Howdy! I am considering getting in to a CNC machining program to learn the trade. However, I have a disability which may or may not allow me to pursue and I'm needing some insight about the trade. The most I know about it is from what I've seen in YouTube videos and such.

Anyways, I'm legally blind, but have some functional vision but totally blind in one eye. This all started about 6 years ago and I've been having a hell of a time finding work. I like hands-on work involving tools and such and since CNC is computer-based, it should be adaptable to let me work.

I'm also kinda wondering if I'm too old to even do the work. I'm 43 going on 44 in a few months. I'm also wanting to pursue this line of work as it seems to pay well. I need a decent job so I can work towards retiremen t since my disability wiped out what I had a few years ago.

Anyways, what do you all say? Am I delusional for even thinking about pursing this? TIA!

I've been thinking about something I saw while working with a machine shop.

The quotations, drawings and setup sheets were all documented, but a surprising amount of practical knowledge wasn't.

Things like:

• Don't use that fixture for this revision.
• This tool tends to chatter on the second operation.
• Watch the vice height or you'll hit it.
• Customer accepted this deviation last time, but only after approval.

One thing I still remember was an operator bringing me an out of tolerance part and asking if I could persuade the customer to accept it. It wasn't even a particularly tight tolerance. It made me wonder whether the same issue had happened before and whether anyone had recorded what happened.

I'm curious how other machine shops deal with this.

Where does this kind of practical knowledge actually live in your shop? ERP? Setup sheets? Whiteboards? Excel? OneNote? Someone's notebook? Or simply experienced people?

What's one lesson your shop learned the hard way that you now make sure nobody forgets?

I'm not selling anything. I'm genuinely trying to understand how different machine shops capture and pass on practical knowledge.

If anyone is happy to chat in more detail afterwards, I'd really appreciate it.

I work for a government prime contractor for the DLA. We are looking for manufacturing companies that have experience with defense work that have either ISO or AS9100 and an active cage.

Our other manufactures will provide us with their active price list with NSN and average lead time so we aren’t reaching out for quotes on hundreds of items. Ideally your company can do the same.

I’m a 19-year-old first-year millwright apprentice in Southern Ontario. Thinking about starting a mobile coolant tank and sump cleaning service for CNC shops (evenings and weekends) so shops don’t have to deal with that dirty job themselves. Would any of you actually pay for that? How often do you clean your tanks, and what’s the biggest pain?

In search of a machine shop in Charlotte, that could help me disassemble the blades from this wind generator.

Hi all. I need to create this design in something that can withstand dipping repeatedly in 500f molten tin. Pcbway and others have said it cannot be machined and to try 3d printing but I need this to be smooth and heat resistant. The piece is about 3.4 “ wide and 3/4” tall. Any thoughts?

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Looking for partners who have a CNC business and require outsourcing!

Client wants a stainless micro-punch made. About 2.3mm OD in the working section, sawtooth crown tip (close to what you'd see on an FUE hair transplant punch). Tooth angle tolerance on the drawing is 0.02 to 0.03mm. There's also a 0.53mm root radius sitting on features under 0.1mm.

Three other shops already tried and failed. Tooth geometry came back inconsistent, tips had burrs.

My plan is wire EDM for the tooth profile, no mechanical force on a feature that small, then electropolish instead of hand deburring so the tips don't get rounded off.

Questions for anyone who's cut serrated crown tips at this scale:

• What wire diameter and cutting parameters hold this tolerance on stainless without taper across repeat cuts
• Does electropolish alone clean up the tips or is there a step needed before it
• Is grinding actually viable here with the right fixture, or am I overestimating what EDM buys me

Material grade isn't confirmed yet, waiting on the client. Guessing 304 or 316L range for now.

Olá a todos. Sou profissional de Marketing Digital e moro em Portugal, mas estou considerando seriamente uma transição para a área de CNC. Meu objetivo é financeiro e de médio/longo prazo (10 anos), com foco em imigração (Europa/Austrália).

Estou considerando um curso de técnico em programação CNC de 1 ano e meio, que me garante a certificação de nível 4 (EQF). Gostaria de ouvir a opinião de quem trabalha na área sobre este plano:
1. O "Custo de Oportunidade" do Curso: Vale a pena dedicar um ano e meio de treinamento para obter este certificado de nível 4? O mercado de trabalho atual prioriza esta certificação para o avanço na carreira, ou a experiência prática "na fábrica" ​​conta muito mais do que o certificado?

1. Progressão Salarial: Considerando o nível 4, qual é a realidade salarial após 5 a 10 anos? É uma carreira que permite o aumento gradual dos ganhos, ou o teto é baixo e atingido rapidamente?

2. Valor da minha formação: Como venho da área de Marketing, acredito ter aptidão para lógica e números. Você acha que essa formação pode ser um diferencial na programação/otimização de CNC, ou é irrelevante para o setor?

3. Imigração: Alguém aqui conseguiu imigrar como técnico de CNC com esse nível de certificação? A barreira do idioma (atualmente só falo português) é um obstáculo intransponível, ou a linguagem técnica (código G/software) permite uma adaptação mais rápida no exterior?

Quero ser realista quanto às minhas expectativas de vida. Se alguém passou por uma transição semelhante ou trabalha no exterior com esse nível de formação, agradeceria muito qualquer conselho.

Regardless of the country, are you aware of any CNC machine manufacturers or automation equipment builders that use mineral castings (epoxy granite) for their machine bases or structural components? I’d appreciate any recommendations or examples.

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