Tag : machinist

Manufacturing Facility

5 Tips for Staying Safe and Healthy in the Manufacturing Facility

Ranging from poorly maintained tools to fatigued workers, manufacturing setting is riddled with hazards, both out in the open and some hidden. If you do not know a place to start checking out, then such risks may lead to injuries and sometimes death. Below are five tips to help you stay safe and healthy in a manufacturing facility.

1. Ensure Proper Use and Maintenance of Machinery and Equipment

The first step to ensure everyone is safe in a manufacturing setting is to ensure machinery and equipment are properly maintained. Failure to constantly ensure the equipment works properly can pose risks to every employee in the facility.

It is important to know that even tools with fail-safes are prone to malfunction if you do not do regular check-ups. To ensure proper functioning, ensure that the equipment undergoes regular inspection. Your employees should know how to check whether the equipment works optimally. Contacting a professional to inspect your equipment can help.

Proper use of manufacturing equipment will ensure that the machinery works well without posing any danger to those around the manufacturing facility. You should, therefore, ensure that only those qualified to handle a certain equipment are the only employees who work on it and handle it with professionalism.

2. Permanent Hazards Need Special Consideration

Numerous equipment in a manufacturing facility poses a risk to anyone regardless of whether they are functioning as required. Chemicals, for instance, will remain dangerous to anyone even when regular inspections are done. However, you can minimize these risks by labeling, and give every employee the right protective gear when handling these chemicals.

It is important to also clean spills. This will ensure that there are no health risks that are exposed to employees. Carefully cleaning up spills will ensure there is no gas emitted into the atmosphere. Some gases may pose a health risk as well as act as a respiratory irritant.

Wearing safety equipment while in a manufacturing facility is crucial. This will prevent any visitor, employers, managers, subcontractors, and contractors from hazards. For instance, wearing an eye protection such as goggles will help you prevent metal or chemical splash into your eyes.

3. Employees Should Undergo Regular Training

It is said that your firm is as safe as those people who work in it. Every employee should undergo training regularly on every contact they will be handling. You should make sure that they can spot warning signs such as burning wire smells, scraping or grinding noises, abnormal wobbles, or anything that may sound abnormal. If you find out any machine that is unsafe, then shut it down.

4. Sufficient First Aid

In case of an emergency, you need to have easy access to a first aid kit. Your manufacturing facility should be stocked with medical equipment including first aid kits for general purposes as well as those customized to meet the specific needs of your working environment.

You need to ensure every employee undergoes training to have at least some level of knowledge on how to use a first aid kit. In some cases, you will need to have your staff members specially trained to offer CPR, first aid as well as conduct a confined-space rescue.

5. Wear Proper Clothing

Having a protective gear in a manufacturing facility may not be the only preventive measure available. In fact, you should always wear proper clothing, not loose clothing that may be caught in or on the machines. Wearing a closed shoe is also an important part of ensuring you remain safe while in a manufacturing plant.

If every employee follows these tips, then your manufacturing facility will be a safe place for both your employees and those visiting.

Manufacturing Shop

Tips for starting your own CNC machine business

Just like any business, starting your CNC manufacturing shop can be challenging. However, often are the times when CNC machining and CNC automation operators ask themselves whether it is time to start their own machining business or offer their labor to other companies.

If you feel that it is time for you to own your own machine shop, it is best that you do it. Nevertheless, no matter the motivation, it is not always easy to start your own business especially one dealing with us manufacturing products. A manufacturing shop requires a lot of capital and therefore, you need to have a lot of savings and if not, you need to have the credit worthiness to obtain a loan .You need money, resources and most of all you need to find customers which is the most challenging part.

In this article, we take it upon ourselves to educate you on the most essential tips needed to own your CNC manufacturing shop.

Be aware of the risks

Before you get into any business, you need to identify the risks associated. You need to know whether you have what it takes to mitigate those risks or to survive the perils. You probably know of the statistics that most businesses fail in their first year of operation. More so, manufacturing in the US is not such an easy industry to penetrate due to the competition. So, before you venture into this business analyze the risks.

Prepare your business plan

Once you have established the risks, write a business plan and make sure it incorporates all the risks. In your business plan, focus on the factors likely to affect your business such as competition among other threats. Also, plan on your sales and marketing strategies. At the same time, determine the rate in the market so you can know how to price your products.

Start small

Once you have your business plan and everything under control, start small. It is normal to want to have a large shop because you think people are more attracted to businesses that look established. However, it is not advisable to do that since you have no idea how the market is. First, test the market and your team by starting small. Have some few machines and from there build capital.

If need be, first start your business with a used machine before buying a new one. In that way, you will know how to use the tool efficiently before you buy a new one. However, it is not a must you buy a used one especially if you already know how to use the machines. But, don’t rush to expand without understanding the market.

Develop partnerships

When starting a new business, it can be very tricky finding customers. However, that depends whether you are starting from scratch or if you are buying an existing business. If it is an existing business, it is good you learn to maintain the customers and if it is new, learn how to get them. So, it is very important to create connections whether by having your friends help get clients or by partnering with other business. Make sure you have good relationships and nurture them even after your shop expands.

Research shows that the type of manufacturing shop or what you looking to produce plays a major role in obtaining customers. Therefore, you can create partners by targeting segments in your marketplace. For example, develop connections with people who buy your products at a good rate or those who are in most need of your products.

Structure your business

Starting a business can be costly and so, it is expected that you will try to cut cost as much as possible. However, as much as you want to cut cost, remember that you cannot work by yourself. You cannot control sales, control finance and at the same time produce goods. So, structure your business in a way that you have the best team needed to steer a machining shop.

With the above tips, you can relax knowing you are headed for success. All the best as you start your Manufacturing Shop.

