Any machine programmers/machinists on here?

[ledofthezep]

Well, since I'm going to be without a job here real soon & collecting un-employment, I've pretty much decided to go back to school & get some certifications/training. I'm wanting to get into CNC and/or Machine programming, there are lots of programmers needed around here and I'm comfortable working with computers, so...why not? Not wanting to be a machinist, just programmer. Just needing to know what certifications/training exactly I'm going to need. Any info, feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[jadaven]

I got qualified as a machinist back in high school

At a Vo-Tech school. I would say that most places

just look for the general certification as a machinist

and they will teach the programing side. I know that

working with a cnc isn't that complicated. Where are

you gonna go to school at?

[ellison445]

Im a Technical Recruiter and I can tell you the money is not in that field of programming. The big bucks are in stuff like Java, C++ and Powerbuilder. I would go for a coulple of classes in one of those fields. Have you thought of Networking at all? There is good money in that field as well, I just placed a guy yesterday with 3 years of experience and he is making 100k plus a 20k bonus with stock options. Just a thought!

 

 

 

 

Well, since I'm going to be without a job here real soon & collecting un-employment, I've pretty much decided to go back to school & get some certifications/training.  I'm wanting to get into CNC and/or Machine programming, there are lots of programmers needed around here and I'm comfortable working with computers, so...why not?  Not wanting to be a machinist, just programmer.  Just needing to know what certifications/training exactly I'm going to need.  Any info, feedback would be greatly appreciated.

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[ledofthezep]

Thanks for the info...I already do networking shit, but good networking jobs that pay good & give a shit about their employees around here are few & far between. Trust me, I work(ed) for one... Now if I had more than an associates degree that would be a different story, but I don't have the money right now to go on for my MBA, and I'm already in enough debt. But I do know if I can get some know-how on programming & can walk into this local aviation parts manufacturing place and start programming machines, I'll be starting around the 40-45k range, will all the benefits & shit ta'boot. That's why I'm asking...and machine programmers in & around Wichita(aviation capital of the world...blablah) are always finding jobs working for airplane part manufacturers, etc...may even try & hit up BigDog motorcycles, I know their getting ready to build a big ass plant too.

[Cotton eyed Joe]

If you've had any experience as a machinist, then try your hand at being a programmer only. However, if you haven't been a machinist first and lack some of that experience, you might piss off a few people lol.

 

Its been my personal experience that the very best programmers and the very best draftsman and engineers have been previous machinists. They know the ins and outs of how stuff is done, not just the G and M coding or know a few ATSM codes. The process and experience in the process is as important if not more than the programming imho. You can program something all damn day, but if you don't do it correctly, in the right order, most efficient path etc. you'll get no where with the job.

But if you learn to program CNC mills and lathes, you can also do laser tables, plasma tables and water jets. Plenty of shit is CNC these days. You might want to check into getting certified running a CMM.

[ledofthezep]

Thanks Cotton, I hear ya...I have some experience, but not enough to amount to shit really. Most likely I'd do just that,...start working as a machinist for a while, but would have knowledge on all the concepts of WTF is going on & the hole process. Any good school should cover the work of a machinist and then move on...that's what I'm looking for. Hands on training all-around. And if I do get a job hired on as a programmer, I would request to have some time working with the machinists for a while to get a feel of everything. Again...'appreciate the feedback.

[ellison445]

If you need any help with your resume, shoot me a PM and I will take care of that for you! I make resume that land jobs, trust me!

 

 

 

Thanks Cotton,  I hear ya...I have some experience, but not enough to amount to shit really.  Most likely I'd do just that,...start working as a machinist for a while, but would have knowledge on all the concepts of WTF is going on & the hole process.  Any good school should cover the work of a machinist and then move on...that's what I'm looking for.  Hands on training all-around.  And if I do get a job hired on as a programmer, I would request to have some time working with the machinists for a while to get a feel of everything.  Again...'appreciate the feedback.

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[ledofthezep]

Right on...I'll keep that in mind.

[rocketboy]

holy moly i cant belive this thread im a too land die maker and i programm cnc wire edms and ram edms and i can do about any cnc programming there is( laser ,mill,vertical machining centers,you name it) yes its a high paying rewarding feild and no its NOT easy at all ,it takes a very smart person to do this trade.high tech industrial jobs are still very high paying and secure especially if your a good cnc programmer ,you can go into any town in u.s. and get the highest paid job, if you have the knowledge to work in this feild ,its very advisablke to geta machinist background before you do the programming ,youll never be a kick ass programmer without it . other than toolmakers (cncprogrammers,i live in a very low wage area in my state( crawford county)PA and it is the tool and die capitol of the world aka(toolcity usa) we have a 15,000 person poulation with over 300 industrial injection mold tooland die shops. most top rate guys will get 25 -30dollars per hour(straight pay) with top notch benefits and respect and best seat at the local restarunts and offices while most other sectors(like construction)pay liek 9 dollars an hour with no benfits.i make what most engineers make in a year@27 yrs old with out the headache of years of b.s. school and no heavy lifting in a climate controlled environment and a loud radio(slipknot) and a coffee pot by my side. ive made my job my passion and because of that im very good for my age ,when i was 20 years old i made 47,000 in ayear while my buddys were working at macdonalds for 5.25 i was learning a trade that will give me the things i want in life.this line of work is not for every one, its very unique. you either have it or you dont ,its also very stressfull withthe deadlines and close tolerances that must be held +or _ 50 millionths of an inch in my case ,thsi takes years of practice and is very scarry at first because one wrong code like adding a deciaml point can mean a 30,000 dollar mistake right now , isay go for it this feild is losing older knowledgable guys and there will be a very bad problem of not enough in this country within 5 yrs ,thats quoted from plastic news magazine! if i were you and wanted to go for the money. get into cnc wire edm and take as many mold and math(mostly advanced trig and advanced geometry) classes as possible. theres very little dirty work and youll always be the most respected and compensated in the building. make it your passion .,go to charmiles.com

its a wire edm site, but will tell you all about programmers pay and compare it and tell of its soon to be soaring demand in this country ,good luck i truely hope you look into this trade,i can honestly say i love my job and if i was fired tommorow, i would care less i could geta job at any of the other300 toolshops and be making same moneyand benfits that same morning

