Where does one go after CNC programing?

Metal Flake (clocked in) · March 29, 2005

Was wondering what a logical field move would be for the CNC programmer.

What the heck would be a related field? I can't think of any, other than becoming a Mastercam salesman....I'm no salesman.

Back to school for an ME maybe. I like the idea of designing automated machinery, programing PLC's blah, blah.

Are all CNC programmers like me, with no other possibility for advancement within thier company?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Dan

Chris Rizzo · March 29, 2005

I really don't see programming as an "end" per say...but more of a tool to use along the way. Along the way to what?

I'll expand on this one later, gotta get to work...

March 29, 2005

The next logical step would be Mfg. Engineering, Mfg. Consulting (if you want to work for yourself), Mechanical Engineer. Good ME's with a lot of Experience can make well over $100k per year. I'm choosing to work for myself. I'd like to get a Degree someday. For myself, not for some goofball suit that says I have to have one to be successful.

JM2C

chris m · March 29, 2005

Machining Supervisor, Manufacturing Engineer, consulting, small shop owner, it depends more on what you know how to do and what you want to do than anything else..

C

mcpgmr · March 29, 2005

I guess mangagement would be the next logical step. I would like a position where I managed a team of programmers/designers. A position with a budget to work with to stay current and cutting edge. To many places have managers that didn't come up thru the ranks and can't appreciate the tools we need to be successful. Lets see now, I would have Mastercam's latest and greatest. Vericut's latest and greatest. 3D printing and or some variation of rapid prototype technology. Ooops ! There goes the budget !

Matt Berube at Ferron Mold · March 29, 2005

If you like design, maybe you could become a mold designer. Get yourself a job in a mold making shop as a programmer and after you learn all about molds, you could become a designer. I have had an amazing amount of opportunities in my current position.

I can't see why you'd need to spend all that time on a degree for that type of position.

Truthfully, moldmaking in USA is not doing real well right now but we are hanging in there.

Greg Williams · March 29, 2005

Dan,

I think there are many careers after CNC and Toolmaking, I am generally very humble and in no means trying to blow my own trumpet but here is where I have been.

After a Toolmaking Trade I spent 5 years as a CNC Programmer and like you I wanted to see a career path, I was lucky enough to work for a comapny that had both Toolmakers and Engineers, So after some consulting I moved into the Engineering department, I studied Mechanical engineering part time at a local college, I spend about three years in the engineering dept doing special purpose machine design, Toolmakers that become Engineers are a very sort after product as engineering managers know, If you can make it you can design it too and I found as you are designing part you think to yourself: "How is sombody going to make this".

From there I joined a High speed engine design and Development project as Manufacturing engineer and ended up doing Manufacturing, Head design and some CFD stuff on Heads untill the project ran out of money (Servere Bummer)

Now I work for a Tooling Company doing special purpose cutter design and implimentation, I deal with our reps which is good for me as I am rather like Dan, no salesman.

Metal Flake (clocked in) · March 29, 2005

Thanks guys.

I think I want to try trading jobs with James. :-)

Dan

Brendan P · March 29, 2005

Dan,I have no clue how long you have been at it with programming.

Why all of a sudden do you have a need to change?

I can't tell if you are just maybe a little depressed for some reason or what,and I'm not insinuating it either.

I know that when I was on the floor running lotsa production parts,it started to get very boring cause it was too easy to make good parts,and I could run both lathe and mill.

This is one of the reasons I started to learn the programming aspect of it.

I do not have any degree,just a 12th grade education,graduating in Autobody!!

And I by no means call myself an engineer (specially with no degree)but I engineer our parts,engineer our tooling fixtures engineer the job routers in the sequence of producing our product,and also get to do all the programming.

I know our product.

As far as management goes,I wouldn't want that for any money in the world!

All's that is,is an underpaid baby sitterwith all the headaches of the people who may not be on your team or don't even give a crap.

