Folks Of Interest Machinist's on the HAMB??

I hate to say it but Unkl Ian is correct and I know this first hand! Its a rewarding field and you learn daily on some jobs. I bounced between Moldmaking , Die maker and Model maker in the shop all had good and bad things. I don't think its a bad job but a bad place to be in a job market. The Chicagoland area has some opening but in bad fields or very low wages. Just in our area dozens of companys have gone under and or moved to over seas. I'll quote the Fire inspector " all we have left is building with forklifts fill with overseas junk. what happened to our manufacturing?? it's a sin!"
It's a great trade to learn but low pay , NO job security and with our big corporations force feeding free trade ?!

 

These are a few of my favorite things.

 

I own a manufacturing business in Beaumont. We are hurting in this area for machinist. The local trade school has very few students and is threatening to shut down the machine shop course. The local plants will pay good money to the graduates of the class and train them. Wages have continued to rise due to the work in the plants and oil related industries. We have both manual and CNC machines. Someone that can program, setup, and run CNC machines should not have a problem finding a good job. I would imagine the job market in Corpus Christi is similiar to Beaumont.

 

Started as a tool maker/ mold maker when i was 13.. manual machining as i know squat about the cnc shit. I have moved up ? into machine repair , building , and programming and mostly its bull shit repair wiring of new machines and then i program them.. Im a self trained plc programmer but in the last few years ive had real traning for programming Allen Bradley PLC's.. I told my dad years ago when he sold his mold shop and i got a chance to start a new job as a machine builder tool maker that id never work on another plastic mold again and i havent.. Didnt piss dad off cause being in the mold business he knew what it was.. Think about PLC programming its getting to be a big thing and just like every job out there it has good days and bad...
Dave

 

I have worked in a toolroom for a stamping company and it was extremely boring. I am currently trying to find something along the lines of machine builder. That way you get to do a variety of work. I am 19 and switched to working on the floor as a press opereator because the tool room was so boring.

Look for something like a specialty shop. Production machinist is not where it is at.

 

I have been in the Machine trade for over thirty years. ( started machining when I was 16) I still find it highly desired skill to have. Learn all you can about ANSI Y-14.5 dimentioning system. There a lot of lifting and standing involved. Also brush up on your math, mainly right angle Trig. and some algerba.
I hold a community collage level teaching creditental, and certfided by the state of Cal.as a journeyman Machinist. So PM me if you have any specific issues. If you apply yourself , you will always have a job... Donn

 

Ray hit the nail on the head. I've done machine work all my life and if you have a bad back even CNC work can get to you . However if you really dig this stuff perhaps programming or design work will satisfy. It pays more. After I retired I bought a small CNC, learned to do design work in Mastercam, did my own programing doing little custom jobs--- it's a blast.

 

Learn as much computer crap as you can.
Whatever software the school uses,learn that,
AND whatever their big competitors are.
Autocad,Mastercam,Solidworks,Inventor,blablabla.
Torrent sites have all the software available free,
and there are online tutorials. Take advantage of them.

Too many of the idiots, that might be hiring you,
think whatever software they use is magic.
In actual fact,if you are smart enough to run one,
you can handle any of them.

A second language may prove useful, probably Spanish or Chinese.


If you are a good liar,and don't have trouble sleeping at night,
get into Human Resources instead.

 

Building custom machinery is cool work,but someone has to pay for it.

 

I really need to get a video of that colburn running and take a good picture of the 1939 bridgeport. haha everyone thought the bridgeport was made in the 50's, according to the serial number which matches on the knee and the head, it's a 1938 series one. and despite it being that old still a very good machine with little play,

 

on the industry side of this equation what you say is true. it has no real future as the "lifer" job that it used to be.

on the inverse side...as jobs and small job shops disappear, the machine tools become more and more commonly found at liquidation auctions, and estate sales and less expensive for the amateur operator to purchase for himself. figuring into this as well is the idea that as fewer local shops are doing small-run and one-off type work are available to do that work, it will get prohibitively expensive to do so.

that, in turn, will open up new a lot of new possibilities for skilled amateur operators with some connections to do small runs and one-offs for other small businesses and entrepreneurs.

if you go into the trade, maybe think about going in with the plan of acquiring the skillset and purchasing tooling; then get out - go freelance.

