So you have interest in the industry. Not sure what it means to be a machinist or how to become a machinist? Whether you are a man or a woman, you have come to the right place! Well, we hope the information on this webpage helps you to develop a better understanding of possible career paths and options available to you. A required educational background is required for all of the positions discussed here. CNC Machining Positions: The positions listed below are some of the most commonly advertised for in Hampshire. Each employer may have their own unique twist on duties and responsibilities for the jobs they are hiring for. However, the expected job skills and knowledge are pretty much standard through the industry. Entry Level CNC Operator This position requires a person to load, unload and adjust the equipment and ensure the machine is operating properly.
Although this job may sound like a "easy" job it is not. Being a full trained operator who is proficient is key to any successful operation. Operators are expected to notice when the operation run time and quality of the product coming out the machine IS not holding up.
Depending on the operation it could take up to two years depending on your incoming skills to become a effective, qualified independent CNC Operator. Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Needed Math skills-high school algebra Measurement skills Basic interpretation technical drawings Basic QC skills Knowledge of safety standards for equipment being run Some mechanical abilities Strong communication abilities Critical thinking abilities Ability to easily adapt to changing environment Ability to monitor operations
Ability to quickly react to non confirming as they occur
Ability to produce parts within tolerances
Ability to measure, cut, or work on items with great accuracy
Physical Demands - These physical demands will apply for all positions discussed on this page
Lifting, twisting, and bending
Reaching
Carrying
Standing for long periods of time
Seeing clearly close up
Judging depth and distance
.
CNC Machinist We always caution folks to be very careful with the term,
A CNC machinist will have all the work experiences we have already talked about.
However most have at some point in time taken some type of additional classes or educational programming.
A CNC Machinists is someone who is able to make adjustments (both minor and major) to the programs as needed to run the machine(s), along with all the details and responsibilities mentioned in the CNC Operator position. In some instances the CNC Machinist will write the entire program. In addition they may interface with the engineering staff, and production planning staff regarding specifics of the job being worked on. . In many cases when a person says they are a CNC Machinist, they must rely on others to assist them in certain areas. Most CNC Machinists have worked their way through a company and with additional training and experiences have moved into the position called, CNC Machinist. Learning to write CNC programs is not as easy as it sounds. In order to be successful one must learn a whole new language! Depending what machines are being run you will become proficient in several different languages as well! Knowledge in the materials being processed, speeds & feeds, along with a complete understanding of tooling. In addition you may need to learn how to use specific software such as CADCAM. So you have moved up the ladder starting out as a CNC operator, to and CNC Set-up Operator within a time frame of say 4 years. How long until you become a successful CNC Machinist? Well that really does depend on your educational background, work experience and the effort you put into it. In the best case, you would need at least 3 more years! Many of our members and their staff say they are still learning after decades with all the increasing technologies which become available! Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities Needed Advanced math skills-college Algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus. Advanced measurement skills Knowledge and application of physical sciences- physics is suggested Read, interpret technical drawings and standards Interpret, and document QC standards, and applications required as apart of the operation.Knowledge of tooling capabilities and applications for both CNC and manual machining processes Knowledge of manual machining techniques and applications
Knowledge and application of fixtures
Knowledge of advanced programming languages
Knowledge of production processes, and material
Knowledge of safety standards and safe guards
Strong mechanical abilities
Strong communication abilities Critical thinking abilities Ability to easily adapt to changing environment Ability to monitor details of processes
Ability to monitor multiple machines at same time
Ability to produce parts within tolerances
Ability to produce parts within tolerances
How long does it take to become a proficient and successful CNC Set-up Operator? Well that will truly depends on if the individual is relying solely on the experiences in the work environment or if they chose to take classes to enhance their knowledge. In addition to that is the variable of how many different types of equipment the person has run. Some experience is easily transferred between different machines and manufacturers of equipment and some are not. In general terms, most industry leaders will say it can take up to 2 years to become a highly trained, proficient, solely independent CNC Set-up Operator. Yes, that is in additional to the 2 years as a CNC Operator.
