Los Angeles Machine shop class starting

[the4thseal]

More changing times... There is a possiblility Venice High will be getting a grant to upgrade the shop and start offering day classes to the high-school students. That is great, as the community shop won't hold out forever as the only use for the space. On the downside: a current plan being passed around is to get rid of all the manual equipment, replace it with a few CNC machines, and turn half the shop space into classroom. I hope the students pick up some valuable skills in this CNC based theoretical machine-shop, but it will probably mean the end of the community shop with it's 10 beat up lathes, 5 milling machines & all the other welding/foundry/sheet-metal equipment.

usual bunch of bad ideas

[xx123jxx]

Hey all,

I've been wanting to take a machine shop class and haven't had the chance to until now. I really have no experience working with metal, I consider myself pretty good at wood, and am wondering if this would be for me?

I have a lot of ideas and projects I've always wanted to build but didn't have the exp or ability to so I'm hoping this is the place I can start learning and working.

[the4thseal]

come on in...after christmas break.....jan 4th ask for todd

[the4thseal]

class starts on the 11th sorry.

[cncprofessor]

Are there any m/s programs still around in California H.S.?

[the4thseal]

that is a long a disgusting conversation.we are working on it.

[budavita]

The next term for the Venice Community Machine Shop begins March 8 - June 25.

It meets Monday and Wednesday nights from 6:00 - 9:15.

The cost is $57. A great deal for anyone in the Venice / Santa Monica / West Los Angeles areas.

This is a hobby-shop, as much a club as a class, with basic machine training for beginners. After the basics it's pretty self motivated, with beginners asking the advanced for help when needed.

To sign up, go into the VCAS office before class and pay your dues. Sometimes enrollment is cut off when the class fills up, so your best bet is to get in this week or next.

http://venicemachine.com/

[jshugs]

Hello, I am new to this forum and was wondering if anyone can help me. I have been trying to sign up for the Venice shop in the fall '11 and whenever I call, they say that they aren't sure if the venice shop is going to be open or not. Does anyone know about this, something to do with renovation? Also, I was looking at Machine Tool Technology 105abcd at El Camino instead, if the Venice shop isn't open. I have some machining experience in college and I am an engineer. Does anyone know if that class is difficult if you haven't taken the prereq?

thanks!
-Jon

[the4thseal]

I am an ME and have been going to it for over 10 years. the issues with the renovation are hit and miss. have to wait and see.a friend that took the class you are thinking of and liked it but it is a class and your own projects are not the way they do things. it is a good class though. i will post when i know about the class.

[budavita]

This reply to the question about the 105 vs 101 Machinist class at El Camino is a little late, but maybe it will help you out for the Spring.

It is possible to skip the beginning class and take the Advanced Milling MTT-105 right off the bat.... but the 105 will probably end up seeming more like a beginning class since you'll need to review the basics. In 101 they get you working on simple projects that refresh skills, but it also covers things you probably never did or don't remember. A good way to see if you have the basics down is to recite the Cutting Speed and Feed formulas... (right now and without looking them up). If you can't (and most "experienced" machinists coming into the program can't) then maybe reviewing the basics wouldn't be a bad thing. You'll need to know these things if you ever get into CNC programming. (You can't wing CNC by the sound and feel of the machine once the green button is pushed!)

Did you look up the Cutting Speed & Feed Formulas? They don't seem so hard. You could memorize them... but that's just one example. What about all the other basics you forgot or never learned?

On a second note... The4thSeal is partly right and partly wrong about working on your own projects at El Camino. It is a more structured program than the Venice shop. There is an hour or so of lecture each class. When you don't know anything they want you to work on school projects. Once you know how to do things they let you bring in your own projects, though they still want you to do some of their stuff when they are teaching new skills. If you know what you are doing these projects will take up about 1/4 of the lab time. Also, if you are taking one lab class they let you come in during other classes to work on your own stuff.

I'm just going to cut this short. I hope the Venice shop opens again soon, but the administration has been trying to turn it into storage or extra classroom space for years. Let's hope for the best.

VCAS Venice Machine Shop Class
El Camino College Engineering Lab

[dchang0]

Keep us informed as to when the Venice shop opens up again--this class is perfect for me. I'll drive up from Orange County (a 1.5hr drive each way, in traffic) just to participate in the class.

I've no need for expensive degree programs that prep students for employment, as machining will just be a hobby, and most important, as an apartment dweller I'll need access to the machines to work on my own projects during the course. Thanks very much!

P.S., if anyone knows of a similar program in Orange County, please let us know. I've looked at the various OC offerings (Fullerton, Cerritos, Santa Ana), and all the ones I've found so far are lengthy degree programs that do not let you work on your own projects.

[atypicalguy]

What's the latest status on the Venice shop? Thanks.