PICKING IT UP

[Kevangel]

National Tool and Machining Assoc. I would recomend do the shop courses THEN think about buying a machine. You can do it, but there is a lot to learn. that way you can hit the ground running, I am a toolmaker and started shop without ever even touchin a CNC, am learnin that aspect as I go.(wish I had taken 1 cnc course, and then bought mastercam,.. and learned it... then the machines $$$$$ not so much PRESSURE (am yelling) that way

[jrykrl]

Hell yeah!!! Smoke detector in the garage!!!

Even if you don't have a machine in there!

If you have a garage, have a smoke detector!!

Jer teh learned the hard way!!!

[Thad]

Definately get some schooling. Learning MC will probably be the easy part. You have to learn about things you probably never thought about if you want to own your own shop....like inserts, cutting tool manufacturers, end mills, holders, coolants, boring systems, machine maintenance, etc. I'm sure you'd rather learn a few lessons by breaking the $200 carbide end mill at school, instead of breaking the ones that you bought yourself.

 

We're here to help.

 

Thad

[bellyup]

quote:

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i will continue to stop by mybe you guys can help me out in future. when i get stuck or need help if thats ok

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imho, there is an amazing amount of collective experience and a lot of helpful people on this forum. a very nice way to help navigate the school of hard knocks (in which i happen to be enrolled). welcome newbee.

 

[Jeff the haas_guy]

I think before newbee learns MCX, he needs to learn machining. If I read correctly in the begining of this thread, he has NO machining backround. He does not know speeds and feeds, what a drill sounds like when its dull or if an endmill needs sharpening. These are skills he should be working on first, imho.

[Thad]

I don't see any harm in learning the MC interface and how things work while he's learning about machining. Why wait until he learns one before starting to learn the other? Neither should be done, as a business, until he has an understanding of both.

 

Thad

[Jeff the haas_guy]

Thad

 

you have a point, but MC is hard enough from the beginning without learning the fundamentals of machining at the same time. He should do it together if he is capable of doing it together.

[NEWBEE]

cool guys thanks for the info. i think that i need to learn all of it. i have already check into a machining class by my house

[Jeff the haas_guy]

good idea kid...we need more new young blood in the tool trade.

[Thad]

quote:

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MC is hard enough from the beginning without learning the fundamentals of machining at the same time.

---

By at the same time I meant that he takes machining classes at night (since he's a finance manager during the day), and when he's not in class or at work (or doing his homework) and has some spare time, there's no reason he can't mess around with some tutorials, figuring out the tricks/quirks of MC. The REAL Mastercam learning won't start until he knows something about machining and has to apply it.

 

I think we're on the same page though.

 

Thad

[Jeff the haas_guy]

yes we are Thad.

 

nuff said.

 

 

Jeff

[shane_waid]

Newbee,

 

I am new to this forum but not new to machining or MC. I believe that the people in this forum are grossly understating the value of knowing machining practice before knowing practical programming. Firstly, the Hurco VM1 IMHO would not need MC to blacksmith out the parts that someone with (what really sounds like) no mechanical experience at all, would attempt. Newbee, you make a good choice on a first machine to experiement on, but you have a very long road ahead. Just to note, I have NEVER met a good programmer that was not a bonafide machininst (not operator). I think those two terms have become too entwined. Has someone that has hired (and fired) folks from the vocational classes, take my advice, that knowledge is very limited. When you know what a dull end mill or drill sounds like (like someone else mentioned) then start with MC. When the very people that do this for a living hold their trade with such regard that "a few classes at night" equates to the experience that a First Class Machinist has, it is no wonder why manufacturing in America is destined for outsourcing.

 

Shane Waid

Manufacturing Supervisor

Alu-Cut International / RST Manufacturing

www.alu-cut.com

(--Every thought expressed is my own and no way associated with Alu-Cut Int., RST Mfg., V12, or Dry-Lube in any way.--_

[Thad]

quote:

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When the very people that do this for a living hold their trade with such regard that "a few classes at night" equates to the experience that a First Class Machinist has, it is no wonder why manufacturing in America is destined for outsourcing.

---

:popcorn:

 

Thad

[Nick_AFRL]

Hey thad pass the popcorn....

 

Machining is not something you pick up, it takes years of training, and learning... its a craft mastercam is a tool it does not make you a machinist.

[Thad]

Nick, you need some more salt?

 

I'll read the next 30 replies in the morning.

 

Thad

[Nick_AFRL]

yesh pwease

[NEWBEE]

i know that this trade is not something that is going to happen over night. but like i said before we al have to start somewhere and what ever help i can get the better....i will read more tomorrow.

[within a thou]

fly me out to cali take me to a few hot spots and I will give ya lessons for free.

[bellyup]

quote:

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When the very people that do this for a living hold their trade with such regard that "a few classes at night" equates to the experience that a First Class Machinist has

---

i guess i missed the part with that equation.

[chris m]

Hey Shane,

 

The guy ain't looking to make a nuclear missile; I think that a few classes at night would be a good start...

 

quote:

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it is no wonder why manufacturing in America is destined for outsourcing

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That's right, and I'm gonna keep milkin' my $70K a year until that 8 year old Chinese boy with his leg chained to the machine takes the work away...

[Clay Walnum from CNC Software]

You can begin to experiment with Mastercam if you read a couple of books on machining, just to get some of the basic ideas. (Been there, done that.) Without at least some of this basic knowledge, none of the settings will make sense and even if you get the software to do something cool, you won't know what it's really doing.

 

After you do the reading, I would suggest creating very simple parts (even just a rectangle with a couple of holes in it). Then use the default mill to try out some simple contour toolpaths.

 

The deeper you get into Mastercam, though, the more you need to know about machining. There are tons of settings that only a machinist knows what to do with.

 

I have put together a mini-tutorial for absolute beginners that I'd be glad to share. However, this document is NOT IN ANY WAY AN OFFICIAL CNC SOFTWARE DOCUMENT. It's just a formalization of some of the notes I took as I was learning to use Mastercam. If you'd like to look at it, just send me your email address.

 

--Clay

[Fig sign]

Welcome to the Forum ,Newbie !

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Mexitaljew, I am a finance manager for an rv dealership

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

STAY AWAY FROM MACHINInG ,OR you`ll become crazy machinist ,change your work ,will spent all the day long at work ,your wife will leave you for some other finance manager .

You `ll dream your work at night ,all your friends will brake with you cause you will talk only about machining ,tools ,Mastercam and CNC .

And you`ll be happy .

This is a trap ,you will never get out of it to become normal Finance manager once more .

[Kevangel]

quote:

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When the very people that do this for a living hold their trade with such regard that "a few classes at night" equates to the experience that a First Class Machinist has, it is no wonder why manufacturing in America is destined for outsourcing.

---

I don't think any of us think that...just he does not have to spend his whole life doing this before he starts making select repeat parts in his garage, especially if he has some $$$$

[Fig sign]

When the very people that do this for a living hold their trade with such regard that "a few classes at night" equates to the experience that a First Class Machinist has, it is no wonder why manufacturing in America is destined for outsourcing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Craftmanship comes with experience ,and experience

is a time factor

Take note that it`s kinda hobby for him ,so why not

to try .

He will discover the dull truce fast enough .

You need a huge practical base to mill complex parts .

Not a bad hobby ,anyway .

Newbie ,just be cautious to preserve intact all your fingers ,eyes ,head and ribbs .

 

Teh humble advisor

[NEWBEE]

thanks guys. there is lots of stuff out there to learn about mastercam all looks good. if anyone has anything i can use please shoot it to me in and email to [email protected] thanks for the help.