Back to school--anyone else?

I have always been interested in metalwork and fabrication, and think I would have been pretty happy with a career as a machinist. Maybe it was just the grass is greener syndrome, but now that I have attained advanced age (62), I figure it's not too late to start on my umpteenth career. Machining might be it. I have a friend whose brother got his cert at age 64 and got a job. Loves it.

So, this week I applied to a community college to take a course in CAD and fabrication. My next door neighbor teaches the class and will be the instructor. Yesterday I toured the school facility--oh my! They have the coolest collection of mills, lathes, water jet cutters, NC machines, and miles of welding booths. They also have full carbon fiber setups, including an autoclave. I was drooling--could probably spend the rest of my life learning to use just some of this stuff.

I'm curious if anyone else has gone back to school and learned something new after a career doing unrelated stuff. I'm really jazzed about it.

[biosurfer1]

I think you'll have a ball, and why not? It doesn't even have to turn into a career, just enjoy the learning if money isn't a priority. I keep trying to tell my "could be" retired mom that. She complains about the job she has and doesn't need, but won't do something she enjoys because it doesn't pay well enough?!?!

Mori Seiki (or whatever they are called now) used to donate their "old" machines to my college. They were crazy expensive, cutting edge machine but since they were a couple years old, too old for a machine company, so we got to play with them😁

[Seahawk]

CAD covers a multitude of fabrication disciplines as you know.

My company designs, tools, makes and assembles composite, fiberglass, metal and other component structures.

Learn how to CAD a build-able design...learn how to design then build the tooling to MAKE the design: That is the single most difficult issue we have with folks who have learned CAD without practical build experience.

A Side/B Side for tooling, laps, loft, etc., etc. Because it looks good in CAD doesn't mean it can be made.

We have designed a ducted fan UAS (I wish I could show you the CAD) that we sent to our tooling guru in Wisconsin - special tool for the duct, we do most of our own work but this was very complicated in terms of tooling design and tolerances.

My partner, a very experienced CAD guy, was a bit chagrined when the tooling guru found some issues.

Take the journey.

[craigster59]

My union (IATSE 44) sponsored anyone who wanted to take welding courses at the local community college. College Of The Canyons has a great welding program, it was fun getting back into stretching the brain a few nights a week. I keep thinking of taking more courses but work and home life just seems to get in the way.

[legion]

I took a welding class at the local community college 10 years ago. Same as you, it was something that I was always interested in.

I was 30 at the time and the Community College did not offer a "community education" welding class, so I had to enroll as a student for this one, single class. I was told that my admission to the class was questionable as I was not attempting to become a welder. I had to meet with the Dean and persuade him to let me enroll. There were 10 slots in the class and they were concerned that I'd be taking one away from a future career welder. After the meeting, I was allowed to enroll. I took the class with a friend who was similarly put through the ringer.

At the end of the 10 week class, my friend and I were the only two A's. The next highest grade was a C, there for three D's and four F's. We were the only two to attend every class. The sole female in the class attended once on week 6, (past the drop date), realized she'd never catch up, and never attended again. Our projects looked way better than all of the kids there to be professional welders. We were never sent our grades, I had to drop by in person to get them. The whole experience made my scared to trust a weld.

Next, I decided that I wanted to learn to drive a semi. I looked into it. The same community college has a commercial trucking program. At the time, it cost $8,000 and met for 8 hours a day for 8 weeks. I couldn't afford to take 8 weeks away from work (I don't get that much vacation!) and $8,000 seems outrageous. Never mind.

[bleucamaro]

Really cool that you're going back. Also really cool they have a composites programs. . . but Seattle would.

I've not gone through a JC machining class, but have taken and worked as a TA for machining classes and CAD classes when I was in college. It will be a great experience.

I've been kicking the idea around of going back to teach an introduction to composites class at either a local JC or state college. Getting the time to do that while working full time seems to be the real challenge.

[wswartzwel]

I went back for a couple classes I wanted for self improvement... Think I was around 50 at the time. Kid sitting next to me in one class, turned out to be the son of a guy I went to high school with. Man I felt out of place.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

CAD covers a multitude of fabrication disciplines as you know.

