Who Are We?

TSmcam · February 24, 2025, 08:21 PM

The kill the forum post got me thinking... who are we?

So, I thought maybe it would be good to know each other (just a little bit). I've met a few here, when I've been to the USA, but only about three. So I'll start.

I'm Mike. I'm 58. I live in Christchurch, New Zealand. Married with two adult children who have moved out. I work (part of the time) as a CNC Manager, looking after a shop full of Okumas. Do programming, design and technical stuff. The rest of my time, I am reseller for TopSolid, Vericut and Cimco. I used Mastercam from around 1991 through to 2014 before making the switch. Used to work as contract tech support for the NZ MC reseller.

Hobbies are movies, music, and travel. And sipping Kentucky bourbon. And I am aiming to get a 1942-45 Ford or Willys jeep to keep me busy tinkering.

Flycut · February 25, 2025, 05:42 AM

Now I know 2 people from Christchurch New Zealand.

French Canadian here from Calgary Alberta, but I've been all over.
Originally from Ottawa Ontario, then Montreal, Winnipeg, Edmonton and now here.
Highschool drop-out at 16 been working in machine shops ever since. Over 30 years now.
Probably worked in 20 different shops over the years, often as a second part-time job.
Not much time for hobbies but I try to go hiking in the Rockies whenever I get a chance.
Just bought my own CNC Lathe last year and spend most of my spare time in the garage.

Anyways, back to work.

Victor

Brad St · February 25, 2025, 05:48 AM

Pretty bold and nice of you Mike for sharing =)

I'm Brad and 56. I live in Osceola WI with my wife and have 3 adult children. I've been doing Tool and die work for 37 yrs and shortly after starting in the trade got right into the Cnc side of it. Been an amazing career that has supported my family through all of it and the things we enjoyed.

Which is nowadays, hiking, kayaking, Fostering rescue dogs for Shameless plug for Coco's heart dog rescue, camping and other outdoor things. Our latest adventure has been I became a Grandpa this past year and am loving it!

SuperHoneyBadger · February 25, 2025, 05:50 AM

A great idea my Commonwealth brother!

I'm Mitch. I'm 34, working in Ottawa, Canada right now as a CNC Programmer. I've been with my wife for coming on 16 years now, and we have a little boy at home, a tiny Siamese cat and a labradoodle. I'm the only programmer here at work, self taught with all your guy's help. I design the fixtures, research tools, keep the server fed with fresh programs, the usual stuff. I started with Mastercam in 2020, coming from Mechanical Design for 6 years before that. We were attempting to design a novel wheelchair, but it was on a slow decline after protoypes and patenting (US10548785B2). No vision for what lay ahead... And what seems like ages ago I was in the film industry as a VFX artist because I didn't get into university, so I leveraged nepotism as most people do in the movies.

Spare time for me is hard to come by, with a 4 year old and a house to run, but I do enjoy some casual file management and backing up family photos and history. Of course watching movies and old TV shows with the wife, and racing games on a really big day, as long as I thin out the honey do list!

JParis · February 25, 2025, 05:55 AM

Hi, I'm John, I'm an asshole

YoDoug · February 25, 2025, 05:56 AM

The name's Doug, but everybody calls me Psycho. Any of you guys call me Doug, and I'll kill you. Also, I don't like no one touching my stuff. So just keep your meathooks off. If I catch any of you guys in my stuff, I'll kill you. And I don't like nobody touching me. Any of you homos touch me, and I'll kill you.

Del. · February 25, 2025, 06:10 AM

Quote from: YoDoug on February 25, 2025, 05:56 AMThe name's Doug, but everybody calls me Psycho. Any of you guys call me Doug, and I'll kill you. Also, I don't like no one touching my stuff. So just keep your meathooks off. If I catch any of you guys in my stuff, I'll kill you. And I don't like nobody touching me. Any of you homos touch me, and I'll kill you.

I've got to party with you.

Flycut · February 25, 2025, 06:18 AM

Quote from: YoDoug on February 25, 2025, 05:56 AMThe name's Doug, but everybody calls me Psycho. Any of you guys call me Doug, and I'll kill you. Also, I don't like no one touching my stuff. So just keep your meathooks off. If I catch any of you guys in my stuff, I'll kill you. And I don't like nobody touching me. Any of you homos touch me, and I'll kill you.

I need the poke button.

