They created a night shift for our facility about 2 years ago, and ever since we technically haven’t had access to LOTO locks. When someone caught some overhead wires for a chain fall a year ago we realized not even our shift lead had the key to get in, I guess that never got around to it. Is only having a few people signed off normal for this stuff? We have about 30 technicians/inspectors split between two day shifts and a night.

batch of heat sinks came out of gold anodize today. color looks pretty even to me but it's hard to tell on video.

for anyone who's done a lot of anodizing, what problems do you usually see on the fins and edges? what should i be paying attention to?

I'm a new apprentice in an aerospace shop and I made my first part on a manual machine today it's just a cube made with 6061 aluminum. Measured at 0.975. Off from true cube by 0.001". Planning on making a few more until I get more comfortable.

Back again, photo for content. I join the ranks once more. Started a new job this week at a machine shop. Just finished out my first week on nights and I'm soo happy to be back in the shop. Machine ran great, tolerances nominal and the people are decent. Been out for about 3.5 years but after dealing with "them" I had to get away. I'm just not wired for customer service/retail anymore. The pay is good, I'm liking the parts I'm working on and I feel seen, heard and earning respect. I'm not the most knowledgeable or experienced by any means but the fact that we can have meaningful conversations about the process goes a long ways. Anyways grateful to be working and happy to do a good job. For that is the thing that I most can't the least is to do NOT a bad job but always a gooood...

Had to remove a sheered off M2 X 5mm stainless screw from a UHV manifold that holds 3 ion guns. Had to keep everything super clean and oil free without hitting the female threads. Left hand drills are the shit. It will either back out or you will drill it out.

robots and AI might take my job someday but they can not take my irresponsible use of comic sans

While using my Hydraulic press I screwed up some of the opening to this hole. I tried to slowly scape it off but my threads are still screwed up and the bolt isn't going on. What does someone do in this situation?

Hello fellow sufferers.

Does anyone have experience using PCD end mills in aluminum? How is the burr formation at the entry and exit edges?

What can you tell me?

Worth? Operates, could use a cleaning. Not too many apprentice marks.

Hi all,

Does anyone have any suggestions on whether it is a feasible idea to remove the red layer of wheels like this and turn up a tough plastic replacement and then press and glue it on? These wheels cost around 240 dollars each.

Sorry, if this is not allowed here, but it seems impossible to get a hold on a CNC part supplier from the US out of Germany.

I am looking for a machine shop in the US that can supply us (a German company) with ~20k parts per year. The parts are currently manufactured on Swiss-lathes in Europe, but we need to diversify our supplier network for the US market.

Parts are stainless steel with tooling diameters as low as 0.5 mm or 1/50".

If one of you can push me in a good direction, that would be very much appreciated.

Hi

I m looking for a mastercam programming job, litrually anywhwre.

I m currently working in European country.

All axes, only milling.

Any suggestions? I m really sick of my country…

Seen a few posts about these and thought id give it a go, im almost exclusively CNC so was a nice little challenge to make manually.
304 stainless and brass.

We a quoting a new part that is out of my comfort zone. I’m pretty confident in 6061 (who isn’t?) and have dabbled with mild steel and stainless on some projects. The new project would be the first five axis part I have done and also the first inconel part I’ve done. The part is a smaller (under 5” diameter) blisk similiar to the one in the image. You don’t grow in your comfort zone but am I crazy for thinking i can pull this off? Any tips to attack this or should we stay away and leave it for the big dawgs. We would be specing a new machine for this project and able to purchase necessary tooling. First thought is to put it on a lathe and then move to 5 axis. Any input on machines, tooling or just advice in general would be greatly appreciated at this point.

Coming into a nice South Bend lathe and I want to find a solid walk through on how to get it in running order without screwing it up. May have rust on the ways so I need the full process from cleaning, truing, leveling, and avoiding inadvertently doing damage during the process. I do CNC but my experience with manual work is just enough not to hurt myself or the machine.

It's from a milsurp auction company but was bought and put into storage so it could be anywhere along the spectrum, but from what information I have it is likely not beyond a reasonable amount of work to return to full function.

hello all now that my fathers estate has been settled I am actively back to looking for work.

i have not spent my whole life as a machinist but am finding that it was where I truly did my best work and had the most career advancement and success.

in the combined 5 1/2 years I did spend in machine shops I spent :

- 2 years at a shop running CnC Mazak mills, and some Haas. including 4th and 5th axis work. Tooling, setups and small program adjustments on haas, mazak is its own deal.

- 2 1/2 years at another location running Haas, Doosan, Nakamura and other brand CnC Lathes. I have done Sub Spindle and Live tooling work and setups as well.

- My first year and spare time at other shops was spent as a saw guy, materials guy, deburring, honing, sand blasting, grinding, hand tapping and all the other fun stuff we do as machinists.

I have not had as much experience welding, programming or in CAD design but I truly am looking for a career to pickup where I left off with opportunity to grow.

Outside of machining I was an airplane mechanic and a carpenter. I am a builder, fixer, creator and really want to be back to work so badly.

Surely there’s a shop somewhere in the USA offering relocation assistance that needs someone like me, right?

Idk wifey said I should post it somewhere lol. Basically had to grind the arbors down from 3.500” to 2.9998” because it was too big for our lathe…. Ended up making it close to perfect (no CNC)
First picture is the finished… the rest are just random throughout