Machining.Blog® is a weekly blog focused on manufacturing career development. It features blog articles on the fundamentals of manufacturing for aspiring machinists. Our goal is to create an interest in manufacturing in the USA. Our writer Matthew Schowalter has worked in manufacturing for 24 years, and he covers the topics that matter to someone starting their career in manufacturing.
“The soft skills the machinist uses are the unseen tools in their box and can directly impact the success or failure of a dreamed after machining career.”
All in CNC Machining
I started my career in tool and die making without having a grasp of what it actually was. Over the years, I have worked with many tool and die makers that said the same thing. I now explain it to people as a tool and die maker makes industrial tools which make parts. There are several main types of industrial tools, they are typically molds and stamping dies.
Do You Have the Important Qualities for a Career in Machining?
Do you have a mechanical skillset?
Are you a technical person?
Do you excel at math?
If so, consider a career as a Machinist or Tool and Die Maker
Mathematical Skills - Ability to add, subtract, multiply, divide, and compute basic trigonometry functions while choosing the right methods to solve the problem
Reasoning Ability - Ability to use common sense understanding and solve problems
Oral Comprehension - Ability to listen and understand information spoken
Computer Literacy - Ability to use a computer and work with Microsoft Office programs
Mechanical / Technical Skills - Must operate lathes, mills, grinders and other computer controlled machines
Machinists make components and parts on computer controlled manufacturing equipment such as a CNC lathe or a CNC mill.
Tool and die makers make tool, die and mold components and other industrial tools on manual and CNC equipment. They also fit the components together and align and assemble the industrial tools.
With the shortage of manufacturing workers in the United States we must start to investigate the situation closer to fill the jobs of today and tomorrow. Besides the worker compensation, benefits, work environment, and career development topics that may influence career decisions in manufacturing, we should now look closer into the following topics.
Tiger Manufacturing is a school based business in Webster High School in Webster Wisconsin. It is a business run inside the schools technical education program. The program is run by the teacher Roy Ward. I asked Roy a few questions about the program and the implementation of the cobot on the CNC lathe.
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.