CNC machinist

How long does it take to become a CNC Machinist?

Anyone who uses machine tools to modify or make parts as a profession is a machinist. However, a person who has been properly trained to become a CNC machinist can do much more. A qualified machinist should be able to use CNC (Computer Numerical Control) to execute his/her duties. CNC refers to the process of using computers to control machines. It’s the automation of machine tools via machine control commands to execute pre-programmed sequences.

What Does a Machinist Do?

The terms CNC manufacturing, CNC automation, and CNC machining all allude to the use of Computer Numerical Control (CNC) via programming to increase quality and consistency of the product. A CNC machinist can operate a wide range of machinery in the creation of parts and products that are usually very specific. Machinists operate specialized tools to create precision metal parts. They repair, modify, and fabricate mechanical equipment.

A normal day in the life of a machinist includes:

– The use of manual and computer controlled machinery i.e. operate, set up, and program the CNC Machinery

– Making sure that the machinery is properly maintained.

– Operating tools such as grinders, milling machines, etc.

– Calculating where to bore or cut using the right tools for each job.

To become a CNC machinist, it’s good to complete a training program in one of the US manufacturing schools, or better still, one of the most reputable mechanical engineering schools in the land. Keep in mind that formal training is not a must – there a lot of self-taught machinists out there, but it’s strongly suggested that you acquire some form of formal training to effectively and safely discharge your duties. Courses like mechanical engineering include a pretty comprehensive machining training program. Many businesses with interests in manufacturing in the US do hire machinists.

Types of Machinists

Primarily, there are three types of CNC machinists. They are operating machinists, set up machinists, and programming machinists. An operation machinist is responsible for the day to day functioning of the machines – they are the operators. Set up machinists are tasked with the job of making sure that everything is in working order. They are in charge of monitoring the equipment, adjusting offsets, and performing other tasks needed to maintain smooth operations. Some machinists specialize in writing CNC programs and modify existing programs in response to glitches encountered during test runs. These machinists are known as programming machinists.

Becoming a Machinist

As stated earlier in the article, to become a professional CNC machinist, it’s prudent to acquire proper training and certification. If it’s possible, its best to start preparations to become a machinist early. In their training, machinists get several years of technical instruction and on-site training. Training can be acquired via community or technical colleges, vocational schools, and apprenticeship programs. Often, you will be required to have a high school diploma.

Typically, becoming a machinist takes between 1 to 2 years for entry level roles including a minimum of 8 weeks of technical training and over 1,500 hours of on the job training each year. Here’s what you need to do to become a machinist in the United States:

– Enrol for preparatory classes. A high school diploma is the minimum requirement to becoming a machinist. You can get the necessary training — in this case, a degree, usually taking up to two years — from a technical college

– Complete a formal apprenticeship. You can work with a local manufacturer, local union, or your school to look for available opportunities. An apprenticeship is an entry level position where you can stay for a year or two — depending on your training and tenacity — before moving up to an operator position.

– Get NIMS certification. A National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) certification isn’t a requirement, but its recommended for aspiring machinists. After completing your apprenticeship, get one of those. You will be required to sit for a performance-based written and practical exam to get certification.

The last and final step to becoming a machinist is putting your skills to work. You can do that by getting a job at a manufacturer specializing in making parts for OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers). Alternatively, you can choose to work for yourself if you have the business skills. Depending on your financial ability, you can either buy an existing Machine Shop or purchase a machine to handle some small jobs from your home or garage.

skillscncmachinist

What are the Skills and Qualities Required to be Successful Machinists?

People tend to misunderstand what a CNC Machinist is and the skills they possess. Given that it takes at least seven (or more) years of technical tool and advanced manufacturing to become a certified machinist, summing up the qualities and skills required for the occupation can be difficult to explain in a simple sentence. So to give context brief to the occupation, a machinist is a person who performs techniques and operations without assistance in all facets of advanced machining techniques and operations. Much of their knowledge is gained through apprenticeship, which requires 576 hours of educational training and 8,000 hours of work learning all aspects of manual machining.

A Machinist’s Skill & Quality Set

Many individuals view machinists as people who operate by hardware and produce/cut materials into what is intended. However, this isn’t always the case as many industries utilizing Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) machines. Some of the skill sets required for effective machinists are:

  • They must have the tolerance to gather and produce engineering parts that have been created from a wide range of materials. In addition to this, they should be able to work within size distinctions that are oftentimes only a hundredth of a single millimeter.
  • They must be proficient when handling the latest and current tools at their disposal, whether it be machine tools or measuring and hand paraphernalia. Machinists must also have experience and knowledge about laser cutting, screw machining, stamping, machine maintenance, machine building, machining, metalforming, and other techinical skills required for production.

When it comes to CNC machines, they are milling machines that are automated digitally. The main reason for CNC machine popularity is due to the fact that they reduce manpower, reduce time , and increase the quality of the product being produced. However, these machines do require machinist oversight in the event of failure. For example:

  • A CNC Machinist should be able to identify and interpret the 2D engineering blueprints/illustrations of the engineering machines or components. In addition to this, the CNC machinist must economically complete and plan the manufacturing of all components when utilizing the available equipment and time.

Aside from the technical aspects of the machine, the machinist must also know how to formulate procedures, set priorities, set schedules, and create a 3D image of the product mentally before it is created. This is a common quality found in expert machinists. Other important qualities include:

  • Paying careful attention to errors found in current manufactured equipment or components. If faults or errors are found, the machinist must correct them so the equipment or components can be used properly.
  • Maintaining a high level of craftsmanship. This is the most important quality a CNC Machinist can possess. They should have no problem finding safe, effective, and economical ways to improve productivity within a company or production.

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