Jun 22

Jun 22 Becoming a Career Machinist

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Manufacturing, Soft Skills, Worker Shortage, Machinist

Machining is by far more interesting than what most people know. From the challenges of implementing new complex equipment in the shop, to CNC programming, or even making complex parts in one setup. It is definitely a career choice that most don’t know how advanced it can be, especially the machining of today. Now, we can make parts in one setup that were once made in many setups on multiple pieces of equipment over a long time frame. My career is a success story in manufacturing technology as I have embraced the technology of today.

Jun 17

Jun 17 How To Fill a Small Machine Shop with Work

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing

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.

Jun 9

Jun 9 Creating More Student-Run Businesses in Schools

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Soft Skills, Technical Education

Cardinal Manufacturing in the Eleva-Strum School District in Wisconsin is a student-run manufacturing business that has repair services, welding services, woodworking services, machining services, design services, and 3D printing services.

Jun 2

Jun 2 12 Ways to Collaborate Within the Community About Manufacturing

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Collaboration, Machining, Machinist, Worker Shortage

Communication and collaboration are important in the manufacturing industry. If we want to grow the industry, we need to keep up on the communication and collaboration. We must Communicate, Collaborate, and Connect and do it on a Consistent basis.

May 27

May 27 Popular Machinist Tools

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing

When I got started in machining, I really didn’t know what kind of tools to purchase. There is a vast variety of tooling to use in the shop, from inspection tools to hand tools. While having a limited budget, I had to choose to first buy the tools that I thought that I would use the most. This will vary from machine shop to machine shop often dependent on the type of work that the machinist does. Here is a list of some of the more popular choices for tools:

May 21

May 21 A Tech Ed Program That Teaches Professionalism

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing, Soft Skills, Technical Education

I recently had an opportunity to work with the technical education program at Eleva-Strum School District in Wisconsin. The project that I had for the students was to modify a few parts for a mechanical clock. It was an amazing experience to be greeted at the door by a student and the student gave me a great handshake. The technical education class teaches these soft skills to the students, starting in seventh grade.

May 15

May 15 Manufacturing Terms to Know

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineer, Manufacturing Engineers

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.

May 11

May 11 Six Reasons Manufacturing Is a Smart Career Choice

Erin Luke

Machinist, Machining, Worker Shortage

In today’s competitive job market, more people are looking for careers that offer stability, good pay, and room to grow. Modern manufacturing is a high-tech, fast-evolving field that plays a critical role in the global economy. If you're weighing your options, here’s why manufacturing is a smart career choice.

May 10

May 10 Starting or Growing Your Student Run Business Workshop

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Apprenticeship, CNC Machining, CNC Programming, Machining, Manufacturing, Soft Skills, Worker Shortage

Cardinal Manufacturing in Strum Wisconsin is a school-based manufacturing program that operates both as a class and a business as well. The students gain real world life experiences while enrolled in the program. These experiences include problem solving and working in professional roles.

Apr 30

Apr 30 How Can the Manufacturing Worker Shortage Be Fixed?

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Apprenticeship, Collaboration, Machining, Worker Shortage

In my twenty-four years of manufacturing experience, I have discovered that manufacturing can be a great industry to work in. I started as a youth apprentice in machining and then served a registered apprenticeship as a Tool and Die Maker. Over the course of my time spent in manufacturing, I was a team leader and a manufacturing engineer.

Apr 26

Apr 26 What it Takes to Become a Machinist

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Manufacturing, Technical Education

Machining and Tool & Die Making is what I have spent most of my career doing. There is something to be said for being able to turn a raw piece of material into a complex finished part. Through all my roles in the machine shop environment, I have identified a few soft skills, hard skills, and technical skills to have mastered if you want to be a great machinist.

Apr 25

Apr 25 Building Solid Employability Skills in a School Program

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Machining, Manufacturing, Technical Education

A few years ago, I learned about the Cardinal Manufacturing business in Eleva-Strum High School in Wisconsin. I was invited to attend their workshop on how they built their program in their technical education department. It was such an inspiration to hear how engaged the students were and how they were learning solid employability skills.

Apr 14

Apr 14 What is CNC Machining?

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing

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.

Apr 10

Apr 10 The Basics of 1-2-3 Blocks

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

CNC Machining, Machining, Machinist, Manufacturing

My first project in technical collage for tool and die making was to make 1-2-3 blocks. I milled the blocks oversize to leave stock for precision grinding. After drilling and tapping the holes in the blocks, we case hardened them. The last process was to precision grind them to size. The grinding process involved both grinding to blocks to size and to a squareness tolerance.

Apr 7

Apr 7 Being a Guest Speaker in Schools Is Important

Matthew Schowalter, CMfgT

Manufacturing, Technical Education

For much of my childhood I didn’t want to be in school, probably like most people. But now I am trying to get back into several schools as a guest speaker to show students my STEM project and how it relates to my great career that I had in manufacturing. It is important to show the students that manufacturing and engineering is an awesome career choice.