My company designs, tools, makes and assembles composite, fiberglass, metal and other component structures.

Learn how to CAD a build-able design...learn how to design then build the tooling to MAKE the design: That is the single most difficult issue we have with folks who have learned CAD without practical build experience.

A Side/B Side for tooling, laps, loft, etc., etc. Because it looks good in CAD doesn't mean it can be made.

We have designed a ducted fan UAS (I wish I could show you the CAD) that we sent to our tooling guru in Wisconsin - special tool for the duct, we do most of our own work but this was very complicated in terms of tooling design and tolerances.

My partner, a very experienced CAD guy, was a bit chagrined when the tooling guru found some issues.

Take the journey.

Hah - I love it. As a former tooling dood yes, I can say, it falls to us to find many of the design issues the parts and assemblies designers miss. We are the first guys to actually have to make something, to actually make chips, and turn CAD into reality. That's when the rubber first meets the road.

You are absolutely right, and I've mentioned this here before - what looks spiffy in CAD can often be impossible to make. I saw an ever widening gap in understanding this simple axiom with each new generation of engineers. Not enough of them are hands-on types. They are lacking shop experience, either professionally or in their hobbies.

So, Terry - hell yeah, go for it! You will have a ball. I started my career as a tool maker before finishing my education and becoming a tooling engineer. The thing I missed the most after my transition was the hands-on work I did previously. We shared the same employer, so you know how they get about union boundaries and such - once my collar went from blue to white it was strictly hands off.

Until I landed in AOG, that is. Talk about a playground for big kids. I not only got to design our tools and equipment when at home, I often got to use it and train mechanics and machinists on it when on the road. We all pulled the coveralls on and dove in. If my tools needed modification to suit a particular set of circumstances, it was up to me to do it when we were on the road. What fun - fire up the lathe, vertical mill, or what have you. No union rules when we were away from home. Of course the downside was I often wound up on the wrong end of a bucking bar, but what the hell - it was all fun.

Machine shops are always hurting for truly qualified help. Not so much in ability to make chips, but more so in ability to problem solve and work logically to an end goal. To know where you are going and why before you fire up the machine. Bring that to the table and you will be a valuable asset to any machine shop.

[KFC911]

Very cool indeed....pops

[Captain Ahab Jr]

I'm jealous,

Really want to do titanium and aluminium TIG welding but I want to do it with the manufacturer or distributor of the welding set up I choose to buy so I understand how to use my own machine.

I'd love to lecture on a composites course, that could be could fun doing design exercises with keen students. Keep meaning to help out with my local Formula student team

As for courses I'd like to do a 50 cal sniper shooting, sailing, 4x4 driving, power boating course and get my big rig license. To much work, too little time

[1990C4S]

I took welding at night school. I am still 'pretty good' after a few minutes of warm up. My classmate was terrible, zero co-ordination.

I'm going to learn tig in the shop that work in now.

Being a machinist is fun until you have to do it 40 hours a week, like most side jobs.

[ckelly78z]

I have a cert, and routinely use my Lathe, mill, band saw, drill press, and grinders/sanders at my auto parts manufacturer prototype job. I normally am reshaping/fixing fixtures for our test lab, but occasionally do some work on my own projects.

From being in several industrial machine shops that have the bid HAAS CNC machines, and other large equipment, i'm not sure I would want to do it as a profession. It seems to be almost line work, where you keep plugging out the same pieces for a large contract.....although they do get paid handsomely !

I will have a band saw, drill press, sanders/grinders, chop saw, welder, and torch in my new "man cave build", but can't see myself wanting a manual mill, or lathe.

With my new heart pace maker/defibrillator, I am not allowed to stick, or wire weld anymore for fear of disrupting it, but I am going to play around with oxy/acetelene welding using my torch.

[PorscheGAL]

Good for you! Community Colleges have come a long way in what they offer. Like you I have started my journey back to school this year but for me it is Nursing.

Good Luck! I know you will enjoy it.

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Hah - I love it. As a former tooling dood yes, I can say, it falls to us to find many of the design issues the parts and assemblies designers miss. We are the first guys to actually have to make something, to actually make chips, and turn CAD into reality. That's when the rubber first meets the road.

