Any of you guys machinists?

[osiris999 10+ year member]

Like spl, I am a Tool and Diemaker. Have also dabbled a little bit in moldmaking. i started from the ground up. First being a punch press set-up man, to being a "button pusher", to learning how to program and set-up cnc's, to finally getting my apprenticeship in Tool&Die. And earned my Journeymans card a few(lol) years back. Been in manufacturing for 20yrs. In all reality, the more you can learn to do the better off you will be. i have learned, and still learning, how to integrate automation(plcs, air logic, motion controls) in the things i do. The more well rounded, and informed about whats out there, the more "value" you can offer a company(hence better pay, more room for advancement). I am actually half way through an assoc's degree in electro-mechanical engineering. And like to dabble in electronics( servo's,steppers, motion control).
And Spl, I actually knew(know) a Mechanical engineer that could machine like you wouldnt beleive, but he was a Tool and Diemaker first. He knew how to engineer a part that would be usuable the first time, and what it took to acutally make the **** thing, unlike the ones you meet today. But he is retired by about 10yrs now.

spot on. all i can say is if you live in south louisiana you need 0 schooling and will start off at at least 10$ an hour and any shop will tech you everything about cnc and manual work. top pay here is about 30$ an hour and that is pretty ****ing big with out cheap cost of living. the last company i worked for was worldwide and the shops in houston paid everyone between 20-38 an hour. i have no idea how the feild works where your at but here theres way way too many machinist jobs and not near enough workers so your pretty much your own boss because it really hurts the company if you leave. right now we have to work 55 hours a week and if its our call week (once a month) we have to work 70. sundays are always double time and holidays are triple time. as long as there is still cars on the road and plastic in this world you have a job. the company i work for now has been turning work down for a year now because we are too busy and cant keep up with the work load and we buy a new machine almost every two months. so its a god feild to get into and i can say if you really want to never worry about layoffs or finding a job then the oilfeild is where its at. im sure theres other places with soild feilds to keep them employed, im just speaking for this one.

 

[osiris999 10+ year member]

^ i hear that that is why there is no jobs in my area and everyone is getting out of NY. im thankful we make for the military so has to be made in the good ol USA.

we make alot for the navy here to and yes that better be kept here in the good ol USA

 

[silenkiller 10+ year member]

My family owns a machine shop. We only have *one* cnc operated machine. Sigh such a dying breed we are.

 

[AlterEgo99 5,000+ posts]

No, now GTFO.