thinking about a career change.

[loaks111]

hello
I was just wondering what would be the best way to go about getting into cnc and/or metal working. I've been thinking about changing for awhile. Currently I have been making stainless tube for the auto industry (about 8 years)been running tube mills for about the last 4 years. Been doing setup/ trouble shooting/ bossin' people for the last year or so.

I would kinda like to try and learn something new but have no idea were to start. Any help would be welcome.

[warrenb]

Look around the local community college. I'm sure most have night courses for manual machining. Heck, that's how I did it. Then, if you can afford it, take an entry level job at a machine shop. And study as much as you can in your free time. Study Engineering, designgin, inspection, metalurgy. Machinists just don't turn handwheels anymore.

[Geof]

Originally Posted by warrenb ..... And study as much as you can in your free time. Study Engineering, designgin, inspection, metalurgy. Machinists just don't turn handwheels anymore.

Machinists, that is proper Machinists who served full apprenticeships, never did 'just turn hand wheels'.

Also geometry, trig, arithmetic, physics, chemistry, all at around the grade 12 level.

Find a deadly boring job as a parts loader on afternoon shift and attend school during the days. Keep your eyes and ears open and observe how the machines are setup and what they do for a couple of years, maybe less. Then with some grounding you can find some place where you have the chance of moving up.

[fuzzyracing1967]

everything Geof and Warrenb said,spot on, but I would add one more thing,You must want to learn.I will take someone with no experiance and teach them anything they want to learn over the person that knows everything and refuses to learn somthing new.The first cnc I had anything to do with I just read the manual and started playing with it,took a day or two to figure what it all ment,now 30 years later I'm still learning(why do they have to change these things so damm much )