Advice for College Students Looking for Practical Experience

Check for hobby machinists clubs in your area. The internet is as good a place to start searching as can be. Many of the members of these clubs are retired machinists and some of them have shops that do the occasional repair or fabrication job for a little spare cash. If you are the "right sort" you may find that there are some who would be willing to take on an informal occasional apprentice for those jobs where an extra pair of hands would be a help.

Should such an arrangement work out, you will have the benefit of learning from the rarest of teachers, a person who has a great deal of experience in the field and loves it so much they do it for fun in their spare time.

TT3

I did some machine shop work while in college, and wish I had done more. Priceless experience.

Nothing beats hands on. I learn more working with my eyes/hands/brain than reading any book or being subject to any lecture. A college degree is a must if you plan on becoming a hireable engineer in the near future. Colleges all work in a different fashion. For example i know of a college that herds all their engineering students into giant lecture halls and teaches (almost) strictly on theory, this is a shame. I also know of a college that basis most of their educational experience on hands on learning. They give you a machinists handbook, have you make your own tools, and have you create usable parts in the shop for a grade. Generally the hands on institutions are technical institutes (which i prefer). When i went to school, I started by getting a full time job sweeping the floor (to pay for school) at a good local fab shop, while attending classes anywhere from part to full time. It took me considerably longer to get my degree (from a technical hands on institution), but i paralleled my education with hands on experience (which makes you more appealing to employers). Although i started by sweeping the floor, In no time i was working as a fabricator/welder/machinist. After completion of my degree/s i had years of work experience behind my belt. Today I work (mostly in front of a computer unfortunately) as an Engineer (however i can go play in the shop at will). If i had it to do all over again, i would change: Nothing, I would do it exactly the same.

Bottom line: IMHO choose your college wisely based on what you want to get out of it, and get a job in the field that parallels your degree (even if very part time). You might just find you actually learn more by working than you do with your books. But DO NOT let your studies slip behind, or you may never get out of the shop. Its hard work but well worth it

Get yourself soem practical experience with the various pieces of machinery and a knowledge of techniques. You do not have to master these. Nowadays, numerical control (programming) is crucial.

So, are you at Pitt? There's a heck of a good rapid prototyping lab there that might give you what you want.

I'm at Penn State New Ken. We don't have anything like that. Main campus Does have a mini machine shop I think.

I wonder... maybe I could combine my blacksmithing equimpent with a table top drill press and lathe. That should take care of most basic prodjects combined with my electronics kit.

My bad, that's my post up above.

I'm at Penn State

Oh no, creeping Paternoism.

Anyway, you might look at picking up one of the mini lathe/milling/machine/drill press units.

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_7171_7171

They're not great, but you can learn on them.

Or this one

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=39743

You could probablyfind at one of the Harbor Freight stores (There's one in Monroeville and another off I79).

Alternatively, there's a ton of small shops around the New Ken area. Most would not let you hang around and work for free due to insurance and wage/hour people. However, it's worth asking your dad, your professors, or even some of your blacksmithing friends, if they know of a shop where you might do housekeeping and fetching in return for a little hands-on. Some of the basement/garage shops might give you a couple hours a week.

If I think of anyplace, I'll drop you a pm.

Good luck.

Nice to see a lucid well writen post that doesn't want something for nothing.
I've unfortunately never had any machining experience (despite my Dad having a 7"Myford lathe) and have had to make do whith a drill press, hand tools and a good deal of wood working when metal may have been better.

Get any experience you can, and if a drill press is all you can afford at the moment, I'm sure you will make good use of it and learm plenty.

Good luck and nice to have you on board.

Del

A great place to get started is the upcoming "Cabin Fever Expo",

Cabin Fever Expo Model Engineering Show & Auction

January 17th & 18th, 2009
  Saturday: 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.    Sunday: 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.  

Consignment Auction:

  Friday, January 16th, 2009

Location:
Toyota Arena, York Fairgrounds & Expo Center 
334 Carlisle Avenue
York, Pennsylvania 17404 

The Admission Price for the Show and/or Auction is $10, Which is Good for All 3 Days

Oh, I forgot.

Did you check with CCAC, WCCC, and area votech schools like Forbes Road? I don't know your residency, but it's worth a check. Some have evening programs.

WTF? Zippy says, "Progress through Fun!" Commit and do that which you are talented at regardless of advice other than the advice I'm offering.

I was fortunate to have a father who had the philosophy that you should learn as much as possible about everything to make a living and that there would always be a demand for anyone with good skills who would be willing to work hard.

He never allowed fictional books in his home, and that was especially true of comic books.He said that if you were going to read, read something of value that would make you a productive person.He said if you could find nothing to read, then read the enclclopedia.

