CNC machining apprenticeship

[The Gauge]

Any CNC machine operators on here that can help my 17yr old lad who has an interview coming up soon for a CNC machining apprenticeship, which he hopes might help lead him into the automotive industry.

Looking for any suggestions for useful or interesting things for him to know that would help him in his interview please?

He's been researching how the CNC industry started etc, he seems to think it began with NC machining in 1949 which lead to CNC machines being developed in the USA in 1958.

Are there any good things he should know that might help him? Cheers

[Tim O]

I'd strongly recommend he spends a day or two on a shop floor shadowing someone in the field, sp to speak. Does he understand the difference between a mill and a lathe, or a sliding head lathe. 5 Axis milling? One hit machining and the benefits it brings. Types of controller, how to programme, on machine or off. Cad/Cam packages etc. etc.

He really needs to get in a machine and smell the oil and hear the noise. He'd learn a huge amount in a very short amount of time.

Do you know anyone who can help? Where are you located?

PS there are tons of videos of machining on YouTube/Insta. Well worth watching.

Edited by Tim O on Monday 12th August 21:46

[The Gauge]

Tim O said:

I'd strongly recommend he spends a day or two on a shop floor shadowing someone in the field, sp to speak. Does he understand the difference between a mill and a lathe, or a sliding head lathe. 5 Axis milling? One hit machining and the benefits it brings. Types of controller, how to programme, on machine or off. Cad/Cam packages etc. etc.

He really needs to get in a machine and smell the oil and hear the noise. He'd learn a huge amount in a very short amount of time.

Do you know anyone who can help? Where are you located?

PS there are tons of videos of machining on YouTube/Insta. Well worth watching.

Edited by Tim O on Monday 12th August 21:46

Thanks, he's in Sheffield. He probably won't have time to arrange a test day, but it's perhaps something he could ask to arrange in the interview?

I'll suggest to him that he reads up on the different type of CNC machines, if he hasn't already,

Edited by The Gauge on Monday 12th August 22:09

[spikeyhead]

I'd start with understanding the basics of how to use a lathe and a mill. without try, trying to get a computer to control one is somewhat problematic.

Try MrPete222 on youtube for some good instructional videos

[Gas1883]

When I went for a interview to be a apprentice at rolls Royce I had no knowledge of engineering machines whatsoever, that’s the point of a apprentiship surely , to train your lad to do the job , I did a 4 yr apprentiship ,workshop & classroom , ended up as a universal grinder , there were no jobs avaliable as a grinder so spent a few years jig boring .
My experience is 20/30 yrs ago but I’m sure there were programmers/ loaders , I did a few weeks loading .
The main thing is he’s keen , intrested , they will train him to do the job , I had loads of mates , who worked manual machines & then went onto cnc machines , they all had to be trained
Best of luck to your lad , my indentures have been in the cupboard for 20 + yrs gathering dust , what a waste

[Gas1883]

spikeyhead said:

I'd start with understanding the basics of how to use a lathe and a mill. without try, trying to get a computer to control one is somewhat problematic.

Try MrPete222 on youtube for some good instructional videos

He should know about lathes , mills etc if he was a time served engineer going for a engineering job , but he’s a young kid going for a apprentiship , they will train him & most likely train him to do the job there way
I’ve no idea of length of apprenticeships these days , but I spent 4 yrs training , even if he knows what a lathe , internal grinder , horizontal borer they will want to give him proper training before they let him loose on a cnc machine

[Gas1883]

3 yrs 9 months , I know it’s along time ago but I find it hard to believe there now expecting a young lad , probably not long out of school to know the workings on cnc or manual machines , as you can see that is what a appprentiship is for
And even after 4 years the learning doesn’t even start until you move into the main workshop , and to be honest you never stop learning

[Gas1883]

Hopefully your lad gets one of these one day , my dad was so proud , just a shame his son only ever wanted to drive Lorries!!!
It can be a great career , I worked on aero engines , Maserati cars , 50 t dump trucks etc , etc , etc
A waste though as my heart was never really in it .
As I say all the best to you & your lad , really hope he gets the apprentiship

[Gas1883]

I even became a inspector for a while , this is what I’m trying to say , I had no knowledge of micrometers , vernier callipers etc when I went for the interview to be a apprentice engineer , they will teach you , your colleagues will help you , you will pick up things as you go along .

