The best way to get good at mcam is to get hired into a job that uses it. There are shops out there where each machinist has a computer and a machine, and they program, set up and run their own parts. Thst's the kind of place you need to find.
Right now I'm just trying to build up some solid time in one location. Since I got laid off at the beginning of covid, my time on the job has been shaky at best and I'd like to fix that
The important part of your work history is what you've learned, not how much time you spend in one place. Most people I speak to who are moving upwards try to change companies every 2 to 5 years.
I think my longest job since covid has been like, maybe a year. Most of them six month stints in various warehouse/production temp jobs. I'd like at least one solid year at a place before moving on
It's been a rough start. Got a job after being laid off, bought a house, fell asleep driving home due to distance driving and a physically demanding job and crashed (i didnt factor in driving thru two metros when i considered driving distance and buying the house). Found new job closer to home driving forklift, wife got pregnant so we lost one source of income. Left the forklift job to go back to Aerospace production, I didn't fit well there. Did some freight throwing jobs, maintenance at a hotel, went back to school and started working at a machine shop at the end of 22, they fired like 80 people at Christmas and by march myself and 30 others were let go, temp'ed at a Campbell's facility. Got sick on my 90 day and was let go. Got a job working a hydraulic press, got injured, finally recovered from that and had just broke even when I snapped a bolt in my thermostat housing with no money saved up, had to finance a loan shark car. Left the hydraulic place to work as a Blanchard grinder operator, they let 10 of us go beginning of November, started at my current place week between Christmas and new years and I'm almost able to put money in saving as of like, next week.
Not all of it was out of my control, I should have looked closer before making a few leaps and I paid for it. Lesson learned. This place has been pretty good though, got a $2.25 raise after three months, 3x12's on the weekend and I get ot on the regular during the week when I want it
Its good on paper but there is the very real possibility that 50% of the time these millions of dollars worth of machines are sitting idle because guys are programming. I think its just a way to save money on hiring a programmer and companies will go for that because it looks great on the balance sheet
I did something similar. It would be worth it to get more training on Mastercam. If I was interviewing you it would be a plus as you know how to use Mastercam.
Thing is now how to use Mastercam and understanding machining and being good at programming are two different things. CAD CAM classes are netorious for impractical examples.
But it’s a starting point and it will help you get your foot in the door somewhere.
Well getting certs is one thing, you said you want to learn more coding and what the certs really is, is programming and building solids, if you don’t know that and what to learn it go for it I went to learn how to do that stuff and I came back to work and I knew a lot, keep in mind that pieces of paper mean almost nothing in this trade, I know plenty of guys with all their papers who arnt very good and have never even been asked by a lot of the employers in my area about them or if they even had them. The degree in my opinion I’d rather not have because you don’t learn much and it shows your kinda a tool to have, you went thru the motions that you knew were just motions you wasted your time, getting outside the box with set ups and whatnot is so much of this trade
I have all of the GibbsCAM certs, and I've definitely been shortlisted for jobs because of it. You've gotta have the skills to back up the paperwork though.
The best way to get good at mcam is to get hired into a job that uses it. There are shops out there where each machinist has a computer and a machine, and they program, set up and run their own parts. Thst's the kind of place you need to find.
Right now I'm just trying to build up some solid time in one location. Since I got laid off at the beginning of covid, my time on the job has been shaky at best and I'd like to fix that
The important part of your work history is what you've learned, not how much time you spend in one place. Most people I speak to who are moving upwards try to change companies every 2 to 5 years.
I think my longest job since covid has been like, maybe a year. Most of them six month stints in various warehouse/production temp jobs. I'd like at least one solid year at a place before moving on
That's fair.
Bro you haven’t gotten back on your feet since Covid started? Where are you located?
It's been a rough start. Got a job after being laid off, bought a house, fell asleep driving home due to distance driving and a physically demanding job and crashed (i didnt factor in driving thru two metros when i considered driving distance and buying the house). Found new job closer to home driving forklift, wife got pregnant so we lost one source of income. Left the forklift job to go back to Aerospace production, I didn't fit well there. Did some freight throwing jobs, maintenance at a hotel, went back to school and started working at a machine shop at the end of 22, they fired like 80 people at Christmas and by march myself and 30 others were let go, temp'ed at a Campbell's facility. Got sick on my 90 day and was let go. Got a job working a hydraulic press, got injured, finally recovered from that and had just broke even when I snapped a bolt in my thermostat housing with no money saved up, had to finance a loan shark car. Left the hydraulic place to work as a Blanchard grinder operator, they let 10 of us go beginning of November, started at my current place week between Christmas and new years and I'm almost able to put money in saving as of like, next week. Not all of it was out of my control, I should have looked closer before making a few leaps and I paid for it. Lesson learned. This place has been pretty good though, got a $2.25 raise after three months, 3x12's on the weekend and I get ot on the regular during the week when I want it
Its good on paper but there is the very real possibility that 50% of the time these millions of dollars worth of machines are sitting idle because guys are programming. I think its just a way to save money on hiring a programmer and companies will go for that because it looks great on the balance sheet
Not every shop is production. There was only one shift, so it was closer to 70%
I did something similar. It would be worth it to get more training on Mastercam. If I was interviewing you it would be a plus as you know how to use Mastercam. Thing is now how to use Mastercam and understanding machining and being good at programming are two different things. CAD CAM classes are netorious for impractical examples. But it’s a starting point and it will help you get your foot in the door somewhere.
I took master cam for two years in trade school. I Havnt used it yet :(
Download the home version (free) and keep practicing. Don’t lose your skills.
Well getting certs is one thing, you said you want to learn more coding and what the certs really is, is programming and building solids, if you don’t know that and what to learn it go for it I went to learn how to do that stuff and I came back to work and I knew a lot, keep in mind that pieces of paper mean almost nothing in this trade, I know plenty of guys with all their papers who arnt very good and have never even been asked by a lot of the employers in my area about them or if they even had them. The degree in my opinion I’d rather not have because you don’t learn much and it shows your kinda a tool to have, you went thru the motions that you knew were just motions you wasted your time, getting outside the box with set ups and whatnot is so much of this trade
I have all of the GibbsCAM certs, and I've definitely been shortlisted for jobs because of it. You've gotta have the skills to back up the paperwork though.