I suggest that you find a shop with skilled workmen and spend the rest of your time in the college library.

Also, see if you can find a good physics professor who will work with you 24/7

I suggest that you should go through a practical shop floor training in small or big factory.Preferably in Machine Shop and learn how jobs are machined on Lathe, Milling Machine,Drilling Machines, Planning Machines and Gear cutting Machines. Learn about machine setting, cutting tools, jigs and fixtures, inspection etc.

Be friendly with the operators who may not allow you to operate the machines initially.But latter on if you are good then they will allow you to do some jobs. First of all learn how to clean the machines after shift is over.

This training will also teach you how to interact with Machinists and maintain labour relations. If you work with your own hands then you will be always respected by them.Such training experience will always be useful to you in your carrier in future.

Wherever you happen to be take a look around.........99.999% of the man-made stuff had an origin in the machine shop.

Basic machining will give you a start........you may one day want to progress to geometric calculus.

Don't forget to get in some experience welding.

Welding is 1 skill that takes a bunch of hours doing to become proficent.

Mig is probably the easiest [ok spot welding]

I would consider the lathe to be another skill that takes real amounts of time to learn.

Good luck

GA 3Doug.

OP Original Poster, Precision Machine shops are dying to get folks like you to get started in the industry. Since you can handle math, try to hire in on a Quality assurance job, and master measuring equipment as you observe machining processes. Then ask to be trained on equipment. My son spent his summer in a small thread rolling shop, where he operated a couple of shears, bar pointers, and cut off saws, also cranes and lift trucks. Gaging, he only learned some micrometer techniques, but it was a start.

The sky is truly the limit if you follow this path. An engineer that knows the processes is golden.

milo

Thank you everyone for all the input so far. I'm getting a better idea as to what my options are and how I should proceed. I've read and considered all of your opinions and thought about them.

Before I continue, I want to point out that as of right now, I'm just focused on trying to get some skill in machining to improve my understanding of engineering and the skills involved. I do plan to get some job experience though, but that's going to be a bit further down the road.

Now I know that there is a lot of mentioning of going to work and gaining experience from the people there. While I know this is a very good method to gain both work and some shop experience, I feel that as of right now this isn't the best path for me. For starters, TPV 45 has a point, most of the Shops in our area are small time, and probably won't be able to provide insurance as well as having enough people on the payroll. Also, If I were to break one of the machines due to an amateur mistake, that would get me fired as well as but a bad mark on my resume.

This is not to say I don't want to work, in fact, I'd actually love to get on the floor someday and get some work experience over a summer in-between spring and summer semesters. I'm not quite sure If I'm ready for it at this moment. Also, I feel that if I'm going to gain the most out of the expert welders and Machinists on the shop floor I should know the basics first. I feel that the least I can do to show respect to those guys, and I look up to them as inspiration, is to learn the basics so that when I go talk to them I can at least have some idea of the craft.

I know that if I start right this moment, I would be like a rabid football fan wanting their favorite quarterback teach them the basics of football. It would be okay, but they do have important things to do, and the basics are available to everyone to learn.

Besides, if I show them some respect, they will be more willing to help, and since I will have had some experience, they would be showing me more advanced tips that obviously are more valuable than the basics because they are harder to come by.

Well, here are my plans then. I'm finishing winter semester next week (Posting and reading while I'm eating dinner.). Now winter semester isn't a good time for me to get a job, as my dad needs the jeep and the family is finally back together and off. I do plan to get a job as well as taking classes at a local tech school over summer. That should give me at least 3, at most 4 months of experience, enough time to reap any benefits from experienced workers as well as a good enough time for me to get work experience.

I do not plan on doing nothing though waiting for summer though. I do plan on teaching myself machining in my spare time starting the day after classes end. Welding is also something I want to look at, but I feel that that is something that I'd rather have someone teach me the basics so I don't get sick off of the fumes and get to use different types of welding. CNC is another, but I'll also hold off on that as well, one thing at a time.

Anyways, thanks for all the support and advice. Any other advice or ideas is welcome.

Well, good luck to you. You've got the right attitude for sure. Here's a list to check. I think it's old, but...

