starting class in Feb. Please HELP

[fillopianfetus]

I should be starting class in Feb. i am just wandering what i am in store for. Like what kind of math am i gonna be getting into, what can this career path lead into? the class is actually called machine tool technology, is this the first step in a good career like airplane stuff or is it just like hand held tools? very lost please enlighten.

[ALLtra Mach]

If I got this right....
You enrolled in a class, and now your on the internet asking us what the class is about?
I must be really lost here?

[fillopianfetus]

Well, yes you see i am 25 years old and really have no occupational skills except moving furniture and lets just face it that **** sucks. since i was 15 i spent most of my life incarcerated and now i am trying to make a change where better to start then with a new set of skills; besides you really cant make that great of money unless your a over the road driver, and still its not the best. i have been unemployed now for about a month and a half. so i decided id go to school to learn some trade. at first i thought hvac/refrigeration. yet there is a waiting list of 8 months.i was told i could get into the machinist class in February; i reviewed the brochure and it did interest me. i have a 13 month old son and need to think about our future as a family, so i am just trying to prepare for this class as well as see as for ahead in the career so i know what options i may have later in the field.

[fillopianfetus]

Well, yes you see i am 25 years old and really have no occupational skills except moving furniture and lets just face it that **** sucks. since i was 15 i spent most of my life incarcerated and now i am trying to make a change where better to start then with a new set of skills; besides you really cant make that great of money unless your a over the road driver, and still its not the best. i have been unemployed now for about a month and a half. so i decided id go to school to learn some trade. at first i thought hvac/refrigeration. yet there is a waiting list of 8 months.i was told i could get into the machinist class in February; i reviewed the brochure and it did interest me. i have a 13 month old son and need to think about our future as a family, so i am just trying to prepare for this class as well as see as for ahead in the career so i know what options i may have later in the field.

[ALLtra Mach]

Well you can go as far as you want to, or not far at all.
Machinist Jobs Start at "Button Pusher" positions that really needs very little education.
They get as Complicated as Process Engineering or Shop Foreman.
You really need to be Mechanically oriented, and take pride in what you do.
The rest is up to you.

Many people get into machining to "Work as little as possible and make decent money"
This is the wrong field for that, they need to go dirty up some one elses profession, LOL.

[fillopianfetus]

thats not me at all i am the type of person when i want to do something i wanna be the best at what i do or at the very least one of the best. after i am through with this class i will have had experience with lathes,mills,grinders,cnc/ram equipment, and the measurement precision tools. i will have 2 certificates: production machine op., and machine set-up op. and the diploma of machinist level 1. i know thats nothing compare to you or maybe other people of the field, i just hope that i will be more qualified after this course then to just push buttons. thats why i am on here now tryin to get advice, as well as preparation for what to expect in class as well as out. such as the types of math i should start brushing up on before hand to give me a little extra edge,and ability to worry less on the difficulty of work it'll take and concentrate more on the learning. so i am open to suggestions. also when i was speaking earlier about where the career will lead i was just wondering what all a machinist can do? like it isnt just making tools right? like what other formal training can i get later to advance further into an in depth career?

[ALLtra Mach]

Most of the time, most machinist believe Certificates aren't worth the paper they are printed on if you can't back up the knowledge it says you have.

With that said, the biggest thing I see most machinist lacking is machining theory. It is not enough to know "what works" but "why what works".

If you want to be the cream of the crop, never stop learning. Look for those seminars and classses that tool manufactures put on, subscribe to magazines - American machinist, modern machine shop, etc to not only learn your trade, but what is going on in your industry.
Know the Who, what, where,when, and why of Machining practices, tools, machines,insert etc.
Math? KNow it all, there is no such thing as to much math. (This is my weak point)
Know what Lean Manufacturing, 5s, Kaizen...not just machining theory, but shop theory.

First Assignment
Read all of CNC Zone
2nd assignment
Peter Smid - Google that and go from there.
Good luck!

[ALLtra Mach]

Where can you go;
CNC Operator, Skills vary from "Button Pusher" to part measurement, offset changes etc..
CNC Machinist, this guy knows alot more about machining than an operator, he is who most operators think they are!
Set-up Machinist - Basically a skill level up from a machinist.

Those would be where you'd start out and progress up to. A good set-up man can demand good wages and almost always has a job looking for him.

From there you would start moving into Programming, Process Engineering, Tooling Design,Shop Management.

There are also "Positions within the industry", working for Machine Tool(Thats a Machine) Manufactures. Anything from R&D to Machine Installation. You can work for Cutting Tool Manufacturers developing tooling.

In short; That little class your taking can be training for a decent trade, or it can be an introduction into an industry with no limits.

The guy I buy my Cutting tools from & The guy I buy my CAM system from not only started a machine shop, but every body who works for them started in a machine shop.

When a salesman shows up I have a drill I hand him, "What do you think of that grind?" I ask him then look him in the face....The wrong reaction here and he is done for. (The drill was split backwards when being sharpened.)

[ALLtra Mach]

Ohh, first thing I guess is..learn where to post stuff.
This is the Machinist feedback in the RFQ forum.
LOL

[cob]

what you should do is try to get your foot in any machine shop just to see how you like it , dont worry about the pay at first becuase somebody with no experience is not going to get a good wage.
but the good thing about it is that you will be getting some experince to see how parst are being made. school is very good but unless you start making parts thats when bosses are going to reconise you.
good luck

[fillopianfetus]

thanks for all the tips ALLtra Mach i will defiantly look into all that.....where should i post these little threads at though i really have no idea how to use this site yet?

[JimPAC]

[QUOTE=ALLtra Mach;555084]Where can you go;
CNC Operator, Skills vary from "Button Pusher" to part measurement, offset changes etc..
CNC Machinist, this guy knows alot more about machining than an operator, he is who most operators think they are!
Set-up Machinist - Basically a skill level up from a machinist.

Before Bill and Hillary there were legitimate apprenticeships for machinist! "A setup man is a step below" a machinist!

"REAL" machinist can estimate, design/ build tooling fixtures, plan, setup, program, inspect and make quality parts without the aid of anyone except the person supplying the tooling and material. He or she are capable of metallurgy, develop processes that best suit the requirements of any particular job.

These types of skills require several years of learning, and hopefully are mentored by "Real"
machinist. These are the budding entrepreneurs that start their own company.

By the way most "real" machinist have past away long ago!

Give it a try and learn as much as you can. If you find yourself understanding the process of what it takes to actually make "anything" You will be proud of your skill and then continue to grow your craft.

Kick ass and take names!

Jim Machinist"