Re: Haas Questions / Thoughts


"BottleBob" <bottlbob@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:etydnTHJluaLn1HVnZ2dnUVZ_s7inZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


Not a machinist? That's interesting, then what do you do with your Haas
mill?


Well, it's not necessary to be a machinist to own or operate a CNC machine.
I know an awful lot of people who use CNC machines daily (mostly mills) who
are not machinists. And the inverse is also true - programming and
operating a CNC machine does not automatically make one a machinist...

It all depends on what you need to do with the machine, and at what level
you need to do it. Also how you define "machinist"...

I make prototype and very small series parts (less than 10) in a variety of
soft materials like plastics and aluminum for various applications, mostly
having to do with industrial design. So I would describe myself as
modelmaker. For these applications, an extensive knowledge of "machining"
isn't really necessary, as the materials are not difficult and the
production time non-critical - in any case far less than the modeling,
programming and set-up time required.

What is required in my case is a reasonably good mastery of 3D modeling and
CAM programming (creating mostly free-form geometry), and some creativeness
in how to set up the parts on the machine (figuring out how to do the
fixturing is often more complex than the actual machining).

Anyway, I should say that this is what I DID... I don't any more. I sold
my soul and became a reasonably well paid federal civil servant with a great
work environment, pension plan, good vacations and lots of other perks...

I do miss my Haas, though...

--moi


.

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