 

Absolutely! When I was working in contract toolmaking, the pressure was ridiculous. The tools we made were costing the customer ~$80k. The Chinese could do the "same" tool for $15k. Try and explain the difference to an executive who has never picked up a spanner in his life.

Also, Re: your back. Standing at a machine tool all day is not like standing at a car show all day. You will generally be leaning forward over the machine 80% of the time. I don't have back problems as such, but after a whole day at a lathe my lower back is plenty sore. You might want to try it ( for a whole day or week even ) to see how you go before investing bulk time and cash in the idea. And I am yet to work in a shop with adequate lifting equipment. Can you hold a crank shaft at arms length to load into a machine?

 

Try it for a month,working 6 days a week,10 hours a day minimum.
And most machines were designed for people around 5'6".

Deadlines on automotive stuff used to be tight,
and they have only gotten worse.

 

The Chinese could do that executives job for a LOT less too.

 

i just got done working in one of the shittiest filthiest machine shops i've ever seen in my life, our company sent me up there to work for a few days and i tell you this, i am certainly ready for a change and i've only been doing this for 3 years!!!!

 

So could I.

 

Ive been "manual" machining for 8 years now and have been involved with the racing industry for 4 years. I have found that the higher up the chain I go the more unqualified that I am. I am now at the point where I have devoted my life to finding a job on Nascar team and time and time again have found that unless I have programing or set up experience with CNC machines I am useless as a machinist. Luckily those 4 years have been spent in an Engine shop so I dont have to rely on machining to get me a job.

My advice to you is dont skip out on the CNC training. Every time I get on Monster.com there are a bazillion jobs for CNC programmers.

 

I think this is the best trade in the world, I'm biased of course. An old timer once told me that a good experienced machinist knows more than a doctor, if you factor in all the math, metallurgy, and skill involved in machining. I been machining for 15 years now, wouldn't trade it for the world. I own my own machine shop now, both manual and CNC. My advice would be find a job that you can learn the basics on manual equipment because that will teach you the "feel" of machining. You can't learn this as well from CNC work. I believe like some others said here that the "chinese" market will not always be a factor because the quality is not controlled enough and just because it's cheap doesn't mean everybody wants it. I also believe that a good machinist, either manual or CNC will always be in demand. Us machinist know that almost every aspect of manufacturing has to go through our trade before it is a finished product, in one way or another.

 

yep, and nearly every part of the airplane has to go through our old ass shop first too. I wonder why no one invented a hydraulic lift that could raise a and lower a machine like a lathe? just raise the whole slab it sits on,this would help alleviate back strain for a lot of people. i'm like 6'2 and it's terrible

 

Think about every factory/assembley line in the U.S. Some one made that assembly line. Then you have the machines that do quality and strenght tests on the parts.

If you do lines for food companies you get to use a lot of stainless!!

Recycling plants like Padnos(there machine shop IXL) need machines to demolish, crush, tear apart. etc.

This is the kind of stuff I had in mind when I said machine builder.

 

I just want to add. This is why Drunk drivers are arrested. Ruining someones life because they had to drink and drive. Sorry for your injuries, but atleast your alive. Im not saying they ruined your life, but its a possibility. Good luck on the new career path.

 

all i gotta say is do some background checking at the place your interested in cause the place im workin at, there's guys been there for almost 20 years and gettin f* in the ass on their pay. it sounded good when i got out of high school with the overtime pay and everything but now me worken there a lil over a year, i might as well start looken for me another job. but everything really comes to you if you pay attetention and sometimes its fun when you can mess around on the machines but i wouldnt consider gettin into production. i'd like to get into programming but i would consider just running a machine for a while befor you get into all of that. get to know how things run at certain speeds and watchin spindle loads and everything.

 

sound advice

 

You'd lose a lot of repeatability without the steadiness of being bolted to a foundation. It's really a critical thing

Back to the original topic, if you want something you can do for life with a bad back, and leave ya fresh enough to do kickass projects at home....

A guy with the skills described, who can write in complete sentences, and can click his way thru making a powerpoint presentation, is far more valuable to an employer than a machinist. They'd call you a manufacturing engineer. Easier on the bod and generally the pay & bene are better than machining. But if self employment is on the horizon, machining looks better.

