machining class: how to prepare

[vavet]

I'm thinking of taking some machining classes at a local community college. There are several reasons for this.
1. I think it'd be interesting.
2. We have a lathe and vertical mill in the engineering lab where I work. I know some of the principles about how to select speeds and feeds, but I'm not terribly confident. We also need a subject-matter expert on these machines to maintain them and use them. I would like to become that person.

I'm not interested in becoming a machinist as a profession. I could probably learn most of what I need to know by reading a book or watching YouTube videos, but I think there's nothing quite like learning about it in a proper setting and having someone watch you and provide you feedback to tell you what you're doing right and wrong. I also think I should do some prep before the class to get the most out of the class. I wanted to take the class last fall, but not understanding what was going to happen with COVID scared me off.

All that brings me to this question: is there a book/YouTube channel/other resource that you would recommend to help prepare for this endeavor? I have about 4 months before the class starts.

 

[txvwnut]

Check out tubalcain or this old Tony on you tube. Tubalcain(mr.Pete) is a retired machine shop teacher and has good content, he’s also a member on here.

 

[cmandp]

As far as structured learning goes I had a textbook in metal shop in high school (which I don't think we used that much). I've also read a lot out of Machinery's Handbook and A Treatise on Milling and Milling Machines by the Cincinnati Milling Machine Company. I've never read it but South Bend's book How to Run a Lathe is highly regarded as a good starting point.

I also watched a lot of videos on YouTube from Keith Fenner, Tom's Techniques, Stefan Gotteswinter, This Old Tony, Tubelcain, just to name a few. I also just did things on the lathe or mill when a project needed it (Sometimes twice or the part didn't end up as I designed but it worked lol).

 

[slowtwitch73]

There are actually a few colleges that have uploaded shop class how to run machine videos.

Quick search turned up this:

Google it.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Joe Pieczynski is another amazing knowledge base and instructor on YouTube.

 

[txvwnut]

I forgot about Joe Pie, he usually starts some of his detailed vids at a dry erase board to give a little bit theory before heading to the machine.

 

[laser3kw]

I wanted to take the class last fall, but not understanding what was going to happen with COVID scared me off.

nothing to worry about - most machines are immune to Covid.

 

[M-technik-3]

Just finished up a 4 month adult cnc and prototrack mill program. Already landed a job after being out of work for over a year.

 

[Ralf11]

Repeat this phrase to yourself over & over:

"Speeds and Feeds"

 

[930dreamer]

You have the class opportunity, machines at work and the drive to learn, your all set. Is there someone at work that can help you until the class starts?

 

[fourbyford]

Years ago I taught a machining class. It's a LOT of fun. Biggest problem I saw in my students was a serious deficiency in MATH. It's definitely not rocket surgery but machining is math. If you need it, brush up! You'll be fine!

...D

 

[gahrajmahal]

I taught adult education classes, Engineering drawings for machine trades for a few years and was constantly surprised by the number of “machinists” who worked making parts but could not read blueprints. I also went to several factories in town for my 21 hour class (7 three hour sessions). These folks just load parts into a CNC machine, don’t know anything about materials, cutting tools and the sad part is the company owners refer to these employees as machinists.

I think most GJ members, myself included, think of a machinist as someone that knows all aspects of the job and finds that to be satisfying and enjoys the constant learning that the trade requires.

 

[EdT]

A few thoughts:
Is the course you're looking at one that will teach you how to run the machines you have or is it geared to CNC machines which are more viable in todays market? Most commercial shops use CNC stuff today and, consequently, that's what is taught in vocational training. That training is, at a minimum, how to be a CNC operator (as opposed to a machinist). Additional training would encompass programming and related CNC activities. These do not provide much useful info about running a manual mill or lathe. Feeds and speed on CNC equipment are very different than on a manual machine and are, for the most part, part of the canned program that runs the machine. On a manual machine, the speeds and feed are important if you're trying to maximize productivity and get as many pounds of chips on the bucket as you can as quickly as you can. Smoking blue chips all the time w/o melting the tool. In an engineering lab environment maximum productivity is usually not an issue. You are not making "production" parts that have to be the same one to the next. You are making one round thing with a hole in it that fits onto one end of this thing and connects to another thing. Maybe a rough sketch on a piece of paper. In general, very different from a production machining task. That's not to say there is never anything complex, but that the environment and expectations are different between production and experimental machining.
My suggestion would be to get on one of the machines and try to make something simple. Go slow. I think most folks try to remove too much material at once and the melt stuff and break tools. Once you figure out a bit about how the machine works go watch as many of the videos suggested above as you can handle. They will be more meaningful after you have made some chips. One good to learn about running the machines is to try to make something specific,. There are lots of plans for things you can make and kits for small engines are readily available. Pick something dead simple to start with. A small oscillating steam engine that can be run on compressed air would be good. Pretty easy parts and a reasonable chance of success.

