Need some career advice

[greenhorn]

Hello everyone!

First time on this forum. Looks like a great site.

I have a couple questions for all you experienced machinists out there.

I am getting ready to graduate with a two year degree in machine technology and CNC from a local community college next month. I have never worked in a machine shop before. My question is this: Which skills are more valuable to someone wanting to have a career in machining; manual or CNC? I really like both and in a perfect world, it would be great to find a job where I could do both, but it seems like it's pretty much one or the other.

In industry, are manual machinists more valued? Is there a general attitude that "CNC machinists are a dime a dozen?" Will there always be a need for manual machinists?

Any thoughts or comments would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[Rekd]

Manual experience is always preferred, but not manditory. The market is in CNC, but there's always a need for manual guys/gals.

A dime a dozen?

Not in my area. I can't find anyone with 2 years experience in CNC that's not already working. (if you know any in San Diego, send them my way... there's a reward if we hire someone that's referred to us)

[joe1970]

I can say from my time in the industury that the guys most sought after are the ones you are well rounded i.e. manual and cnc I have a shop in milwaukee and cnc button pushers (a guy/ gal you can make offsets and basic set-ups) are a dime a dozen a lot of shops are closing. The people who are keeping the jobs are the ones who can "do it all" Manual,grinding,cnc ,set-up and program. My advice is to get into a shop where you can gain the yraing to be "well rounded" and you will always be sought after.
Good luck

[take a cut]

my advice is imagine what career it is that you really want and find the job that will get you to that the fastest and approach the giver of that job and tell them you want that job and you will work for the experience only until you are at a point that you would an asset and ask that they would hire you. this guarentees you experience and cuts out a lot of unsatisfactory jobs getting to the right one. The trick is to reasearch both the career and the company to be sure this is what you really want and they are the type of company that will give this to you.

[strat]

add my thoughts here i am not a machinist by trade so my opinion might suck
but the guys that can do the work manually are worth far more being able to draw on a puter hit a button and let the machine do it is kinda like the jetsons over simplified ... to get a machinst that can work it all out on paper then make the part and match to tee is great i mean the industry i started in (electronics) has become very dead in many ways due to machines doing it and has made many things throw away cheaper to toss then take in and fix it seem as though we are always looking for faster easier ways to do things but look at what it brings less jobs more imports ect ect i love my cnc so don't take it wrong but knowing how to do it without just drawing and hitting a button is really a good skill and if i was hiring someone i would want it to be someone who could make it on a manual machine what would i do if the order had to be out in a few days and my cnc was down and out for a week

best of luck

[ViperTX]

Recent write up in the Wall Street Journal was about "Sweedish Machinists" being able to command high salaries. Their speciality "highly pecision tight tolerance work", I have to agree with their assessment....10 years from now...there will be alot of machinist out of work unless they have special skills and have the ability to verbalize what they do......

[miljnor]

learning both equally helps but allot of stuff doesn’t translate from one to the other. So if you have to pick. I suggest the CNC.

That being said.

I think the most important asset you can have as a person/employee/entrepreneur is always asking how can this job get done better/faster/easier (in that order, IMO) allot of employees do a good job but they never ask this question (or are afraid to ask for fear of looking stupid).

I want employees to think, I can get a 9-5 button pushing monkey at any temp agency. The thinkers are hard to come by.

just THINK before you scap!... You will be in the top 3% if you do these things! I guaranty it!

[DareBee]

Don't forget that CNC is more than just computer software. It takes good judgement to make proper setups, and how do you make jigs for your CNC if you can't operate manual machines? Some parts require high accuracy and when you are doing 1-offs you can't just try to cut dead-on size; you need to know how to sneak up on your size and run proper feeds and speeds; most of this all points back to good hands-on experience
I feel that CNC is a big part of our machining world, but being a good rounded machinist first is more important.

[jerber]

I realy think it's best to do both because manual an cnc complement each other.
I graduated as an instrument maker some 10 years ago. After that I worked as an cnc operator for 3 years and I must say that I used my manual skills/knowledge almost every day.

Another thing to consider is that a cnc operator will likely produce larger series ( > 100 ) than a manual operator. This is the main reason why I quited ( it was brain killing ) although the money was good, but money ain't everything.

And yes there always will be a need for manual machinists...
... the only problem is that you and me probably have to move to China in the near future.