Who works in manufacturing. programming or machining

[Scott_bob]

After 2 years community college basic machine technology courses, 1975 started working in my 1st machine shop, manuals (not to many CNC machines in those days). When CNC became more common, I knew this was my thing, jumped on board. Machining has been a good career for me, rewarding in many ways. Went back to school to study CNC programming, in those days it was APT (ugh), when there was no PC based CAD/CAM. Man, I don't miss those days...

Rather than be redundant here, let me just refer you to this thread:
Software automation, and real success in CAD/CAM

Are we havin fun yet?

[D&G]

I started out about 15 years ago as an operator. Moved on to setup, with about 2 years of gibbs programming. Right now I have moved on to Quality Control for my company, but I still get out in the shop and do some setup and programming.

[ghyman]

Started as an "errant thin feature removal specialist" (burr bench) 20 years ago;
came up through conventional lathes and mills, programming, engineering, design, ultimately mfg manager.

[zooloader]

Started learning to programme (in house) in my 3rd year of apprenticeship in '92.
4th year they let me loose on the vmc's and vertical borer.
A few other jobs over the years as programmer/operator.
Found another job later supervising a small shop with 2 lathes and 2 vmc's. After 5 years (3 more lathes, 2 more vmc's) I nearly went crazy programming everything, setting everything, running, planning, consumables etc,etc.
I have a cruisey job now with 3 Okumas and a Haas, basically to myself.
I found this site a few days ago and with some help from KIWI, I've done my first bit of 3D machining (I've never used any cam software).

[gibbsman]

I took the first year of manufacturing engineering, from there I took a year of machine shop which allowed me to take the second year of toolmaking afterwards. I have been employed at the same machine shop for the past ten years where I was fortunate to learn from some the best people I have ever met. For the past three years I have been programming CNC machines using Virtual Gibbs.

[cincron]

I started out at a company that makes the "Ridgid" brad tools about 10 years ago. I trained on some old Besley feed through grinder. I stayed there for 7 years working my way up to a Mazak Multiplex, and Palletech systems. At the end of my 5th year I was running, and program editing a Cincy Maxium 600 on a chronous cell (often called a CINCRON Cell)

Now I work for a medium sized company making Linear Motion Products. I am the Lead Machinist of 5 guys. I have 2 (soon to be 3, I hope) Citizen machines and Soon to be 3 Daewoo Machines, and A Studer ID/OD Grinder. Between all of us we Program, setup and run jobs.

[dmealer]

Hey guys,
I started out about 17 years ago on manual machines. As I progressed in the trade, I saw things swinging to the CNC side. So I convinced my boss to let me start programming. I started out on FeatureCam and have evolved at my current job to Mastercam. I program, setup and operate. I also program for some of the other guys in the shop also. I guess I have gotten spoiled, because I don't want to touch a machine anymore, that does not have a computer attached to it.

[cincron]

I guess I have gotten spoiled, because I don't want to touch a machine anymore, that does not have a computer attached to it.

I second that!!!! I dont want to touch anything that isn't cnc either!

:-)

[hpowell]

I started my apprenticeship as a fitter and turner in 1957, and have never regretted my Dad's (!) choice. Started CNC programming on a Bandit controlled Excello milling machine in 1977. I've been using Mastercam since its DOS days, version 3 if I remember rightly. That all makes me pretty old, but at least I can bask in the glory of being a guru!

[gripper]

I start back in 1975 on capstans ward 2 & 7's, I then moved on to flash memory auto's were you had to turn all the buttons to thier positions and press another button to memorise the positions. The next big thing was peg boards after a couple of years I was trained to program CNC lathes and have never looked back, but I still do alot of work on manual lathes and mills. My main job now is programming and setting 2 CNC lathes, one will have a runner and on the other I will be doing 1 off's or prototypes. This is in a subcontract company so I get lot's of veriety.

[scubanick]

started running CNC machines after i got my associates degree in machine tool technology in 2000
started playing with the programming software when boss wasn't looking
and went from there he is no longer there and i do all the programming.
surfcam 2005, solidworks 2005, autocad 2000i

[gripper]

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