Traning MC

[mike93]

I have bean  tasked to train some new kids to the shop, they have had master cam training in there tech school one will be here next week as a intern. What are some good things to teach them, I have some ideas but what do you guys think?

[Jon@NOWHERE]

As far as programming?  Do they have any mechanical aptitude or any previous machine shop experience?

[mike93]

they are still in school, they are coming for there winter break to do what ever we tell them to do, but might be ready for a job in June. I have never met them

[Matthew Hajicek]

What kinds of parts do you make, and in what kinds of quantities?

[Jon@NOWHERE]

I would give them a crash course on the machines, you know basic setup, safe startup, tool setting, program reading to understand where the machine is moving to next.  And then walk them through the thought process for creating a process, ie why you started with this feature on a particular part and what is next.  Then show them the process of doing it in Mastercam.  All this is of course based on the amount of time you have and what you are looking to pass on to them.  

I've told management here that if I were them and just hired some guy fresh out of college that he would spend 6 months to a year on the floor dealing with the product line that he would eventually work on, I would expect him to operate the machines and everything so that he has a good understanding of the current process, before he would ever sit down at desk/computer.  I feel like my experience as an operator has given me a leg up on the guy that only has a college degree...

[mayday]

Teach them how to use emastercam
and then teach them how to fleemastercam

[joshc]

I would have them watch the free online training videos https://signup.mastercam.com/free-mastercam-training">https://signup.mastercam.com/free-mastercam-training

[Sharles]

Everytime I train someone for mastercam, they never stick around, sigh. Maybe there's something wrong with me. I do know, that we as a company have had the BEST luck training machinists who already understand that part of it, the tools needed, how to visualize a solid block and all the steps it takes to get to a finished mold. the kids that just decide to take mastercam at a school really struggle with the practical application of it...and maybe that's why they end up quitting...don't know, but they all act like it's too hard and move on...though we did have one guy a long time ago, that we thought was going to make it...and I can't remember what happened to him...
I do think watching videos at least gives you a starting point. Then I typically have them watch me for a day or so as I 'overwhelm them' with explanations, lol...and then give them simple parts and walk them thru that and try to make them take notes, and go over their stuff for a month or more with a fine toothed comb...and hopefully, slowly, they'll start to become more independent...

The guys who refuse to take notes...I typically assume won't make it. I had a 4.0gpa thru high school and college: I'm not an idiot, and I've got huge notebooks full of notes that I took when I first learned machines and then mastercam. Now I can do it without thinking like the rest of you...but the ones who don't think they need to take notes are never going to get it or they are going to ask you incessant questions BECAUSE no one can remember all the stuff it takes in the beginning...

[Festus]

I always get a sitewide subscription for eMastercam and let my trainees go through the tutorials. I've had great success.

[Here's Johnny!]

This guy is brilliant!

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