• In Allegheny County:
• Forbes Road Career Technology Center (CTC) - Machining Offerings: Introduction to Machining, Journey Level Machinist, Machining Apprenticeship Program similar to NTMA with additional offerings. Contact: 412-373-8100 x223.
• Langley High School Annex - Machining Offerings: Machine Operations (for high school students only). Contact: 412-488-5185.
• Manufacturing Assistance Center (University of Pittsburgh) -Machining Offerings: Basic Machinist Training, CAD-CAM, CNC, EDM. Contact: 412-826-3531 or www.mac.pitt.edu.
• New Century Careers Manufacturing 2000 - Machining Offerings: Basic Machining Training (free to eligible applicants). Contact: 1-800-822-9337.
• New Century Careers Manufacturing 2000 Plus - Machining Offerings: Advanced Machining, CNC Machining, and Quality Assurance for incumbent employees seeking skill upgrades. Contact: 1-866-625-4723.
• Parkway West AVTS - Machining Offerings: A three year machine tool technical training. Contact: 412-923-1772.
• Steel Center AVTS - Machining Offerings: For adults offers New Century Careers' Manufacturing 2000 Program (see contact information above). Also offers a machining program (for high school students only). Contact: 412-469-3200 x129.
• Taylor Allderdice High School - Machining Offerings: Machine Operations (for high school students only). Contact: 412-422-4800.
• Tooling University - Machining Offerings: Offer online courses for training as a machinist. Contact: www.toolingu.com/nc2.

• In Neighboring Counties:
• Butler County Community College (www.ccbc.edu)
• Westmoreland County Community College (www.wcc-pa.edu)
• Beaver County AVTS (724-728-5800)
• Butler County AVTS (724-282-0735)
• Fayette County AVTS (724-437-2721)
• Greene County AVTS (724-627-3106)
• Central Westmoreland CTC (724-925-3532 x1300)
• Mon Valley CTC (724-489-9581)
• Northern Westmoreland CTC (724-335-9389)
• Western Area CTC (724-746-2890)
  

as a recent grad i really learnt alot in my final yr mainly becuz ma final year project. so i suggest to you do lots of design projects build, design, simulate whatever you feel like have fun and you will be suprised at how much youved learnt from every aspect not just machining practice but lots mo efficient means to do lots of things that just dont jump off the text book pages

Thanks, for the list. I know there is a tech school in New ken that my brother is going to. Thing is, they only offer summer classes if there are more than 8 students, so I'll keep this list in mind.

Anyways, I'm going to be looking at the models you linked to and others. While the Lathe / Drill / Borer combo sounds like a good deal, I'll be looking up more models online. I know I saw that $80 drill press at the Harbor Freight in Monroville though.

Thanks for all the info, it's been a big help.

About 15 years ago, I started designing and manufacturing antennas. Some of the parts require a bit of machining to manufacture. The first thing I bought was a drill press. I use my grandfathers old table saw to cut aluminum bar (with an appropriate blade). I needed a sander so I put a Jacobs drill chuck on one end of my Dads grinder and put a round sanding pad in the chuck. With these tools, I have been able to do all the machining necessary to do antennas.

My point being that you don't need a METAL lathe, a mill, and alot of that stuff to do basic machining. You just have to be tricky. The very first company I worked for after college had a very nice machine shop with a Bridgeport mill. Only once in the seven years I worked there did I see this mill turned on. Note that I capitalized METAL above. I would not try to machine aluminum with a wood lathe. If you get one, get the right one.

I can see you in a few years time saying "What!! There is a 3 month lead time to get the doomafltchie we need!! Hell with them... I will go down to the machine shop and make one!!"

Best of luck

Bill

I can see you in a few years time saying "What!! There is a 3 month lead time to get the doomafltchie we need!! Hell with them... I will go down to the machine shop and make one!!"

Truth be told, there are a lot of things that I'd like to make. The malls and stores, even the gadget stores, just don't carry anything interesting or useful.

I have to admit, the 3-in one machine tools are a bit excessive for small parts. For making an antennas a lathe would be very excessive, but I could still see them being used for larger parts. Still though, I have a forge, anvil, and hammer, so I can make the rough part at least. I would like to see if I could get the 3- in one unit, but I'll be happy with just the drill press to get started, as then I'll be able to make accurate holes for bolts and rivets to attach parts together. I'll also see about some experimenting as well.

Good point about the wood v.s metal machine tools. I know that the cutting bits for drill presses are different depending on the material used. If I remember correctly, the easiest way to tell is the shape of the cutting point of the drill bit.

Mabye I'm being a bit off the wall here, but you might do well to look for a draftsman position. Perhaps something that you could do to generate experience while you're earning your degree. I've found that many firms start new engineers off as draftsmen so they can learn the program and requirements that the company utilizes. This can not only help you get a foot in the door to a job post grad, but can potentially pay for part of your schooling. I'm not attempting to devalue experience as a machinest, I myself spend as much time as I can talking with the machinests trying to gain their perspective before I send them drawings in an effort to ensure not only that I'm not making their life unduly difficult, but a different viewpoint may generate a better idea.