any one here run a cnc mill ?

[black_ump]

iam thinking about taking a 36 week course on advanced nc turning and in that class they also prep the students for entry level milling jobs.

I have ran a bridgeport for my personal use and their are mills all over in the shop i used to work at, so I have been round the mills and talked to the guys that ran them and all that.

I feel pretty good on a lathe and going to a mill even though i want to is pretty nerve racking to have to "start all over" again, however their is a lot of call for mill men these days

My question is it seems mill guys get way more money then the lathe guys is this usually true ? and if so on the average what would a mill hand start out at ? 13,15,18 an hr ? I know around here running a lathe sucks, the company i worked for chumped a lot of guys off.

if you run a mill I would definitely like to hear your opinions and advice tword learning nc milling and g code

 

[PistonPete]

Re: any one here run a cnc mill ?

i am not sure what you mean, but, i operated a CNC mill at H-P about 33 years ago, i loaded a paper tape in the machine, made the necessary set up placed a part in the jig and hit the start button, i then sat back for the next 5 to 15 minutes reading a book or visiting with my neighboring machine operator, i then took the first part off, turned it over to QC and waited for the "all clear" to run or make some minor adjustments which required the programmer to remake a new tape, that is my experience with the CNC milling, i am quite certain CNC milling today is very different.

 

[black_ump]

Re: any one here run a cnc mill ?

looking for your opinions on pay and if getting this training is going to be worth it in the money department, if not i will just stick to a lathe

 

[ballsdeep]

Re: any one here run a cnc mill ?

I run a Cincinatti Milicron, the engineers do all the programming etc. I do the QC and machine adjustments. I am making right at $20 an hr in southwest Ia, that is pretty damn good money here for no college ed. My advice is that you dont need an education to run a machine. There isn't a machine out there I would be afraid to run with the PROPER training.

 

[Teggy1]

Re: any one here run a cnc mill ?

While learning G-code is fine, and a good skill to have, I doubt you would do much programming.

Almost any shop running CNC equipment that would require alot of G-code, will more than likely have a CAD/CAM program. Depending on the complexity of the part, you could be looking at hundreds of thousands of lines of code, your program if printed out would be longer than the health care bill.

I believe most schools still teach it, but as good as SOME of the conversational formats are on the newer mills, it is not really needed unless you get into really cool 3 axis milling.

I worked in a shop here in north central Iowa, for 7 years.
I was responsible for programming, setup, operation, inspection, and sometimes assembly of my parts, and maintenance on my mills. At the time of my departure I was making 18.25/hr. health ins. paid in full by employer, and modest quarterly and yearly bonuses.
Almost all of the parts were one off, and if lucky, maybe a run of 25-50 parts.

I did use G-code to setup the CAM headers for which ever machine I was programming for, and a general proof read (nothing in depth).
Almost all my experience is with Mazak and Milltronics conversational side, and you can do a hell of a lot if you are creative.

I guess my point is, we learned and programmed by hand, G-code for the Haas mill at college, and haven't hardly used it since. The Milltronics I learned as I went, with no training, just the other guy basically teaching me the format.

The Mazak we got brand spanking new, and I just started going through the books, with a little advice from the setup guy the day he was there. Eventually went to the class in Chicago for the Mazatrol fushion training, but that was a waste of time and money, I learned more in two weeks going through the books than 4 days of class.

It is a rewarding career, and I miss it a lot, but I landed a job in the wind energy industry, where my entry level pay is higher than that of 7yrs of experience and college. Not to mention a better retirement plan, a pension, really good health, dental and vision benefits, and I am not spending a shit load on tools.

As to $$ for lathe or mill operators, they are operators, push a button, maybe change an offset, maybe take a measurement, and repeat. I don't think you'll see any significant wage difference between the two.

Good luck.

 

[black_ump]

Re: any one here run a cnc mill ?

thanks for your heads up guys, i just wanted to get a feeler out their and see what other people though about my idea and see if it is going to be worth it in the long run or not

 

[SSG3K]

Re: any one here run a cnc mill ?

That career is not worth it. Machine operators dont make anything. Start buying storage lockers and setup at the flea market, youll make 6 figures selling handme downs and junk.

One more thing stay out of the automotive business also.

Rich

 

[TCA4570]

Re: any one here run a cnc mill ?

If you don't want to be just a button pusher, there is a lot for you to learn.
If you don't know jack about tooling, then how can you program?
Also material, fixturing and machines come into play.
I'll put it in a gun part for you.
How long would it take you to machine the main bolt for an AR?
How many operations?
How many tools?
How many machines and set-ups?

We still produce over 20% of the worlds manufactured goods.
We just do it with less unskilled labor.
Our shit jobs go to other places.
If they can't do them we get them back to look at again.

My hobby has given me a paycheck for over 25 years.

PS. do you understand backlash on a Bridgeport?

TC

 

[marduk185]

Re: any one here run a cnc mill ?

ran mills and lathes for several years at various employers including one aviation fabricator but in my experience most of the "thinking" machine work went overses and its more a sweatshop game here in the states now so i got into other higher paying monkey work. still id love to buy a bridgeport for my garage...

 

[Aqua Mark]

Re: any one here run a cnc mill ?

My buddy owns a shop with 2 HAAS and a couple lathes. He could stay busy working 24 hrs a day, but he has decades of experience, formerly in the aerospace industry.

When I go visit, I get to push the green button and create metal shavings...

Seriously, its a lot of work, a sharp mind req'd, and hours on your feet every day...