Learning manual machining-still worthwhile in today's world or skip to CNC?

[Smit]

I spent a lot of time on an old Bullard VTL when I was going through the apprenticeship back in the early 80s. It was 48" I believe, but maybe 60". Not sure of the vintage but it was old back then.

[ghuns]

One of the keys to my productivity over my day shift guy was roughing. He told me the machine could only take 3/4" per side cuts with the side head. Any more than that and the feed would just disengage.

The guy running the 60" showed me a trick. Bring the top head over the side head and stick a chunk of wood 4x4 in between them. Touch off and dial in 1" per side. Pull both the top and side head feed levers and get the fuck back.

That thing spitting chips sounded like a machine gun.

[Del.]

One of the keys to my productivity over my day shift guy was roughing. He told me the machine could only take 3/4" per side cuts with the side head. Any more than that and the feed would just disengage.

The guy running the 60" showed me a trick. Bring the top head over the side head and stick a chunk of wood 4x4 in between them. Touch off and dial in 1" per side. Pull both the top and side head feed levers and get the fuck back.

That thing spitting chips sounded like a machine gun.

I couldn't take that big of cut on tool steel but I always needed a shovel and a dumpster.

[ghuns]

I couldn't take that big of cut on tool steel but I always needed a shovel and a dumpster.

We mostly cut 1040, 1045, or 4140. And we had a full time guy who just hauled chips for us.

[Elmer Fudd]

When I went from manual to CNC I had to break the habit of cutting way to slow.

[ghuns]

When I went from manual to CNC I had to break the habit of cutting way to slow.

I went from manual machining to a Roku-Roku GR435. It was a small machine but it was holy shit fast.

I was buying ball endmills from Jabro for hard milling and the apps guy there would give me speeds, feeds, and depth of cuts that seemed insane. He'd always end with, 'don't be a pussy!'  

It didn't take long to learn he knew his shit. If you pussed out and slowed those cutters down, they would wear or break really quick.

[Del.]

I went from manual machining to a Roku-Roku GR435. It was a small machine but it was holy shit fast.

I was buying ball endmills from Jabro for hard milling and the apps guy there would give me speeds, feeds, and depth of cuts that seemed insane. He'd always end with, 'don't be a pussy!'  

It didn't take long to learn he knew his shit. If you pussed out and slowed those cutters down, they would wear or break really quick.

I was aggressive on lathes but just the opposite on mills. Don't get me started on the blistering speed of WEDM   😂

[Newbeeee™]

When I went from manual to CNC I had to break the habit of cutting way to slow.

Toolmaker = Slow miller

[ghuns]

...Don't get me started on the blistering speed of WEDM   😂

Removing steel at glacial speeds since 1943.