I am starting school in July to get certified in precision manual and cnc machining. I plan to get all 9 certifications and the quality inspection certification. As far as gunsmith work is concerned is there any specific aspects that I should spend extra effort on (although I plan to master it all). I look forward to hear your advice. Jeff
Gunsmithing precision machining
- Thread starter persistant7500
- Start date
Re: precision machining
What school are you attending?
What school are you attending?
Re: precision machining
I would focus on manual and measurement. Pay attention to speeds, feeds, tool grinds and setup. Learn that there is a lot of ways to skin a cat, but usually a couple are "best" choices.
I would focus on manual and measurement. Pay attention to speeds, feeds, tool grinds and setup. Learn that there is a lot of ways to skin a cat, but usually a couple are "best" choices.
Re: precision machining
bigblue&gold gateway community college
bigblue&gold gateway community college
Re: precision machining
hero's I will be taking and extra class exclusively for manual and getting the inspection measuring certs.
hero's I will be taking and extra class exclusively for manual and getting the inspection measuring certs.
Re: precision machining
Certs are great, but don't focus on the curriculum to pass the test, absorb the techniques used to get there. A cert might help you get a job, but skills and time management are what will keep it.
Certs are great, but don't focus on the curriculum to pass the test, absorb the techniques used to get there. A cert might help you get a job, but skills and time management are what will keep it.
Re: precision machining
Excellent advice so far. I would suggest taking something or taking some time to directly discuss various work-holding techniques.
You can have a super high speed, ultra precision CNC but if you can't effectively hold the work it is just wasted money. Clever work holding will pay back over and over again.
Excellent advice so far. I would suggest taking something or taking some time to directly discuss various work-holding techniques.
You can have a super high speed, ultra precision CNC but if you can't effectively hold the work it is just wasted money. Clever work holding will pay back over and over again.
Re: precision machining
roger that, I am old enough to know that I am going to be living in that shop for the next 6 months, and when not there am going to be buying the equipment for my own shop under my range room
roger that, I am old enough to know that I am going to be living in that shop for the next 6 months, and when not there am going to be buying the equipment for my own shop under my range room
Re: precision machining
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Master the art of tool grinding. Once someone teaches you to hand-grind a 135° split point on a drill, retouch/sharpen every drill in the cabinet.</div></div>
THIS is such an important thing, that it is worth repeating. So many don't have a clue as to how to sharpen a drill bit. Some cannot do it without 'special machines and guages'.
I was taught many years ago, using 2 5/8"UNC nuts. Things to which you'd find in almost ANY shop.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Master the art of tool grinding. Once someone teaches you to hand-grind a 135° split point on a drill, retouch/sharpen every drill in the cabinet.</div></div>
THIS is such an important thing, that it is worth repeating. So many don't have a clue as to how to sharpen a drill bit. Some cannot do it without 'special machines and guages'.
I was taught many years ago, using 2 5/8"UNC nuts. Things to which you'd find in almost ANY shop.
Re: precision machining
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Master the art of tool grinding. Once someone teaches you to hand-grind a 135° split point on a drill, retouch/sharpen every drill in the cabinet. </div></div>
EXCELLENT advice.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Master the art of tool grinding. Once someone teaches you to hand-grind a 135° split point on a drill, retouch/sharpen every drill in the cabinet. </div></div>
EXCELLENT advice.
Re: precision machining
I'm glad you are taking extra time with the manual machines. I believe this will be a trade in demand in years to come. We are slowly dying out, it seems. I am a young guy in the manual business far as I can tell, and I'm almost 50.
By all means, learn to grind your own tools and drill bits. I don't think you really can call yourself a machinist if you can't. It's a real money saver, and a lot of the time a time saver.
See if you can find an old tool maker to learn from. Work holding/fixturing is a big part of the game.
All old school here, not even a DRO. And we make a pretty reasonable living at it.
We don't need no stinkin CNC's.....
Hehe
I'm glad you are taking extra time with the manual machines. I believe this will be a trade in demand in years to come. We are slowly dying out, it seems. I am a young guy in the manual business far as I can tell, and I'm almost 50.
By all means, learn to grind your own tools and drill bits. I don't think you really can call yourself a machinist if you can't. It's a real money saver, and a lot of the time a time saver.
See if you can find an old tool maker to learn from. Work holding/fixturing is a big part of the game.