[The Gauge]

Well my lad had his interview today with the Managing Director of the company. He said it seemed to go really well.

He'd researched the invention of CNC back going back to the 1950's in Massachusetts USA, the previous NC machines, the purpose of CNC, the different industries it serves, the different types of CNC tables, and he'd researched the company who was interviewing him such as number of employees, turnover etc.

At the end of the interview he asked if he got the job would he be able to come over and have tour of the workshop before he started, and the MD took him on a tour there and then.

Fingers crossed.

[geeks]

Looks like it went well then, I wish him luck. I love my career in Tech don’t get me wrong but sometimes I wish I’d gone down an engineering path like this. Creating things with machines is just cool!

[Legacywr]

There are so few that want to get into this industry, so as long as he has reasonable aptitude, I don’t think he’ll have much trouble being accepted.

The main qualification is just being interested.

[The Gauge]

geeks said:

Looks like it went well then, I wish him luck. I love my career in Tech don’t get me wrong but sometimes I wish I’d gone down an engineering path like this. Creating things with machines is just cool!

Thank you. He's half way through his A levels but really doesn't like doing them and hasn't got his heart in it. His opinion is that he likes to learn but wants to learn something job specific rather than just generic academic qualifications for the sake of it, and then yet more academic qualifications at university.

[Fusion777]

Glad it went well. Production Engineer here. Like anything, think enthusiasm and attitude are two of the most important things at his stage. Obviously ability to learn plays a part, but someone with a good work ethic and attitude can easily outshine someone that has a bit more knowledge to start with.

As has been said, all the technical stuff, methods etc will be taught as they’ll want him to learn how to do things a particular way.

Reading around a subject never hurts though.

[remedy]

Good luck to him. It sounds like he's got his head screwed on and would be an asset to any company with his approach.
I would've snapped him up too and I hope he has a bright future ahead of him.

Ex 5 year modern apprentice (2001-2006) in aerospace precision engineering. Now Senior Ops Manager running a manufacturing plant.

[Legacywr]

I need to say, if you ask our machinists, they nearly all would have taken a different career path...

It's also worth pointing out that the job is becomimg more automated, we have 3 robots already, plus 2 machines that run all weekend, unmanned

[The Gauge]

Thanks for the replies. Sadly he didn't get the CNC machinists apprenticeship position. He's now looking around for other apprenticeships.

[Legacywr]

A building trade?

[bern]

I've only just seen this, sorry. If your in Sheffield the AMRC Training Centre is a great place to start. Although, I fear he may be too late for this year's intake now. Always worth a call though.

For what it's worth here's my take on it as a career. I left school at 16 and did a 4 year apprenticeship. I've had good jobs and st jobs, I'm 45 now and have never been out of work. Without giving too much personal information away I'm now office based and involved in machining research which I absolutely love. IMO to enjoy being a machinist and to be good at it you have to be consciousness with a good eye for detail, work in a methodical way, and be a bit of a engineering geek! Lots of machinists just stay as machinists but career development is possible for those who push.

There is a lot of aerospace, oil and gas, and medical machining in Sheffield but not much automotive. Of all the sectors personally I'd avoid automotive as the volumes and processes are so locked down innovation is difficult, the same could be said for aerospace TBH.

Sheffield engineering is a small village and your reputation, good or bad, can be quickly spread.

Good luck to him.

[The Gauge]

bern said:

I've only just seen this, sorry. If your in Sheffield the AMRC Training Centre is a great place to start. Although, I fear he may be too late for this year's intake now. Always worth a call though.

He was accepted by AMRC earlier in the year and now just needs a placement. The CNC interview was arranged via AMRC, and he's now awaiting details of any other placements they can offer him for interviews.