MODERN MACHINIST

MAKING THE THINGS THAT MAKE EVERYTHING

Sometimes referred to as Precision Manufacturing, machining is the process of taking a raw material like metal or plastic and transforming it into a desired shape and size. Whether you’re looking at a stapler, a door handle or an airplane part, chances are, machining had something to do with its creation.

“Today’s industry is all about automation,” says Industrial & Engineering Technology division chair Darrell Smith, “It’s the future of manufacturing and machining through Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) technology plays a key role in this future.”

At NCTC, Machining Technology is grouped under the umbrella of Industrial & Engineering Technology along with five other specialties, Electrical, Engineering Technology (formerly called Drafting), HVAC, Industrial Mechanics and Welding Technology. With both a three-semester, 36-credit hour certificate program and a two-year Associate of Applied Science degree, Machining Technology equips students to enter fields like manufacturing, robotics, electronics, and industrial maintenance, and an associate degree lays the groundwork for careers in advanced industries like aerospace and technology when followed up with bachelor’s coursework in engineering.

ART TO PART

CNC Machining is a central aspect of the machining program and it’s where the magic happens, as machinists program their equipment to precisely replicate and produce software-designed items created by engineers and other innovators. Smith dubs this intricate and technical process “art to part.”

“The modern machinist must know how to take a technical drawing from concept to finished part,” Smith says, “and that means understanding material, drill bits, cutting techniques, process optimization and technical math. … It is the application of engineering and design which requires a high level of accuracy.”

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a healthy 9.4. percent job growth for CNC programmers, while Smith says other areas associated with machining have explosive growth needs – for instance, the projected growth rate for lathe/mill operators and setters is 19.4 percent, while the projection jumps to 35.5 percent for model makers in metal/plastic – and these are roles that machinists can fill.

In today’s workforce, machinists must have a strong skill set in design, measurement, programming and manufacturing,” Smith says. “This prepares them to advance and grow in areas like quality control, production, planning, design with CAD/CAM programming, or management.”