What do you think is fair pay-rate for maching $500,000+ parts??

[aaron p]

$20/hr, 25/hr, 30/hr, 35/hr?? I just got moved to a massive Integrex 650-H2 to train on these big high precision oil field parts for my company. One of these parts is a Inconnel 718 part that by itself costs about $875,000. That part assembled with all components is $2.3mil. I didnt choose to come on this machine, but lots of changes in the plant have now forced me to. Im up for the challenge, but I only make $18/hr base pay! I feel like im getting shafted hard. They owe me a raise big time from about a year ago, and never have paid up! If they dont pay up, I think im gonna stick it out for a year or so, learn Mazatrol all I can and find somebody willing to pay for a high end machinist.

[mc-motorsports]

Your worth what it costs to replace you. Learn everything you can, then if you can find someone to pay you more, tell your boss to bring his wallet to the negotiation table, worst case, you start a new job.

[aaron p]

Yeah, thats the game plan. I better see a 20% raise come next spring at minimum. I did learn how to use a independant 4 jaw 24" chuck today. 1st part we are running is 17" OD, 117.5" OAL 4140 steel. Takes 13hrs to do one side of it on just mill work. Ran a sandvik R210 2" router mill at 110IPM, 1375rpm, .150" DOC I guess I like to know what guys are making that work on these types of parts. The company is a 35,000+employee multi-billion dollar world wide company.

[Kipper]

Originally Posted by aaron p Yeah, thats the game plan. I better see a 20% raise come next spring at minimum. I did learn how to use a independant 4 jaw 24" chuck today. 1st part we are running is 17" OD, 117.5" OAL 4140 steel. Takes 13hrs to do one side of it on just mill work. Ran a sandvik R210 2" router mill at 110IPM, 1375rpm, .150" DOC I guess I like to know what guys are making that work on these types of parts. The company is a 35,000+employee multi-billion dollar world wide company.

So yesterday you didn't? Will they miss you when you're gone?

[Geof]

Originally Posted by aaron p .....I did learn how to use a independant 4 jaw 24" chuck today....

Maybe you should feel happy they pay you so well when you are still being trained; I want the $35 per hour guys teaching me stuff.

[aaron p]

I was on my own for over 3 years. They asked me to move to this machine about 3 months ago and I told them I never got a raise and would be willing to move if they paid up. Well, the economy went down the crapper, and nothing happend. They forced me onto the machine with no choice. Anyway, what are people that run these type of parts making? Obviously they arent gonna pick just anyone to learn the high dollar BIG parts.

[aaron p]

When I say "training", its not just basic CNC/machinist training, its basicly getting familiar with these high dollar parts with the 1st shift guy ill be working with.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by aaron p ..... Anyway, what are people that run these type of parts making? Obviously they arent gonna pick just anyone to learn the high dollar BIG parts.

I can't answer your question but can comment that you are correct that (most times) 'just anyone' will not be picked. But I have met enough executive and management types from big companies to know that even if you are their preferred choice that does not stop them trying to take advantage of you. Suck it up now, learn everything that you can, cross your fingers that you don't wipe out a half a mill part because that will lower your bargaining power, and in a year or so make it clear they pay up or you walk...and be ready to walk.

[aaron p]

Thats why this "training" period is super critical to me. Ive got the discipline, and attentiveness to get it done. Just need to know how they run these parts and setups and such. I wrote a ton of notes today and will continue to. Luckly, the guy thats training me is a pretty nice guy but is very strick. He even let me change some of the coolant options on the part today and I actually got a bit more life out of the inserts using threw spindle air instead of spindle coolant. Only been 1 day, but it was definatly a good day and learned a ton!

[Geof]

Don't be offended by the implication. Almost fifty years ago I was a cocky young upstart who knew my stuff and knew when to shut up and learn. One lesson I learned slower than I should have was don't 'learn' too fast; I found the old guys sometimes started to feel threatened when their protege started flexing his wings. Not all of them but enough to make life awkward sometimes with comments like; "the guys are not happy with how much bonus you are making" from the union shop steward. Have you heard the saying; ''the nail that sticks up gets hammered down'?

[aaron p]

I know whatcha mean Geof. One thing about me is that I definatly know when to shut up and when to talk. This guy is in his mid 30s, so we get along pretty good. Shared a few jokes and laughs today while I was indicating the part within .001 TIR. Im a little on the short side (5' 8"), and the chuck is fairly high. He said "Ill go get the high chair if you need it!". I started laughing and said "Its in the back of my tool box". Being with somebody that is strick, but not a a-hole is really nice. Makes me feel more relaxed and not as nervous to take big cuts.

[Geof]

Your mention about indicating reminded me of a time when I had a bit of a laugh at the foreman in a new job; fortunately he was a good guy. I was setting up a shaft in a big four jaw and was just eyeballing before putting the dial indicator on. The foreman wandered over and stood there with a smirk on his face because this was my first time doing a setup like this at this job. I stuck the mag base on the cross slide, ran the indicator in until the needle was at the zero and spun the chuck; it was within less than a thou so I turned around bowed to the foreman and said; "good enough?". He wandered off smiling but after that he never hovered over me again.