Questions on Programmable Machines

[jynxed]

I'm a high school senior, and for a project in my Computer Integrated Manufacturing class, i would like to ask a few questions:

What college courses do you recommend to be taken?

What types of jobs/careers can you have in the field of programmable machinery?

What are some estimated average salaries from those jobs?

What kind of machinery is used in those jobs?

Thank you in advance!

[turmite]

jynxed I give you this advise from experience. Not because I have the experience but because I don't. Take anything math, computer scienceand business!!! Trust me, I have a need for all of them and just feel too old to go get it. If you are interested in anything 3d take some sort of class for that too.
Mike

[Ken_Shea]

Turmite just gave you great advice, math, math and more math and then you can call the shots.

Ken

[Mariss Freimanis]

Jinxed,

Learn what you love and follow it. Know your talent, your life's work must be something that uses it and absorbs you. It will make all the difference for the next 40 years of your life.

Your work should be something you would do even if you were not paid for it. That is what lets you know you have made the right choice.

Don't make your choice on what something will pay; many people I know have made that mistake. Their profession is a burden their entire lives because they had no love for it. They got in it for the money; it wasn't enough for what they ultimately paid in return.

Your work should be what you love; if it is, you will get up every morning for the next 40 years looking forward to what you will do that day. I know because that's what I do.

Turmite is right. If you are good (or even just tolerable) at math, take a lot of it. Don't worry if it seems disconnected or unrelated to what you are after; it WILL all gel years later. You will have it when you need it, just like a good set of tools.

I assume this is an interest of yours because you posted here. It also means you are resourceful, and being resourceful you probably are ambitious as well. Take a business minor no matter how boring. It will give you the skills to setup your business one day and it will be a marketable "extra" for an employer until you do.

That is pretty much the secret of a happy life. I practice what I preach. I run and own a reasonably succesful company. I do get up most every morning looking forward with enthusiasm what the day will bring. All in all, it doesn't get any better than that.

Mariss

[HuFlungDung]

Gosh, Mariss, them's real purdy words. I agree with you whole-heartedly.

[dherbman]

yep, math is #1. Geometry and trig are extremly helpful. I've had no formal training and have had to pick the math up the hard way. It's easy to let a program do all the math for you, but it's invaluable to understand what is going on in the program.

As far as jobs, there is a multitude of CNC machines as well as industries in which they are used. Aerospace, electronics, fabrication, machining just to name a few. Hey, I was at my dentist and he's got 3D software that models a tooth and then send it to a mini mill that creates a perfect tooth for implant. CNC is everywhere.
Positions can be in management ($50K+), operation(depending on machine, industry, location and experience, wages can be $20K-$70K.) Programmer(again depends on MILE, but usually starts around $20K). I've been in CNC since the early 80's and have worked in PCB industry and now sheet metal fabrication. I'm at the same company for ten years and am responsible for programming a laser and two punch presses in addition to other responsibilities like design and QA. I'm close to 50K now and live in the impovershed state of Oregon.

Machines: Routers, drills, mills, lasers, turrett punches, press brakes, welding robots and probably 10,000 others.

Good luck with it. It's a sometimes frustrating, often tedious, often challenging and always mathematical way to go.

[inthedark]

Math is a world wide language. Wish I would have paid more attention...

My favorite quote:

Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.
Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.
Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.
Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

Calvin Coolidge 13th Pres. of the U.S.

[Klox]

Mariss, Hu, Turmite, Ken, Inthedark & Dherbman you all smacked the nail right on the head!!!

I took all the classes needed to become an artisan but took no classes regarding bussiness management. I must say the learning curve was about vertical LOL! a lot of guys took me for a ride and i lost out on thousands of bucks!


Klox

[turmite]

Mariss speaks from experience on one side, I speak on the other.

I run a non profit business and I promise you it was not intended to be that way. Also as Klox said I have been taken for a couple of hundred thousand dollars because I didn't know how to play the game and I was way too trusting.

My next step in my business is to get a cash dribble going! It's got to dribble before it can flow!!

Mike

[Klox]

Mike,
.....the power of positive thinking! I hope that dribble will become a FLOOD! LOL!

Klox

[Gunner]

Jynxed,

I started my machining career in the late 70's. I've been involved with CNC machines since the early 80's. I've basically run the gambit from manuals to CNC's to Programming and now management. I agree with the information you have received from all above. Math is #1, all you can get. When I interview for a position or review a resume I look for schooling background. I believe that people with strong mathematical skills are better problem solvers. They have learned through their schooling to take a more structured approach handling most situations. They use "knowns" to determine "unknowns". The business courses are also a very good idea because you don't know how far you are going to go in a career. Being prepared for the "next step" is a good thing. Knowledge is a strong bargaining tool and it's something no one can ever take away from you!

Gunner

[RODMAN]

jynxed,

You have good people giving you good advice. I can only add one thing. Find something that you LOVE to do and become the best you can at it. This makes all the work that it will take seem like play and easier to do.

RODMAN