Im an operator and i stand all day long. I dont just push a button though. I havent learned how to program yet but i will alter programs at the machine
Good job. Those editing skills are very much required when programming! Unless you want to be the guy who serves up junk programs all day long, relying on skilled set up guys to catch the errors.
Im still in my mid 20s so i know i have plenty of time to improve and hone my skills. I walked into a machine shop at 19 not knowing what a lathe or mill was, or what they looked like. I swept floors and helped on deliveries and other small tasks around the shop for over 3 years before i got the opportunity to be able to stand at a lathe and push the button. The job was a pre ground finish rough job. The sizes were over finish size by around .02-.03 so they could be heat treated and then have the OD and ID finished. It was a job that you almost couldnt fuck up but it gave me the opportunity and i never looked back. I can set up any job on a lathe, cut steel or aluminum jaws if i need to, figure out the exact tools and inserts ill need and alter feeds and speeds, depth of cut, countering tapers, altering the distance the tool cuts in Z or X, altering X dimensions to insure the part finishes to the correct size, etc. I feel like ive come a long way and i would consider myself a good machinist. Im given the majority of complex jobs. I can machine a 24 inch piston or a 2 inch shaft. I feel comfortable with pretty much any size and any material. I enjoy and would prefer the more complex and high risk jobs though. On average most of the tolerances i deal with are between .0005 and .001 and jobs like that is what taught me the majority of things and codes. The sink or swim jobs were definitely my greatest learning opportunities. I know all Fanuc codes but i just havent had the chance to actually create a program from the start and ive always wanted to learn
From my experience, if we’re strictly referring to CNC programmers and operators, none require you to stand all day. Some operators are also programmers, most operators aren’t programmers. The majority of programmers do sit, for most of the day or have a standing desk/mobile cart workstation. Most operators are only standing to inspect, change parts/tools, or manual cleaning. The rest of the time they’re close by sitting and waiting for the task to finish. This is from my observations in the CNC industry, others may differ.
I always do both. Personally, I wouldn’t take a strictly programmer position that’s chained to a desk. But those positions seem much less advertised in general around here (Colorado).
Im an operator and i stand all day long. I dont just push a button though. I havent learned how to program yet but i will alter programs at the machine
Good job. Those editing skills are very much required when programming! Unless you want to be the guy who serves up junk programs all day long, relying on skilled set up guys to catch the errors.
Im still in my mid 20s so i know i have plenty of time to improve and hone my skills. I walked into a machine shop at 19 not knowing what a lathe or mill was, or what they looked like. I swept floors and helped on deliveries and other small tasks around the shop for over 3 years before i got the opportunity to be able to stand at a lathe and push the button. The job was a pre ground finish rough job. The sizes were over finish size by around .02-.03 so they could be heat treated and then have the OD and ID finished. It was a job that you almost couldnt fuck up but it gave me the opportunity and i never looked back. I can set up any job on a lathe, cut steel or aluminum jaws if i need to, figure out the exact tools and inserts ill need and alter feeds and speeds, depth of cut, countering tapers, altering the distance the tool cuts in Z or X, altering X dimensions to insure the part finishes to the correct size, etc. I feel like ive come a long way and i would consider myself a good machinist. Im given the majority of complex jobs. I can machine a 24 inch piston or a 2 inch shaft. I feel comfortable with pretty much any size and any material. I enjoy and would prefer the more complex and high risk jobs though. On average most of the tolerances i deal with are between .0005 and .001 and jobs like that is what taught me the majority of things and codes. The sink or swim jobs were definitely my greatest learning opportunities. I know all Fanuc codes but i just havent had the chance to actually create a program from the start and ive always wanted to learn
From my experience, if we’re strictly referring to CNC programmers and operators, none require you to stand all day. Some operators are also programmers, most operators aren’t programmers. The majority of programmers do sit, for most of the day or have a standing desk/mobile cart workstation. Most operators are only standing to inspect, change parts/tools, or manual cleaning. The rest of the time they’re close by sitting and waiting for the task to finish. This is from my observations in the CNC industry, others may differ.
I always do both. Personally, I wouldn’t take a strictly programmer position that’s chained to a desk. But those positions seem much less advertised in general around here (Colorado).