Student Machinist Venting

TrracerAce · 11-08-2006, 04:03 PM

I'm enrolled in a CNC/blueprinting program and am also learning to operate the standard tools in the shop. Today I pretty much blew my big project, the horizontal mill is analog, I must've suffered a brain fart and turned the dial one too many times. I overshot my intended cut by .100" and didn't catch it before running it through.

So now I have a half-finished V-Block with about four inches of damn near flawless interior ACME threading, which you can see perfectly as said interior threads are now wide open...

(Note to self: cut threads LAST.)

Anyone else got horror stories like this?

Azzy · 11-08-2006, 04:23 PM

Thats the crappy thing about cutting, its so much easier to take away than it is to put back.

Flatline's Up! · 11-08-2006, 05:43 PM

man, that's part of machining... you're going to make mistakes. Period.

after you get used to your machine, and spend a lot of time learning, and have several projects under your belt... guess what? you'll still make mistakes...

It's the nature of the beast. We all strive for perfection, it's what you settle for in the end, and your timelyness and attitued achieving that end that makes you a machinist.

1. Roll with it and start again.
2. If you goof, see #1....

Try making a sizable error like that after spending 40 or more hours on one chunk of metal... that really tends to put a cramp in my "do I really (really) want to do this?" feeling...

shartley · 11-08-2006, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flatline's Up!

man, that's part of machining... you're going to make mistakes. Period.

after you get used to your machine, and spend a lot of time learning, and have several projects under your belt... guess what? you'll still make mistakes...

It's the nature of the beast. We all strive for perfection, it's what you settle for in the end, and your timelyness and attitued achieving that end that makes you a machinist.

1. Roll with it and start again.
2. If you goof, see #1....

Try making a sizable error like that after spending 40 or more hours on one chunk of metal... that really tends to put a cramp in my "do I really (really) want to do this?" feeling...

No kidding. The same is true with woodworking and pewter work as well. I have worked long hours on something to get it to the final buffing stage and in the middle of it lose grip and have it take a trip through the buffing wheel guard and shoot out the other side slamming into whatever is in its path.

It will almost make you cry……… (and evoke some pretty colorful words).

kidneythief · 11-08-2006, 05:49 PM

Yup last night I was cutting out some splatmaster parts...

I had all 10 peices cut to size, slapped them back in together to machine the next side and realized that I cut the whole lot .050 too deep. This was about 3 hours into the whole process. Tonight I get to re cut everything again...

-Jake

Mstrtal · 11-08-2006, 05:59 PM

Im right there with ya!

My first excorcise on a lathe turned out perfect ( A lathe center) so the instructor decided it was time to try a Threaded Stepshaft. Talk about needing to vent. The first 3 attempts each step was either to short or to long or I took a turn to much off...JUST past the .002 tolerance! finaly I get one steped PERFECTLY and go to thread. I dont even want to think about it.Not one set of threads is done right and to boot I some how cross threaded a step. What makes this even worse is its worth a third of my grade for the semester. Same thing with the first Mill assignment. Never been on a mill before had to make T-Nuts. after I finaly got the T's to spec I was so frustrated I didnt even attempt to center the holes for the threading and they are WAY off center.

On the up side I learn more from screwing up then I do from the instructor or in class.

komodo · 11-08-2006, 06:00 PM

Heh. Im a bit of a sculptor. Worst thing in the world, after spending almost a week working on something, and you accidently press just a LITTLE bit too hard with the dremel, and it leaves a sizable chunk missing, ruining the whole project.

My parents now know to stay FAR FAR away from me when I work on ANYTHING that I have to concentrate hard on. If they dont...yea...thinks get a little out of hand in my house, and stuff gets broken.

Prefectionist + Short Temper = Violent Artist

Mstrtal · 11-08-2006, 06:24 PM

What I have found to be even more frustrating is my mandatory math class. I spend all day at school every day working in the thousandths being as precise as possible then I am expected to Round and estimate. Drives me BATTY! That and the fact I find myself feeling dang near naked without my calculator now.

