A machine tool is a mechanical device that is used to machine metal components. The machine tool is essential in manufacturing processes and is used to cut, drill, and grind parts. A machine tool could be a lathe, mill, or a grinding machine. Machine tools are essential to making precision parts for production machining operations.

Precision machining is the process of removing material from the workpiece and holding a tight tolerance and finish on the part. The process of removing material from the workpiece is usually done with computer numerical controlled (CNC) machines.

Within the manufacturing industry there are many sectors and a lot of terms to know and understand. Here we will define what some terms are and how they relate to manufacturing.

• Manufacturing Automation: Is the use of technology and advanced machines to control the manufacturing of products. It may include the use of robotics or other equipment to aid in manufacturing.

• Manufacturing Business: An organization that uses raw materials, parts, or other components to make products. To make the products they use automated systems and advanced equipment.

The community support of the technical education program at Eleva Strum High School is impressively large and there are several reasons why. The technical education program operates as a student-run business that fabricates and machines parts for customers. The business is called Cardinal Manufacturing. The money made by the business is used to buy raw materials, upgrade equipment, marketing, cover the operating costs, and to pay the student employees.

The CNC Machining industry has many specialized terms for tooling, machines, and other technology. Here is our list of things to know about machining with CNC equipment.     

• Blueprint Reading - The term blueprint reading means that someone interprets ideas that are on a drawing or print.

• CAD/CAM Software – CAD is the acronym for Computer Aided Design. CAM is the acronym for Computer Aided Manufacturing. They are computer software that are used in the manufacturing industry.

• Caliper – A measuring tool that is used to measure internal and/ or external dimensions on machined parts.

CNC is an acronym for Computer Numerical Controlled. CNC is a type of machining practice. Besides CNC the other type of machining is manual machining. In CNC machining the workpiece is held in the machine and the CNC Programmer writes code so that the CNC machine can machine the workpiece. The CNC Machinist sets up and operates the CNC machine and oversees the machining process.

Starting a machine shop can be an overwhelming task. There are many factors to consider while keeping it running efficiently. Besides the operational tasks, we have broken it down on what it might take to have a steady stream of work in your machine shop.

I have designed and built a 3D printed clock that has over two dozen printed parts in it. My aspirations for doing this started when I bought mechanical watch movements and disassembled them to see how they work. The clock that I printed was inspired by a mechanical watch movement, but it is scaled up in size by six times.

I recently had an opportunity to visit the technical education department at the Eleva-Strum high school. While I was in the shop, there was an eighth-grade class working on manual milling projects, sheet metal projects, welding projects, and brazing projects. These projects that they were making teach the students the fundamental principles of manufacturing. With this class, the students spend six days in each subject area, then they switch to another project. They learn the basics like how to read a tape measure, and how to use a dial caliper.

This book is an insight into how to start a student-run business in your school district. It offers a look inside Cardinal Manufacturing in the Eleva-Strum School District. It defines what a student-run business is and lists the benefits of a program like this. Check it out!

I don’t know a single CNC machine shop that has an easy time hiring machinists, and would say they have enough well-qualified candidates. The fact is that there is more demand than supply, with not enough young people coming into the industry to fill the positions that are needed by machine shops today. On one hand, it's great news in general, that the demand for machinists is strong. Onshoring seems to be a longer-term trend now and the demand for machined parts in North America is strong, which is fantastic. The shadow side is that it’s tough to find machinists and most shops feel that pain, which inhibits their ability to grow at the pace they could theoretically if hiring was not a problem.