Finding a Haas programmer/operator in Seattle, Easy or Hard?

[Chriseg1]

A friend is looking to purchase a nicely loaded VF-1 for his custom sensor business, but is concerned about finding a programmer operator. This would be his first CNC, though he does has a number of automated robotic assembly systems, and PCB propagator systems. Nether of us have ever had to find someone for this, does anyone here have experience with the hiring market in the Seattle area?

Thank you.

[glovebox20]

I have searced for CNC Mill programer's in MN and found that it was no easy task. MN has a website where you can post MN jobs on and out of 20 resume, only 5 replied and only one seemed to know what he was doing. Make sure you give them a some kind of a test to see if they relly know what they are doing.
A simple Drill tap program with some profile milling will thin out the week ones quickly.

Check with the colleges in your area. I found that someone with the aptitude for his profession can be just as good as someone with "years" of experience.

[-Chris-]

Hi,
Well being from Seattle but now live in North Idaho. I program setup and run two VF-4 daily for many years now. I do keep track of job opportunity's in the Seattle area via craigslist and the Washington unemployment site it seems that there is always a bunch of machinist/programmers jobs open there.As is the case all over, there is a general shortage of skilled people around for the machine trades.
If you are in the ballpark with pay and benifits for the area you should find someone as it seems that disgrunteld machinists learned a long time ago to put wheels on there kennedys -Chris-

[gizmo_454]

Hi,
... it seems that disgrunteld machinists learned a long time ago to put wheels on there kennedys -Chris-

So that is what those are there for. Hmmmm......

Mike

[SC300DRIFTER]

Haas's are one of the easiest controls to use in my opinion. How many different styles of parts will you be manufacturing, what type of material are you using, etc...
Tere are plenty of CNC machinist in the NW, depending on the job requirements it might not take much to get the Haas up and running. I suggest Craigslist as mentioned before, lots of job listings on there for CNC work.

[tmcallister74]

If you are in the ballpark with pay and benifits for the area you should find someone as it seems that disgrunteld machinists learned a long time ago to put wheels on there kennedys -Chris-

LMAO... Thanks I needed that.