Jim at Gentex · February 25, 2025, 06:20 AM

Quote from: YoDoug on February 25, 2025, 05:56 AMThe name's Doug, but everybody calls me Psycho. Any of you guys call me Doug, and I'll kill you. Also, I don't like no one touching my stuff. So just keep your meathooks off. If I catch any of you guys in my stuff, I'll kill you. And I don't like nobody touching me. Any of you homos touch me, and I'll kill you.

...and the obvious response,

"LIGHTEN UP, FRANCIS!"

ghuns · February 25, 2025, 06:32 AM

Well, my name is Jim, but most people call me...Jim.

Actually it's Greg.

50 something. Grandfather of three tiny terrorists(boys) thanks to our Daughter and the SiL. He's in the USMC. They will be moving to Beaufort SC later this year.

Previous empty nesters until recently. Our boy kid quit his job in KC and took one local to us here in Indiana. Told him to crash here until spring. I am done moving his ass during the winter.

And contrary to anything you've read here, I can also vouch for Smit and Del. Both are genuinely good dudes.

YoDoug · February 25, 2025, 06:52 AM

OK, just needed to see how many of you old guys remembered that scene. For reals;

Doug, 51 years old. Went to automotive tech school out of high school. Did that for about 6-7 years until I got tired of working weekends and working under blazing hot cars in summer and dirty snow dripping cars in winter. Started machining around 99. Moved up really fast and went to school nights to get an AAS degree in mech design. Eventually worked for an Okuma dist as an AE. Learned a ton at that job and got exposed to all kinds of machining ops. At the same time going back to school at night to finish a BS in EE. At my current job of 7 years my primary job is automation. We currently have 14 automation cells that I designed, built, and maintain. 1 more cell in the building stage. I do some CNC programming in TopSolid but the majority of the programming I do these days is C#, PLC ladder, and robot languages.

Personal life, Married 26 years this summer. 4 kids ages 21-27. The oldest is not mine biologically but I'm the only father he has ever known. My main obsession outside of work is BJJ. When I am healthy and not injured I train 4 days a week. I also do a bit of lifting/conditioning to stay strong and healthy for BJJ. I also have a 2008 Mazdaspeed that I work on in the summer. It has a big turbo and a list of goodies. Last dyno run put out 370HP to the wheels on 93. On E85 I can push 400HP. I have my own license of VersaTuner and do my own tuning. My injectors are maxed out and it is a DI system so the next step is secondary fuel. My next addition will probably be a water/meth injection system. I should be able to push around 450HP at higher rpms and keep the torque at mid a little lower, still has the stock lower end. However, I may hold off as I am working on prepping for a couple BJJ tournaments later this year.

Del. · February 25, 2025, 07:18 AM

I'm Del. I'm 67 years old. I was an underground coal miner for 7 years starting at age 20. I got laid off when I was 27 and started going to high school with the kids in machine shop while working at night at a machine shop and cleaning while I was learning skills. Completed my Apprenticeship and worked my way up running manual lathes and mills. I think I became a very good tool and die maker and then started programming and running wire edm's. I've been retired for about 3 years now and love it. I was married for 28 years and got divorced and have been married to my second wife for 15 years. I'm very patriotic and I'm also a believer but fail more in my witness than shining. I have 4 grandchildren and like to fish and garden and take care of the yard. I can talk to anyone that I meet. I'm a simple man who enjoys watching nature and drinking coffee on the porch. I like to laugh and joke. If I say I'll do something, you can count on me to do it. I've enjoyed this forum immensely.

neurosis · February 25, 2025, 07:40 AM

Quote from: Del. on February 25, 2025, 07:18 AMI was an underground coal miner for 7 years starting at age 20.

When I read that the first thing that popped in to my head was Zoolander "I've got the black lung, pop".

Del. · February 25, 2025, 07:49 AM

Quote from: neurosis on February 25, 2025, 07:40 AMWhen I read that the first thing that popped in to my head was Zoolander "I've got the black lung, pop".

I was a shot blaster. I've shot off tons of dynamite. Fire in the hole!

SuperHoneyBadger · February 25, 2025, 09:15 AM

Quote from: YoDoug on February 25, 2025, 06:52 AMI also have a 2008 Mazdaspeed that I work on in the summer.

Buddy here at the shop bought a 2012 or 13 last fall, he loves it. Has a tuner on the dash, not sure what kind, but he took me out for some pulls to show off the flat foot shifting and launch control. Very cool little car. He got a wild deal as the seller was about to rebuild a 2nd engine and gave him essentially everything for a spare motor! So he's got a bare block sitting in his garage waiting for spring time, lucky guy

Who Are We?

JParis