 

[thejimmy]

Another good YT channel is That Lazy Machinist

 

[laser3kw]

I taught adult education classes, Engineering drawings for machine trades for a few years and was constantly surprised by the number of “machinists” who worked making parts but could not read blueprints. .

Very good advice. Learn to read and become an expert at reading detail drawings. I had 20+ year machinist that couldn't identify basic symbols or knew how to extract pertinent geometry from multiple views.

 

[jmarkwolf]

Lest we forget Youtube content creators ABOM79 and Keith Fenner and Keith Rucker.

 

[matt_i]

Some varied ideas are to obtain the manuals for your machines.

They will point you toward lubricants.

Keeping the ways cleaned off and oiled, take a hard stance against any kind of abrasive work on the lathe are your best bets.

If you can run your spindle around 500 rpm you can machine a lot of things, cutters up to 3/8" is my advice and turning <1" OD. Large workpieces or large cutters will change this of course.

My personal take is that feed calculations are a 1930s I.E. study about how to get the most out of a plant full of horizontal mills. When you feed by hand the "feedback" thru your hand is considerably more valuable than any kind of calculation.

Burning up a few HSS cutters is the best learning mechanism about what not to do.

Despite the difficulty of reading it, your micrometer is the best measuring tool.

 

[Spareparts]

Learn to grind your own tooling, wont do it much today, but sometimes you cant get that one special tool out of a catalog.

 

[homebuilt burner]

Look online for machinist class projects, ie a hammer. Then, figure out the best order of operation to make it. Think about it when your driving to work or mowing the lawn.

 

[goldtang]

Totally agree with Spareparts said about grinding you own tools especially drill bits

 

[bwringer]

Quinn Dunki, proprietor of the Youtube channel Blondihacks, put together a VERY nice series of videos on lathe basics for beginners a year or two ago. The other channels also have a lot of great info, but they can be the deep end of the pool sometimes, and you really need to concentrate on the basics and safety for a while:

As others have mentioned, math and basic geometry skills may require some tuning up.

You'll also have a huge advantage and avoid a lot of mistakes if you can show up with good micrometer reading and measuring skills in general. Buy a cheapie micrometer, maybe some snap gauges, and measure everything.

Tool bit grinding is a brain-bender as well; everyone seems to have their own methods, so it might be worth hitting Youtube U. for an assortment to help you start to make sense of the basics. And then your instructor will probably have a new method...

That said, there are also some real hacks on the 'tube of You... pay attention to the credibility of your sources.

 

[vavet]

Thanks to all those who commented on this thread. I am enrolled in the class now. I think I am the oldest student (mid-40s), although there is another guy who is close to my age. It is not unlikely I am older than some of my classmates' parents.
I was surprised to find there are two women in the class.
We are nearing the end of the semester. It's been informative, but slower-paced than I would have liked. I would have liked to have learned more about proper care and feeding of the equipment. I would have liked to have done more than work with a hand drill and the lathe. We haven't even touched on the vertical mill.
At least now I have the textbooks and some other resources to learn more about machining. I am not going to continue in the series of classes.

 

[gearhead1]

I’ve learned a lot by ‘playing’. I have a Bridgeport and a lathe and over time, I can figure most things out. Sure a career machinist would do what I do much faster, but my end result works.


Know how to calculate feed rate based on surface feet per minute (SFM). That gives you a good place to start.

‘Machine shop tips and tricks” is a cool book I found.

 

[ZRX61]

Tom Lipton's book "Metalworking, Sink Or Swim" is a great book to read. (Which I think is also the same book Gearhead1 mentioned)

Also: The Home Machinists Handbook by Briney.

 

[JSGAuto]

I work in the machining industry, and train new employees.

Everyone has an opinion on the "right way" do not spend time learning the youtube (or whatever) machining method. Spend the time being prepared with the basics to take the most out of the instructor/class.

This is what I want to see from new employees.

1)understanding of reading technical drawings.
2)Math skills. Algebra, & geometry.
3)Understanding of industrial safety & appropriate equipment. (yes, I'll give you safety glasses, but wouldn't you rather be comfortable?)
4)Know how to use/read basic measurement tools (not digital ones!)
5)know how to perform basic inspections.
6)Be willing to learn & ask for help.

More advanced:
7)understand materials, properties & harnesses (beginner level...Aluminum Vs steel)
8)Understand "what" machine to use (process to make something)

 

[alfazer]

For looking after/setting up the machines, two things I keep seeing on hobby/beginner machining groups are:
Lathe: How to level the bed to eliminate twist and get accurate parallel on a long length with no taper.
Mill: How to tram the head.