Self taught machinist?

[DirtyComanche]

I am what I would consider a self-taught welder. I picked up a machine, tried things, did some reading, tried more things, did more reading, then eventually got to the point that I felt confident in what I can do. Eventually I did take a course, but it was only one week of oxy-acentylene and it really did little for me (it was part of my formal training, it was more screwing around with fire than welding).

 

 

So, can I become a self-taught machinist? At work, we have a bridgeport (vertical mill) and a lathe. I've used a lathe a little before, but really can't say I learned much then (cutting speed was already set, and I didn't do anything worth talking about). Besides, this lathe is a hell of a lot more complicated, and wasn't made in china. And I've used the mill to drill holes (no drill press in the shop), but never to actually mill anything.

 

 

Anyways, so without taking a course at the college or w/e (I could, I suppose, but I can't guarantee when I'm in town), is there any recommended reading that I could do so I at least feel decently comfortable before I decided to try to do anything stupid?

[jeepmud13]

just get a machinist handbook. its the holy grail for machining. it will give you all your speeds and feeds along with some other good info

[jtdesigns]

:agree:

Machinist Handbook covers alot more then you'll ever need. Feeds, Speeds, for CNC and manual, a lil trig, and threads.

Bridgeports are real easy milling machines to learn. Just remember to offset half of your tooling size diameter when edge finding with the tool, or edge finder. When turning on a lathe its easy to cut to much because when your cutting a radius one complete turn is cutting two times, or double what the indicator says. so if you want too cut say .010 then set your machine to cut .005 and the final will be .010

Oh and whenever possible always use a center drill and center, I use a live center never liked using dead or non turning centers. This picture is of centers; the top three are live where the ends turn, and the bottom is called a dead center.

[86FUBAR]

Try checking out this place , i found it a wile back and it should help , i lurk on here every so often but havent joined yet.

http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/

[Pete M]

I was once a self-taught machinist. There was a small millling machine at one of my prior employers and I needed to use it but no one showed me much of anything beyond turning it on. It can be a dangerous piece of machinery and should demand respect. Out of ignorance I've shot my fair share of steel across the room. Then in college I took a machining course and learned all about feeds and speeds. The machinist handbook is your friend. :thumbsup: A full face guard and cutting oil are also your friends. :thumbsup:

[pingpong]

I am sure you can teach yourself, but I think if you actually took a class you would/could learn the full potential of the equipment

[BIGHEEP]

A machinist is not just someone who knows how to use a manual Bridgeport or mill. There is a lot more to it. Years ago if you knew math, your speeds and feeds, your metals, your tool types, uses and how to prep them I guess you could call yourself a machinist. In today's machining field everything is run by computers. Not only do you need to know the things mentioned above but you also need to know all your programming codes, how to use the controls on a CNC machine and a understanding of how to use cad software.

The days of the self taught machinist are over. I personally learned through a apprenticeship program right out of high school.

 

Now just using a manual milling machine to make some simple parts is another story. The internet is your friend there. I am sure you can find lots of info out in cyberspace. Also, the Machinist Handbook is your friend as well. It can answer pretty much any question you could have but it is not always very newb friendly. Good luck and remember. SAFTEY GLASSES and be very careful! It only takes a split second to make a very bad mistake and after 13 years in the trade let's just say I have seen some $#!& that would make you wanna puke.

[jtdesigns]

Another note,,, have someone show you how to use an edge finder.. You can do it with the tooling your using, just have to remember to subtract the radius of the tooling.. What you do is drop your Z till the tooling is about 1/4 or 6mm into the piece (off to the side of course not over your piece) slowly move your X over until you start to hit, or touch, (you'll probably hear it before you see it, just move real slow when you start to get close, no need to crash while zeroing) then stop, raise your z back up and then go until you get to center of your tooling, or half the dia. Hopefully your bridgeport will have a digital indicator then zero your X. Do the exact same thing for your Y. Now you'll be zeroed on one corner of the piece your working on. I like to zero the 1st quadrant or the left corner closest to me. That way all my dimensions will be + in the X & Y. You can zero your Z too just take it down until you start to touch, stop, then set your zero. Set your speed around 200 rpm for your zeroing. And if you want to learn CNC code,,, ummm yeah take a class and take lots of notes. I myself just use CAM programs. I draw it up and it'll write the code according to what machine your going to be running. I just can't remember all the G and M codes when I don't do it everyday. I was just introduced to Gibbs CAM and man is it BA! And get for real you know what metals you'll mostly be cutting on, so you don't have to learn all the feeds and speeds of everything..

All almost forgot.... one of the best things you can get into a habit of is getting you a precise 90* square and squaring up what ever it is your working on. Put your piece in the vise, use the square to get it true, tightening it up, face that side, get you a set of parallel bars (img shown) put the side you just faced on the bars into the vise and face the opposite side, repeat on the un-cut sides.

Hope this helps you one day.

[DirtyComanche]

I am sure you can teach yourself, but I think if you actually took a class you would/could learn the full potential of the equipment

 

 

I would love to, but I doubt it would work out... I have this job, that doesn't allow me to have a normal life, and yeah... With my luck the course would start on the monday night and on the wednesday morning I'd be sent to some hole for 2 weeks.

 

Maybe in the spring I'll have time.

 

 

CNC is far beyond what I need to do. Or can do.

 

I'll track down a machinist's handbook.

[jaekl]

Sure you can learn by trial and error. That is how the trade was developed. If you want to be productive and get the most out of the tools you need to acquire the knowledge. If you want to just tinker around and don't care how long it takes, you can get by without training, just think about safety. However, if your are using somone elses tools, better make sure you know what you are doing. With training you can get accuracy, better surface finish, and less tool abuse.