What to Expect
People who seek machinist training are usually pretty good with machines
-- and by the time they've finished their training, they're even better.
"A typical day during my education involved learning the various codes
used in programming a CNC router, writing basic programs, maintenance of machinery,
and a lot of heavy lifting," says machinist Kevin Stoddart.
He recalls a few obstacles along the way. "The single biggest difficulty
I encountered while training was to accept that, occasionally, the design
you're programming may not work out," he says.
"It sometimes requires several revisions before the final product comes
out the way you want. This can be discouraging, as the day goes by and things
don't seem to progress. You sometimes need to step away and approach things
with a fresh perspective."
Don't be afraid to ask questions, advises Doug Nelson. He apprenticed with
a leading American steel and bearing manufacturer and did the classroom portion
of his training at Stark State College of Technology in Ohio.
"While in the shop, the best experiences I have had have been working
with the older, experienced machinists, as they have explained how to
accomplish a particular task," says Nelson. "Some of these guys are real artists."
He had one and a half to three hours a day of homework. "Some of this can
be completed while still at school -- if not all of it," he says.
Stoddart says he had a small amount of homework while he was training.
"I was required to write increasingly complex programs on a continuing basis."
Survival Skills
Green says tools and books for his training were expensive. "One tip that
I have is to buy only quality tools," he says.
"If you can't afford all the tools needed for the program, then get what
you can and borrow the rest. Most schools will have anything you need available."
How to Prepare
Concentrate on math -- especially geometry, trigonometry and algebra
-- and the physical sciences. "A good working knowledge of right-angle trigonometry
and familiarity with the basic concepts of algebraic manipulation -- i.e.
equations -- is a must," says Nelson.
Shop classes will help you get used to working with machines. Developing
your computer skills is also a good idea.