TrracerAce · 11-08-2006, 06:35 PM

Well, I'm glad to see screwups aren't all that rare, I'll take more time to get used to them and hope to god they don't happen TOO often. Still, I'm trying to think of what I'm going to do with my C-shaped, internally-threaded, blue-dye covered paperweight.

Aside from the unmentionable things which immediately spring to mind when thinking about the guys that cry over how they absolutely MUST use the digital readout mills, that is.

I love this field, I really do. But there are days when I wonder if I really should've left my job as a night-shift convenience store cashier.

Legion · 11-08-2006, 06:46 PM

If thats the only thing you ever do wrong you will be lucky, wait till you write 4 hours of code and realise one of your ploting points has the wrong value...
Or you break a bit on the last cut, just learn to smile...

I always cut in wax first now.

11-08-2006, 04:03 PM	#1 (permalink)
TrracerAce Active Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ottawa, Ontario	Student Machinist Venting I'm enrolled in a CNC/blueprinting program and am also learning to operate the standard tools in the shop. Today I pretty much blew my big project, the horizontal mill is analog, I must've suffered a brain fart and turned the dial one too many times. I overshot my intended cut by .100" and didn't catch it before running it through. So now I have a half-finished V-Block with about four inches of damn near flawless interior ACME threading, which you can see perfectly as said interior threads are now wide open... (Note to self: cut threads LAST.) Anyone else got horror stories like this?

11-08-2006, 04:23 PM	#2 (permalink)
Azzy Mod-O-Rator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Finleyville, PA	Thats the crappy thing about cutting, its so much easier to take away than it is to put back. __________________ Bryan "Azzy" Spiegel Riverside Renegade Paintball / C.C. S.V.S. Plankowner - LPPC#6 "It is my right to be uncommon—if I can. I seek opportunity—not security. I do not wish to be a kept citizen, humbled and dulled by having the state look after me. I want to take the calculated risk; to dream and to build, to fail and to succeed. I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenges of life to the guaranteed existence; the thrill of fulfillment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom for beneficence nor my dignity for a handout. I will never cower before any master nor bend to any threat. It is my heritage to stand erect, proud and unafraid; to think and act for myself, enjoy the benefit of my creations and to face the world boldly and say, “This I have done.” - Dean Alfange

11-08-2006, 05:49 PM	#5 (permalink)
kidneythief Lord humungus the Mod Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Home Finally!!!	Yup last night I was cutting out some splatmaster parts... I had all 10 peices cut to size, slapped them back in together to machine the next side and realized that I cut the whole lot .050 too deep. This was about 3 hours into the whole process. Tonight I get to re cut everything again... -Jake __________________ "I wish simply to be a decent person, yet I will always fear the retards" -Brian Hindt(geech) MCB Moderator Kidney Machine

11-08-2006, 05:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
Flatline's Up! MCB Member Join Date: Apr 2006	man, that's part of machining... you're going to make mistakes. Period. after you get used to your machine, and spend a lot of time learning, and have several projects under your belt... guess what? you'll still make mistakes... It's the nature of the beast. We all strive for perfection, it's what you settle for in the end, and your timelyness and attitued achieving that end that makes you a machinist. 1. Roll with it and start again. 2. If you goof, see #1.... Try making a sizable error like that after spending 40 or more hours on one chunk of metal... that really tends to put a cramp in my "do I really (really) want to do this?" feeling...

11-08-2006, 06:35 PM	#9 (permalink)
TrracerAce Active Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Ottawa, Ontario	Well, I'm glad to see screwups aren't all that rare, I'll take more time to get used to them and hope to god they don't happen TOO often. Still, I'm trying to think of what I'm going to do with my C-shaped, internally-threaded, blue-dye covered paperweight. Aside from the unmentionable things which immediately spring to mind when thinking about the guys that cry over how they absolutely MUST use the digital readout mills, that is. I love this field, I really do. But there are days when I wonder if I really should've left my job as a night-shift convenience store cashier.