This is a really great video Ian! I appreciate how clearly you lay out the options for new machinists in a way that's not too complicated or irrelevant. Great work, looking forward to more of your content!
30 years in the trade. 4th gen machinist. I can tell ya , I have seen and built a many fixtures . I all ways liked it . It was a challenge . Castings will make you pull your hair out at times . Great video man , keep up the good work.
Great video. Work holding is something I think most guys learn by trial and error, I know I did. Really cool to see you took the time to help those just getting started.
I'm late to the party but thought I'd throw my 2 cents in. First off, I just came across your channel and I instantly sub'd. I'm a machinist by trade and I've worked in a lot of shops over the last decade. Production, job, prototype, servicing shops etc. Here's my thoughts on the video; 1. A career machinist should always start with manual machines. It builds a solid understanding of the fundamentals! Using toe clamps should be close to the top of the list of work holding techniques starting out. It's cheap and effective for the average Joe starting out. 2. A good quality vice is always a good option. It's pricey out the gate but pays for itself in all categories. Ease of setup, repeatably, versatile, soft jaws etc. But your up a creek without a paddle if you don't know the ladder first when the odd job comes up. 3. Fixturing comes later. Mighty bite fixturing, custom soft jaws etc all come with time. It's rare for someone to start out and instantly have production runs to justify fixturing. Start small. Finally, I just want to say I'm talking towards the average guy. Every situation is different but speaking from my experience, it's always best to build a solid foundation of the fundamentals before moving upwards. I've noticed now n days the young guys starting out on cnc machines are just horrible machinists overall. For example, knowing the difference between conventional vs climb milling is beyond them. Skipping over the basics will ultimately handicap you in the long run. Long story short: There is no short cut to success, including learning to be a good machinist.
@@patboland1650 IMO the best way to learn is through on the job training. It takes time and experience to know the in's and out's of the different machines.
Really great video as always. Can you make one on how to find work? You have the long-running jobs but do you go out to find work and if so what are your ways to find work.
Something to make your strap clamp life easier: Keystock. Get Keystock that will fit in your T-slots. They fit snugly in the slots, , and if you put a clamp between them, it draws the piece against them so they don't move. You can edgefind that edge, and it should be rather repeatable on the Y. Now that your Y is true, put a clamp on wherever you want your X to be, and clamp it directly to the table. And there ya go, you now have a nice repeatable setup using strap clamps. Still slower than a vise, but a lot quicker than indicating each part in.
That's a fantastic idea, I've done similar before with some little steel stops I milled and ground to do something comparable for a job, but I don't know how keystock never crossed my mind. Funny how it's often little things like that that you just don't think of that can be a real game changer. Thanks brother!
Working in the medical industry making small runs of small finicky parts workholding can sometimes be a creative challenge and something I struggled with in the very beginning. But once you get a little experience in it becomes alot smoother. - Jacob S.
I have never seen the multiple vise approach. If you are machining a long part holding the part in multiple vises, you must be indicating the back wall of each vise along the X travel of the machine. How do you accomplish this?
![[TT] BEGINNER CNC: STAGING TOOLS TO SAVE TIME](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Ss2Wh--nM68/mqdefault.jpg)
![[TT] BEGINNER CNC: STAGING TOOLS TO SAVE TIME](/img/tr.png)
This is a really great video Ian! I appreciate how clearly you lay out the options for new machinists in a way that's not too complicated or irrelevant. Great work, looking forward to more of your content!
30 years in the trade. 4th gen machinist. I can tell ya , I have seen and built a many fixtures . I all ways liked it . It was a challenge . Castings will make you pull your hair out at times . Great video man , keep up the good work.
Great video. Work holding is something I think most guys learn by trial and error, I know I did. Really cool to see you took the time to help those just getting started.
I like the way you slap you vise
Spot on, My shop regularly makes very large parts so we love our toe clamps👍
Good info!
As usual one more great video with a lot of effort to present a decent material , huge respects dude.
I'm late to the party but thought I'd throw my 2 cents in. First off, I just came across your channel and I instantly sub'd. I'm a machinist by trade and I've worked in a lot of shops over the last decade. Production, job, prototype, servicing shops etc. Here's my thoughts on the video;
1. A career machinist should always start with manual machines. It builds a solid understanding of the fundamentals! Using toe clamps should be close to the top of the list of work holding techniques starting out. It's cheap and effective for the average Joe starting out.
2. A good quality vice is always a good option. It's pricey out the gate but pays for itself in all categories. Ease of setup, repeatably, versatile, soft jaws etc. But your up a creek without a paddle if you don't know the ladder first when the odd job comes up.
3. Fixturing comes later. Mighty bite fixturing, custom soft jaws etc all come with time. It's rare for someone to start out and instantly have production runs to justify fixturing. Start small.
Finally, I just want to say I'm talking towards the average guy. Every situation is different but speaking from my experience, it's always best to build a solid foundation of the fundamentals before moving upwards. I've noticed now n days the young guys starting out on cnc machines are just horrible machinists overall. For example, knowing the difference between conventional vs climb milling is beyond them. Skipping over the basics will ultimately handicap you in the long run.
Long story short: There is no short cut to success, including learning to be a good machinist.
Any advice for a 48 year old interested in learning from scratch so i can get into the industry
@@patboland1650 Depends on what your looking to get out of it. Do you have parts your wanting to make or just want a hobby?
@@blakelibby2140 I want to learn enough to be sell the technology
@@patboland1650 IMO the best way to learn is through on the job training. It takes time and experience to know the in's and out's of the different machines.
@@blakelibby2140 thanks i was thinking of working somewhere as a go for at the weekend and learning that way. Its an interesting field.
Really great video as always. Can you make one on how to find work? You have the long-running jobs but do you go out to find work and if so what are your ways to find work.
Great video! Any examples of fixtures with Mitee-bites?
I've never actually used them, but a lot of guys I know swear by them - they're on my to-try list!
Keith Gasper Mitee Bites are skookum as frig. Once you use them once you will be thinking of any different neat ways to use them. - Jacob S.
Something to make your strap clamp life easier: Keystock. Get Keystock that will fit in your T-slots. They fit snugly in the slots, , and if you put a clamp between them, it draws the piece against them so they don't move. You can edgefind that edge, and it should be rather repeatable on the Y. Now that your Y is true, put a clamp on wherever you want your X to be, and clamp it directly to the table. And there ya go, you now have a nice repeatable setup using strap clamps. Still slower than a vise, but a lot quicker than indicating each part in.
That's a fantastic idea, I've done similar before with some little steel stops I milled and ground to do something comparable for a job, but I don't know how keystock never crossed my mind. Funny how it's often little things like that that you just don't think of that can be a real game changer. Thanks brother!
Working in the medical industry making small runs of small finicky parts workholding can sometimes be a creative challenge and something I struggled with in the very beginning. But once you get a little experience in it becomes alot smoother. - Jacob S.
I have never seen the multiple vise approach. If you are machining a long part holding the part in multiple vises, you must be indicating the back wall of each vise along the X travel of the machine. How do you accomplish this?
Where'd you disappear lately bud?
I'm over doing videos on the Practical Machinist YT channel now! RUclips.com/practicalmachinist
Liked subscribed thanks..
0:10 honestly thought you were about to start singing as the music kicked in
explained well thanx