Old School

[gcode]

Old school machine shop photos on X

[Brian]

I'm glad I got a foundation doing manual machining, but I'm also glad I don't do it all day every day, too, if that makes sense!

Edit: just had a look at the pics on that fellow's page-lots of fun stuff there!

[Leehound]

My first couple of years building Molds I stood in front of a Bridgeport with a Troyke Rotary Cross-slide all day. Then we got our first CNC and I knew I would never go back to the old ways.

[JParis]

I do miss doing some of the intricate work I used to do on a Hardinge Toolroom lathe

[rob@fain]

The first machine I ran in a shop was a Niles lathe circa 1890. It had a 42 inch face plate and was set up as boring mill.

[CADCAM396]

read the caption "Back when we actually got shit done"

is that a hint to get off the forum and do some work?

[CNCAppsJames]

I too am glad I spent some time turning handles. It laid the foundation... there are some problems I solve today that had I not had that manual foundation would have been a lot more challenging to solve. 

[Jeff]

My first job I ran 7 Cincy horizontal mills cutting the flutes into taps.
I was busier than a cat burying shit!

[Elmer Fudd]

My first couple of years building Molds I stood in front of a Bridgeport with a Troyke Rotary Cross-slide all day. Then we got our first CNC and I knew I would never go back to the old ways.

Ditto.

First Cnc I was machining castings using pencil cam. Didn't get fun until I started making molds using Mastercam.

[DUM1]

ran a turret lathe just like the one pictured back in 88 then 1-5/8" conomatics the shop looked just like that. Smith brothers Sandiego California one of the oldest shops on the west coast

[TylerBeer]

ran a turret lathe just like the one pictured back in 88 then 1-5/8" conomatics the shop looked just like that. Smith brothers Sandiego California one of the oldest shops on the west coast

One of my friends here started in CNC and went back to be a toolmaker for Solar Turbines - building he was in made the Spirit of St Louis

[Here's Johnny!]

I am first and foremost a manual machinist. Our high school had a massive machine shop program (all manual machines). We were making running scale model engines, hand forging chisels and the highlight was making a double sided radial piston pump (making the swash plate on an EXCELLO manual mill with the table geared to the indexing head). This was back in the early to mid 80's.

Then did a Co-Op in high school at a local tool making shop, ended up doing my apprenticeship there and staying for a decade (all manual machines). Learned a ton about fabrication as well there.

Currently celebrated 30 years at my job in September. About 90% of what we do there is done on manual machines. Yes we have a couple of CNC machines to help and complement what we do. Of course this isn't a high production application.

I have also poured and hand scraped babbit bearings.

It has been a great career, most of my promotions have been earned by hard work and determination to solve problems. Hard work almost always pays dividends IMHO.

[neurosis]

I remember back in the 80's and 90's the manual guys would make fun of the CNC guys.

You sure don't see that much anymore. 

[gcode]

Is that a V20?

[Brian]

I remember back in the 80's and 90's the manual guys would make fun of the CNC guys.

You sure don't see that much anymore. 

I've often thought it funny that we somehow adopt a particular skill set/occupation as an identity! (Upon further reflection, maybe the joke's on me, as it's also common to see folks self-identify as a "libtard" or a "MAGAT" instead of stating a belief in a particular political philosophy...hmm).

Can you imagine running large production qty's by cranking handles? Anyone here want to do some maintenance/repair/interactive work on your zooty 5X? Horses for courses, anyone?

Anyone here want to eat their soup with a fork?