Yes,it is great to work for yourself,but get ready to get stiffed,wait 60- 90 days to get paid,not sure of any insurance liabilities ect...

I'm not soo sure that having a degree in M/E would pay soo great in the beginning,and anyone correct me if I'm wrong.

Maybe I look at it different caus I have been with my company for over 20 yrs. and they take good care of us.

So again Dan,I would really be interested in why you are looking for a change.

Paul Decelles · March 29, 2005

There is always the option of moving to the software side of things. Companies like Prism and other resellers often hire Mastercam programmers that work for their customers. Moving over to the applications side of things is a big change (and perhaps not for everyone). It is a good career move if you want to go in another direction while still maintaining ties to the trade in which you began. In fact, this is exactly how I got out of programming/machining and eventually made my way over here to CNC Software.

March 29, 2005

What Paul said!

Thad · March 29, 2005

I plan to move into die design. I'm currently taking UG and die theory classes at the local community college. I'm getting a little tired of programming 2D pockets and holes and the 3D jobs don't come around often enough to keep me happy. I got tired of running manual machines and had an opportunity to move to CNC. I got tired of manual programming G code and got the opportunity to use CAM software. I'm not tired of 3D programming (or modeling) yet, but as I said before, the stuff I want to do doesn't come around often enough. I would really like to be able to program until I got tired of it, before moving on to design. I'm afraid that won't happen though. I am getting tired of the shop floor though. The cuts, scrapes, bruises, waiting for the crane, hot chips, hands in the coolant, smashed fingers, etc is getting old.

Thad

Yogesh K. Raman · March 29, 2005

having a degree is not actually so important...especially those from college that actually 'manufacture' lecturers instead of hiring good 'seasoned' experts...

Its already year after I graduate n i still can't do my job right....

quote:

I'd like to get a Degree someday.

James,

I think u should go 2 college but not as a student but as a lecturer! I'm sure u have a lot wisdom 2 share.

quote:

I guess mangagement would be the next logical step

please do! 99% of managers in my country don't know anything about machining and they tell machinist how to do their job, what machine and software they should use!

J Coulston · March 29, 2005

I think sometimes a degree only reinforces what one thinks they know not what they actually know.

Knowledge is power.

Every engineer should start out making things before they start designing things to make.

john_070 · March 29, 2005

+1 what he said imagineers with no concept of construction.

March 29, 2005

I'd love to lecture. Problem is I don;t have the pedigree to be accepted by the elitist educrats in academia.

I thoroughly enjoyed my time teaching though and definitely will return in the future.

Metal Flake (clocked in) · March 30, 2005

Brendan,

Various reasons.

I'm doing a good job and I do like CNC programming mostly though I've gotten used to it being a thankless job. Seems there is too high a proportion of cranky people here too.

Maybe the routine is just getting to me. You know 10-11hr days plus Saturday.

Things could be alot worse. I'll count my blessings and probably feel better.

Cheers,

Dan

Metal Flake (clocked in) · March 30, 2005

Brendan,

Hows that V5 action coming along?

Dan

notso · March 30, 2005

Worked my way through school (mech eng) as an operator. Now I work as a manufacturing eng for a defense contractor. It was pretty funny, as graduation was coming up and I was doing the mass job interview thing (applying for mech eng jobs), I was told on more than one occasion that I was TOO HANDS ON. I'm still not sure what that means but it ended up w/ me in this job which is ok. Now, I do a little of everything, programming, writing "op sheets" (assembly instuctions), make/buy decisions, etc.

As far as pay for engineers goes, I think that most of the folks I graduated with started out in the 40-50K range depending on where they went.

Brendan P · March 30, 2005

quote:

Seems there is too high a proportion of cranky people here too.

Dude,you're not the only one with this problem.Believe me!

quote:

Hows that V5 action coming along?

Sucky!I hate Catia. Makes no sense to me at all.

Imo,it is the most un-userfriendly software i ever used...