Word of warning- for the next decade machining is going to be a tough business to break into. As mentioned in this thread, the offshore pressure is TOUGH. Tons of small shops in this country have closed and we've got a lot a 25+ year machining veterans that are HUNGRY for biz. You'll be bidding work against those wise ole wolves when you're still green. But in a decade, most of the wolves will be retired and you'll be filling a need. Because there is no "next generation" coming to fill their shoes.

good luck. Hard to go wrong with education.

 

Unkl Ian you don't have any bad news. CNC is the future. Yes there will always be the need for manual machinists, but CNC is the way of the future.

I should not have a problem with a good rep, hell people want to wait in line for the jeep bumpers I have been slowly building, this will help me speed my production up. I agree I think people are sick and tired of being ripped off by cheap ass crap from china and overseas.

I will not have to re locate. There are tons of jobs here. I like dirty work haha I certainly don't mind getting dirty at all. Especially if something cool comes out of it. im only 34 I'm not that OLD hahaha.

Richard D, Hey brotha how are you doing? I can't wait to get back out there and hang out with you guys again. I have to go pick up a jeep in a few weeks, I'm gonna try to come by and at least say Hi to a few of you guys next time I am up there. Your lathe looks great awesome work on it. That website is totally cool. Thanks for posting. so what kind of things have you built with it?

Thirty7, Thanks for the encouragement. I think I am really going to love doing this. I have wanted to for at least the last 15 years. Seems everyting always gets in the way though. What kind of machining are you doing now?

Deuce. Thanks for the encouragement as well. I listen really well, and work my ass off to make sure things are done right the first time. I hate to have to redo things, and I have a Crap load of PRIDE in everything I do. It has been instilled in me my whole life. My dad was an awesome Mechanic and always taught me to do it right the first time.My dreams are to learn everything I can in these courses, and to use it along with my other trades I have learned to have a shop I can build damn near anything in. Thanks again.

Will

OUCH WTF HOW did he do to lose a finger? Do you offer relocation expenses? ad want a rookie? just kidding at this point, but maybe not later What kind of work do y'all do there?

Burl. What kind of molds do you guys make? or products from the molds? I certainly have drive, and Plenty of Pride. I think the health issues are usually from crappy work places and or people who practice bad work habits, IE. not wearing gloves when working with harsh chemicals etc. As long as you take good care of your customers, and deliver exceptional quality work at a reasonable price. Even if you are higher than over seas, customer service, and quality usually will get you further. Thanks

 

beleive it or not they are still looking for decent machinists.
i started cutting chips in1965 by accident. it was a place that made watchs.solid gold watches and pocket watches. i learned basic machining,spinning.turret lathe,and tool grinding.i would pay attention to what others were doing-and LEARN.
went to a place that made iar tools and hoists. learned more and became set-up man,that job comes with a stool. also set up gearhobs /gear shapers.we had early NC with tubes in the controls.lots of different metals.
did a JOBSHOP for a while,that sucked.
3 man shop. we made ballscrews to operate control surfaces on a cruise missile.old machines almost neanderthal.
made rotary fillers for a few years.700 half liter bottles a minute.all stainless steel.it was all short lot stuff,10 of this 5 of that. great job-to many hollanders.
learned about rollform.taking flat stock and bending into bumpers,tubing,table legs.garagedoors,siding.and cabinets.i had never seen anything like it.
hollow ground blades grinding was also unique.
most of the good machinists that i knew were also good mechanics. when you work on a car or hot rod you have to be capable of independant thought. agood machinist has to be able to visiualise the end peice and figure out how to get there. what machines to use and witch process to do first. many times(almost always) the shop will order just enough stock to do the part ONCE. ther is no A+ or C- it's right the FIRST time! a littl stress.
would i do it again? hell yes! all the machines,all the tech stuff,so many different ways to do the same part.
advice: take a walk during your breaks-look at other machines and processes. ask questions-don't get in the way,DON"T have an opion for about a year. know who the snitch is. i didn' know the boss read lips.look the print over realy REALLY well before you cut a chip. be positive.
no more +/- .0005 for me -- i retired.

