machine shop

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What is CAD/CAM?

Advances in manufacturing and computer technology have changed the way we think of CAD/CAM.

• Computer-Aided Design
• Computer-Aided Manufacturing

It’s safe to say that CADCAM can now be referred to as digital manufacturing.  As computers and machine tools become even more integrated the possibilities steadily increase. Possibilities like additive manufacturing, multi-operation manufacturing platforms, and public 3d model libraries.

 

 

The Laws of Machining

 

• Organization
• Delegation
• Automation
• Quick Set-Up Cheats
• Getting The Right Information For A Job
• Utilizing Your Co-Workers 
• Workflow

 

Organization:

“For every minute spent in organizing, an hour is earned.”

-Benjamin Franklin 

In any work environment, your best friend is organization. We all know this but let’s look at some simple ways to minimize the chaos you may find yourself in. A machine shop may many tools and the ability to locate the required tools in a timely manner will save you much time. 

• Wrenches
• Allen Wrenches
• Cutting Tools
• Machine Tools
• Specialized Tools
• Measuring Tools
• Customer Crap required to run a job
• Shipping Tools
• Nuts, bolts, and related fasteners
• Spare Machine parts and maintenance Parts 
• Manuals and Documentation

 

I once watched a Bar Rescue episode where they were performing time studies on how it took a bartender to make a drink. When the bartender maintained the tools needed in the same position they were able to make the drink at 15% of the normal time. That’s because the act of reaching for the tool became an unconscious habit. They didn’t think about it or look for it. They naturally just grabbed it without thinking.  Your job is to reduce as much friction as possible. You shouldn’t have to think about it or look for it. You should grab the tool or mechanism without thinking just knowing it’s there.

The important thing is increasing workflow. The more a tool is used the closer and accessible you need it. The less you use it the further the way you want to keep it. But God forbid that you lose any of these items. The day will come that you find yourself with a machine down and spending a portion of your life looking for something. Then when you give up and order another one you suddenly have two of these. Over years of doing this, you accumulate duplicate tools that you’ll never use. Which makes your job of organizing even harder. 

 

Mill Setup & Programming 

Time is money. That should be your overall them. That includes anything that is subject to you using energy. Just because you reduced cycle time if you are finding yourself utilizing energy manually performing finishing processes or post-processing at the end of the day you’ll be fatigued which will interfere with production. The number of parts per hour compared to the number of parts produced per day can help guide you in this decision. 

 

Delegation

Don’t do something that someone else can do.

We all have had that coworker that always needs help. So I’m running my machine and my coworker comes over and needs help again. Many times this may a question or problem to fix that normally arise.  I used to spend hours per day helping others complete tasks that they should be able to perform on their own. Now, I’m about helping others but are really helping if they don’t learn the skills themselves? No, you’re just being an enabler. The best way to help them is to document the task. Most of the time it’s a regular problem that arises.  If so, document the fuck out of it. That includes documenting common problems that arise and routines to troubleshoot to a solution. If you can take pictures, screenshots and examples. If they come to you tell the to go to pg 23 on your fix your own shit book. Seriously, your not helping them out by taking over. You’re being an enabler. Nobody like enablers. 

 

Automation 

Never complete a task that can be automated. At least in a reasonable time. If your running a job of ten parts that you never see again well maybe it’s not worth the time. But if you look at it as an opportunity to better increase your skills, go for it. Now you should evaluate the time and energy needed to invest in such a task. That only comes with experience. If you don’t know…. Well go for it. You’ll learn real quick if its worth the effort. Many post processing procedures can be automated.  Procedures such as deburring and polishing.