All old school here, not even a DRO. And we make a pretty reasonable living at it.
We don't need no stinkin CNC's.....
Hehe
Re: precision machining
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 671RTO9513</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm glad you are taking extra time with the manual machines. I believe this will be a trade in demand in years to come. We are slowly dying out, it seems. I am a young guy in the manual business far as I can tell, and I'm almost 50.
By all means, learn to grind your own tools and drill bits. I don't think you really can call yourself a machinist if you can't. It's a real money saver, and a lot of the time a time saver.
See if you can find an old tool maker to learn from. Work holding/fixturing is a big part of the game.
All old school here, not even a DRO. And we make a pretty reasonable living at it.
We don't need no stinkin CNC's.....
Hehe </div></div>
What's the difference between a toolmaker and a machinist?
...a toolmaker is a slow machinist...
I learned from two journeymen toolmakers, one of which is a <span style="font-weight: bold">master</span> journeyman. To those that don't know what that takes - look it up. Incredibly difficult, rare, and a dying breed.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 671RTO9513</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'm glad you are taking extra time with the manual machines. I believe this will be a trade in demand in years to come. We are slowly dying out, it seems. I am a young guy in the manual business far as I can tell, and I'm almost 50.
By all means, learn to grind your own tools and drill bits. I don't think you really can call yourself a machinist if you can't. It's a real money saver, and a lot of the time a time saver.
See if you can find an old tool maker to learn from. Work holding/fixturing is a big part of the game.
All old school here, not even a DRO. And we make a pretty reasonable living at it.
We don't need no stinkin CNC's.....
Hehe </div></div>
What's the difference between a toolmaker and a machinist?
...a toolmaker is a slow machinist...
I learned from two journeymen toolmakers, one of which is a <span style="font-weight: bold">master</span> journeyman. To those that don't know what that takes - look it up. Incredibly difficult, rare, and a dying breed.
Re: precision machining
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: persistant7500</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am starting school in July to get certified in precision manual and cnc machining. I plan to get all 9 certifications and the quality inspection certification. As far as gunsmith work is concerned is there any specific aspects that I should spend extra effort on (although I plan to master it all). I look forward to hear your advice. Jeff </div></div>
My PMT course also starts in July. I was blown away by the amount of money wrapped up in a shop whose floors are white glove clean...I'm excited to get my hands on em.
Good luck on your journey! The average age for a machinist right now is around 47 so it's a great time to get into it.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: persistant7500</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am starting school in July to get certified in precision manual and cnc machining. I plan to get all 9 certifications and the quality inspection certification. As far as gunsmith work is concerned is there any specific aspects that I should spend extra effort on (although I plan to master it all). I look forward to hear your advice. Jeff </div></div>
My PMT course also starts in July. I was blown away by the amount of money wrapped up in a shop whose floors are white glove clean...I'm excited to get my hands on em.
Good luck on your journey! The average age for a machinist right now is around 47 so it's a great time to get into it.
Re: precision machining
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Master the art of tool grinding. Once someone teaches you to hand-grind a 135° split point on a drill, retouch/sharpen every drill in the cabinet. </div></div>
My Father apprenticed as a Tool and Die Maker to the Ford Motor Company in 1938. He said the first thing taught to him was how to sharpen a drill.
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: turbo54</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Master the art of tool grinding. Once someone teaches you to hand-grind a 135° split point on a drill, retouch/sharpen every drill in the cabinet. </div></div>
My Father apprenticed as a Tool and Die Maker to the Ford Motor Company in 1938. He said the first thing taught to him was how to sharpen a drill.
Re: precision machining
Also learn the lingo, talk the talk, walk the walk!
When conversing between manufacturing, engineering and quality you need to know how to read the numbers and tolerances in thousands.
.1243 is read one hundred and twenty four thousands and 3 tenths. Many gunsmith will jumble this up and confuse the issues on the actual size.
Refer to the old guys and listen as much as possibly, that's how I learned.
Also learn the lingo, talk the talk, walk the walk!
When conversing between manufacturing, engineering and quality you need to know how to read the numbers and tolerances in thousands.
.1243 is read one hundred and twenty four thousands and 3 tenths. Many gunsmith will jumble this up and confuse the issues on the actual size.
Refer to the old guys and listen as much as possibly, that's how I learned.
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