Working with Machines

Page 2 of 2 [ 24 posts ] Go to page Previous 1, 2

Joined: 5 Dec 2009
Age: 61
Gender: Male
Posts: 1,084
Location: Minneapolis MN USA

29 Mar 2013, 3:46 am

Watching a machine in motion is a thing of beauty. I was also one who, as a kid, had to take things apart just to see how they worked.

_________________
You can't tell which way the train went by looking at the tracks.

RazorEddie
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 18 Jan 2012
Age: 55
Gender: Male
Posts: 610

29 Mar 2013, 4:40 am

Yes, I like building and using all sorts of machines. In my spare time I build cars and rebuild CNC machines. For my job I write software to control CNCs. I can spend hours just watching them work.

DJFester wrote:

I was also one who, as a kid, had to take things apart just to see how they worked.

Heh. My mother always complained that I never played with my toys - I just took them apart! The first time I got a meccano set I was in heaven.

_________________
I stopped fighting my inner demons. We're on the same side now.

CyborgUprising
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 16 Jun 2012
Age: 37
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,963
Location: auf der Fahrt durch Niemandsland

29 Mar 2013, 6:56 am

ASMJT wrote:

Drehmaschine wrote:

ASMJT wrote:

I never get tired of watching, programming, or using them. I've been a CNC machinist for 13 years now.

Is that a Mori Seiki lathe in your avatar? I can't really tell.

You would probably enjoy the following YouTube channel. It's all manual machining, but very interesting to watch, nonetheless. http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDmxnPem-pPfJQATIkfgY2Q

Yes. Mori Seiki SL303

I work with them and the SL250, SL25A and CL200.
I also like to use the old school lathes as well. Good because they can't find enough people who want to manually repair parts at work and I actually ask if I can work over and do it.
I don't know why but watching the workpiece being turned and the turret (for CNC lathe of course) rotating to the next insert to cut with is very calming for me.

Thought so! The colors gave it away. At my current place, I work with two HAAS SL20 (one with a bar feeder), and two Omni-Turn GT50 gang tool lathes.

I'm the same way when it comes to watching. Even if it's a large job, it never gets old watching each part. When I get really bored I'll even watch machining videos on YouTube, lol.

Our Moris are all green, as is the entirety of the factory.
Back to the main topic: I am the same way in regards to watching. Examining the (usually) perfect synchronicity and selfless cooperation of machines makes me often wonder how the human race could improve beyond our wildest dreams if we'd stop destroying each other in useless wars and divisive politics and instead focus on advancing our race in a symbiotic fashion...

BTDT
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Jul 2010
Age: 62
Gender: Non-binary
Posts: 7,950

29 Mar 2013, 7:50 am

I have a pretty good hobby machine shop--two mini lathes, a mini milling machine, a band saw, and a drill press. I've better--I know how to use them all! It is really neat to be able to make your own threaded adapters out of aluminum!

ASMJT
Deinonychus

Joined: 21 Jan 2009
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Posts: 308
Location: Wherever we decide to go...

29 Mar 2013, 3:47 pm

CyborgUprising wrote:

At my last job, the old Mori MV Junior mills, and old lathes were green. They must have changed colors at some point.

I've had the same thoughts you have. I have come to realize that most people are not aware of just how capable we are of making some incredibly complex things, that only 10 years ago would be unheard of. I'm always amazed at the new jobs I see come through, and finding out what they are for. It's strange knowing that without machinists, the entire modern world would literally cease to exist.

_________________
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle

ASMJT
Deinonychus

Joined: 21 Jan 2009
Age: 43
Gender: Male
Posts: 308
Location: Wherever we decide to go...

29 Mar 2013, 3:49 pm

BTDT wrote:

I'm envious! I would love to have my own little shop in a garage. It is indeed satisfying to be able to fabricate your own parts out of raw material. It's a form of art in its own right.

_________________
"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." - Aristotle

Oberoth
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 18 Oct 2010
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Posts: 890
Location: The part of Ireland with fields

29 Mar 2013, 4:23 pm

I like thermocyclers, specs and the like, but some machines just make me feel threatened. I'd take a shake flask and fermentor over them any day.

Dox47
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 28 Jan 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 13,670
Location: Seattle-ish

29 Mar 2013, 7:15 pm

BTDT wrote:

I've got something similar, though I have a somewhat larger 1934 Southbend lathe in addition to my mini lathe, and I just sold my huge old Van Norman horizontal mill and vertical bandsaw to get a smaller vertical mill and a horizontal bandsaw. I work with larger rounds of steel bar stock, and cutting them with a vertical saw just got tedious, and I *hate* using the abrasive cut off saw for that sort of thing.

_________________
Your boos mean nothing, I've seen what makes you cheer.

- Rick Sanchez

Page 2 of 2 [ 24 posts ] Go to page Previous 1, 2

Jump to:

Working with Machines Post Reply New Topic

Working with Machines