posting on this thread and ask questions and "WE" will help you solve your problems!

Jim

okay so i have successfully indicated the 4 jaw chuck and i am now on my first lathe project which really suprises me because not only is it my first lathe project it is my very first project the teacher usually starts people off on the drill gauge project. the project is just practice and will not be graded only to get used to how the machine operates which i am very grateful for because i ****ed up a couple times. see the teach doesnt have all the time to just help one student so he also depends n student interaction with one another. and of course they showed me the basics. not u can read the dial(which of course i didnt even realize were there just figured the handle to control the x and y axis)
of course that isnt the only reason i ****ed up yet it played a big part. the good thing is i am now alot better on it because this first project actually converts into a 4 project peice..still practice of course. well thats whats goin on with me other then bookwork... the bookwork i am excellent at thus far all a's and b's anyways will be back reporting more progress soon

What brand and size lathe are you running?

There is no X axis on a engine lathe, Cross Feed (PART OFF, FACING ETC.) and Saddle (Turning, Threading ETC.) = Z Axis.

Ask for the manual and if there is one asked to take it home and study it. Learn as much as you can about every machine you run!

Your name sucks with a name like that I'll call you JEFROTUS ~~~ Please change it ~~~ you'll get much more respect!!

Keep Going

Jim

Ahha... The machinst is one which is underpaid....

I was told to me, that a TRUE machinst needs to know how to manufacture any material in any process to efficeintly and cost effectively finish a job. It was also said that a TRUE machinst needs to know more than a doctor.

I can't honesty say that I can effiecently run any material through any process. If I could, I wouldn't be here asking questions. I honestly don't know anyone who can. We all sepecialize in a few processes of a few materials when you look at the big picture.

But I can honestly say, that you will get paid what your worth to replace you in this trade. And should you seek self employment after a certian amount of experience and or knowledge, you can make more, but your going to work for it.

Love it or leave it. If it's riches you seek, look elsewhere. If you want a job which requires constant learning and a never ending challenge, manufacturing is a good place to be.

And please don't fall into the "I'm so much smarter than everyone else, including my boss and all of my co-workers and I know everything and I'm surrounded by idiots" crap that you'll read here by some falsely inflated ego's via a keyboard. Problem is, if they were so smart and so good, they would work for themselves and then they would figure out how much they know.

Your taking the right steps, which should prove character and intergirty to an employer. But this is a hard field to make money in, and please understand that you're only worth what it takes to replace you and the more you know, the more your worth.

Good luck to you!

earlier when i said i can indicate on the mill i really just meant indicating the vice on the mill...fairly easy anyone can learn. i think its a brigeport tormax 13-5 lathe. starting tomorrow i will be doin a graded project...threading. nope your right i did say mill, just a typo in the brain i did mean lathe, and as i just mentioned i can indicate the vice on the mill. i do appreciate all the advice and feedback from everyone. no offense to anyone if i do not take your advice...such as the screen name thing i will not be changing it, i love the name it has meaning. dont think i will ever fall in the i am so much smarter than "everyone else" i do love to learn so will therefor always be looking for new ways to do things, yet i may just be ecclectic adding my own variations...who knows