Edited March 3, 2005 by rocketboy

[Cotton eyed Joe]

holy moly i cant belive this thread

Edited March 3, 2005 by Cotton eyed Joe

[rocketboy]

We do a shit load of tool and die work as well. I can say I really hate D2 and M1 and H13. We make some shear blades for a 500 ton billet aluminum extrusion press out of H13. The shear blades are about 16 inches long, 12 inches wide and 2 inches thick to start. They also have 6  3/4-10 threads tapped into it that I have to tap by hand. About 15-20 minutes per hole some days, and at the end of the job the tap is junk and so are my lats

 

S7 is okay as long as you keep coolant on your tools.

I used to have a punch made out of S7 here at the house that had a drill welded to it. It got dull, and it actually glowed orange under a full coolant flow and just stayed there after I shut the mill down. It took a couple minutes before I could take it out of the fixture. Later that day I could take my fingers and kind of crumble the edges off of the drill. I'd say it got hot.

 

I also do OD grinding where I have to hold a total tolerance of .0003 on most parts. The grinder I have can repeat 50mil part to part if I keep in a steady rythem though. I use digital mics, and about every 15'th part or so I have to move the wheel about .0001 if that. If I need to take .00005 on a seal area to bring it into spec I just let the wheel ride the part another 3-4 seconds or so.

I've also ground a shaft of 12 inches (its okay, even I laughed after I typed it....) with ZERO taper. Thats when you know you're having a good day when the grinder gives you no problems.

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thats sweet i hate d2 h13 and cpm10v ferratec and a2 ,too much gummy chrome content yuk,heats up ,causes alot of tool wear smokes like a bastard on the ram edms too.love s-7 machines like butter!i also run a okamoto ballway surface grinder with sony 2 axis20 millionths digital readout mostly grinding on lamenant coresand cavity blocks ,i also do stack dimensions where youhave to be within 20 millionths of an inch or -0002 over 10 parts on thickness dimension.it takes years to do that. you learn to not breath on them or touch them and to float your table by a brisk pumping to allow the oil to raise the balls in the ways 20 millionths of am inch.floating atble is tough at first.i mostly do ramand wire edm and grind work (i hate to get my hands dirty) i do love the mill though,because its a nice change i think its fun ,you can hack and whack and not worry about sizes as much .i use digital mics, scopes,comparators,sine bars,height masters youname it,for checking tight stuff i have 5) compac 50mill test (250$)indicators that can check a nats balls if i could see them!

[Wassup350]

I'm currently going to college to be a mechanical tech and there is a lot of cool stuff involved. There is a shit load of things to know about machining but its not too hard to catch on. The biggest pain in the ass in the program is manual drafting, i wish we could just take a cadd course and be done with it seeing how manual drafting is pretty much obsolete nowadays. That is pretty much the only thing i dont like about the program im taking.

[rocketboy]

I'm currently going to college to be a mechanical tech and there is a lot of cool stuff involved. There is a shit load of things to know about machining but its not too hard to catch on. The biggest pain in the ass in the program is manual drafting, i wish we could just take a cadd course and be done with it seeing how manual drafting is pretty much obsolete nowadays. That is pretty much the only thing i dont like about the program im taking.

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they (school)are trying to lay a base line so youll understand whats all involved in the process of drawing ,even though it seems obsolete its setting the stage so when you use computer aided designing youll know what and how to change and more importantly why? doing old school stuff is teaching how to think and analyze more so than how to do this particular procedure, you can learn the basics of machining in a short time but to be good at it and have a solid understanding of all of it takes years ,some guys will run machines for many years and never be truely good at them .i see this all the time

[BdBanshee]

If you've had any experience as a machinist, then try your hand at being a programmer only. However, if you haven't been a machinist first and lack some of that experience, you might piss off a few people lol.

 

Its been my personal experience that the very best programmers and the very best draftsman and engineers have been previous machinists. They know the ins and outs of how stuff is done, not just the G and M coding or know a few ATSM codes. The process and experience in the process is as important if not more than the programming imho. You can program something all damn day, but if you don't do it correctly, in the right order, most efficient path etc. you'll get no where with the job.

But if you learn to program CNC mills and lathes, you can also do laser tables, plasma tables and water jets. Plenty of shit is CNC these days. You might want to check into getting certified running a CMM.

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I also find that to be true.

 

I have been a machinist/CNC programmer for 25 years. The money just isn't in this field anymore. I am currently considering getting out!

[Cotton eyed Joe]

they (school)are trying to lay a base line so youll understand whats all involved in the process of drawing ,even though it seems obsolete its setting the stage so when you use computer aided designing youll know what and how to change and more importantly why? doing  old school stuff is teaching how to think and analyze  more so than how to do this particular procedure, you can learn the basics of machining in a short time but to be good at it  and have a solid understanding of all of it takes years ,some guys will  run  machines for many years and never be truely good at them  .i see this all the time

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Whats weird is I deal with a sheet metal guy every day that brings me machine work to do that has hand drawn prints. The guys shit is tight too. Since he's out in the field working on stuff he doesn't have a computer with him. So he just draws it out on these little cards. Sometimes we call him Picasso or Rembrandt just because his drawings are so good.