 

Go for it , learn everything you can and enjoy ! --I'm a weldor /mechanic and the company machinist for a large refuse hauler , hydraulic repair is a big part of my job as are drivelines , various pins , bosses ,shafts .I guess for lack of a better job description , I would be called a "C" machinist , "C if you can fix this as purchasing is over budget until the end of the month and we just need this truck ,dozer,water wagon for a couple more trips" . It never ends and has kept me busy for the last 22 years making ice cream out of crap . I am now 68 years old and don't want to quit making chips on the 1952 LeBlond or J-2 BP . My back is tired , my feet are tired but my name hasn't been in the obits either.

 

I've been machining most of my adult life and have spent the last 30 years working at Boeing.And its been a great ride, yes my back hurts somedays my ears don't ring but my hearing isn't as good as it would be had I landed in a different trade/profession. When I first started there NC's were really just starting to take over production, and a lot of the young guys (myself included) ran with it and really established ourselves in the shop. Many of the old guys didn't care to change or were tired and let us make the transition. Man I was at the peak of my game and couldn't get enough of it. Couple new airplane programs and our ability to make those early NCs sing kept me employed during some long layoffs. Life couldn't have been any better.

Then one day they decided to do a complete rewire/upgrade of the machine I ran regularly so I found myself on on a 30 day loan to another department. 15 plus years later I'm still there. What kept me there? Running a manual boring mill opened a whole new world for me. And my old manual machine skills honed doing repair work in the Navy really allowed me establish the reputation as the "go to guy" in the building. I still do production work but no large runs, do repair work for maintenance, repair and assist fixtures for our tool fab group. but the most important asset I bring in with me every day is that I'm willing and able to repair just about any production part that gets messed up anywhere else. And the willing is what sets me apart from lot of my co workers. "fixing other peoples screwups" is a very valuable ability in the business.

And the young guns today are not learning that as machinists are a dying breed being replaced by operators. My advise is learn as much as you can in school run some manuals as you'll learn a lot about cutter technology and understand machine practices at a higher level. Never be too proud to ask your coworkers for help when stuck and if you want to be noticed don't just sit around when your machines are in a cut. Grab a broom sort your tools whatever just look productive,

Having said all that just remember the only thing you have that your employer needs is your ability to produce work in print. Quality is the game and if its not then you're not really a machinist. Its about being anal about your work all the time.

good luck hope you have as good a ride as I've had.

 

I got into machining in 1981 following a serious accident myself. I was warned against it by my orthopedic surgeon, but went for it anyway.

I quailifed for a 5-month entry level machine shop course and got PAID to take it. After I graduated, I got a job at a local company that had a few large machine shops. I started as a Machinist "C" and worked up to Machinist "A" All Around in 4 years.

It was mostly manual milling and lathe work, all hairy close tolerance work on mostly small parts. It was an immaculate shop, the bosses were a-holes but you had to be fast, accurate and not ask too many questions.

I got out of that in 1986, went into a Methods position in the same company. To make a long story short, I learned CAD, how to program CNC mills and lathes, presently do toool design for a Fortune 300 company. I also have machines at home and take in side work for hot rodders and high end sail boat work.

I'd say go for it. The people I first worked for were aware of my condition and agreed that I could only stand for 45 minutes at a time. If you can get into a shop that works with you that'll be great.

Today I have a decent office, I'm working as Manufacturing Engineer, have made as much as $110k a year with over time. I have CATIA V5, Pro E and Autocad on my PC which makes life easier for me.

For tools, pick up the basics. MSC is a good place, check evil-Bay and Craigslist for deals too on used stuff. Get a Kennedy top box, 0-1, 1-2, 2-3 mikes and a 6" dial caliper (.100 range dial!), good files (Nicholson), a decent set of parallels, a bench block, a couple of good scales, deburring (Vargas) tools, a couple of pin vises (to hold drills for deburring), an Albrecht 0-3/8 chuck, set of 0-60 drills (short ones), fractional and letter drills, scrapers, a soft plastic face hammer.

This should get you going, good luck!

Bob

 

NOTE:
Trashed back and machinist don't go to well. Well maybe if you're running a CNC machine and all you got to do is sit there and watch it run.

You already have good advice as far as what you need to learn but if the program there is as good as the program at the local community college here you'll get all that training.

Don't know if its been mentioned but learn the programming for CNC, and if you get a chance to take a course or two learn the design software that is most commonly used in your area. The money is not inb being a machine operator but in design and setup.