You are absolutely right, and I've mentioned this here before - what looks spiffy in CAD can often be impossible to make. I saw an ever widening gap in understanding this simple axiom with each new generation of engineers. Not enough of them are hands-on types. They are lacking shop experience, either professionally or in their hobbies.

So, Terry - hell yeah, go for it! You will have a ball. I started my career as a tool maker before finishing my education and becoming a tooling engineer. The thing I missed the most after my transition was the hands-on work I did previously. We shared the same employer, so you know how they get about union boundaries and such - once my collar went from blue to white it was strictly hands off.

Until I landed in AOG, that is. Talk about a playground for big kids. I not only got to design our tools and equipment when at home, I often got to use it and train mechanics and machinists on it when on the road. We all pulled the coveralls on and dove in. If my tools needed modification to suit a particular set of circumstances, it was up to me to do it when we were on the road. What fun - fire up the lathe, vertical mill, or what have you. No union rules when we were away from home. Of course the downside was I often wound up on the wrong end of a bucking bar, but what the hell - it was all fun.

Machine shops are always hurting for truly qualified help. Not so much in ability to make chips, but more so in ability to problem solve and work logically to an end goal. To know where you are going and why before you fire up the machine. Bring that to the table and you will be a valuable asset to any machine shop.

Jeff--from what you have described, AOG must have been a complete blast.

When I was the procurement manager for the KHI package on the 777 (mid-fuselage, keel beam, wing ribs, and cargo door), I got really interested in fabrication, tooling, and trouble-shooting. Here is a little vial of the first chips KHI cut on that airplane, which they presented with much fanfare, and which is one of my treasured possessions.




On the first couple airplanes, we had a terrible time getting the door cutouts made by KHI to fit the doors (made by Mitsubishi) within the 3-axis adjustment tolerances. The door chief mechanic on the line--a nasty, chaw-chewing redneck--used to call me up and scream at me to get out there and see the latest offense. Eventually I coordinated a field trip to KHI so he and they could work it out. It was a comical east meets west situation. The mech and I got to be friends during that experience-- I admired the way he was such a perfectionist. And and I got to learn a lot about how things designed in CATIA didn't always work in the factory.

Definitely looking forward to the class.

[Captain Ahab Jr]

Originally Posted by madcorgi

And and I got to learn a lot about how things designed in CATIA didn't always work in the factory.
.

Don't blame CATIA, blame the player

Agree too many young guys don't have any practical skills

Even after decades of designering I still make time to see my parts go together or talk with the guys that have to make and build it while I'm creating

Originally Posted by Captain Ahab Jr

Don't blame CATIA, blame the player

Agree too many young guys don't have any practical skills

Even after decades of designering I still make time to see my parts go together or talk with the guys that have to make and build it while I'm creating

Several Japanese companies require their engineers t work on the factory floor for a year before they start as engineers. Seems like a smart practice to me.

[wdfifteen]

T newer your question, yes, I took a machining class. No CNC, working from drawings. I still have a 3” vice that I made. I also took a metal working class from a guy who builds car bodies from scratch. Learned to use stretchers, rollers, planishing, etc to form sheet metal. It was a blast.

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

T newer your question, yes, I took a machining class. No CNC, working from drawings. I still have a 3” vice that I made. I also took a metal working class from a guy who builds car bodies from scratch. Learned to use stretchers, rollers, planishing, etc to form sheet metal. It was a blast.

That does sound like a blast! I have always wanted to try a planisher. There are some incredible metal benders here on Pelican.

A car restoration shop near me is advertising for a fabricator/welder. Maybe I can get an internship. Sweeping floors and such, as long as they let me play with the machines.

[flatbutt]

Good for you T! I went back to my alma mater two years ago for Music composition. I'm nearly along far enough to offer volunteer services to my hometown school system as a music instructor. Have fun man.

[Steve Viegas]

I am just finishing up my first quarter back at school in over 25 years. It was a shock to the system to have homework. I am enjoying it though, and when I am done, I should have a Master's in Education allowing me to teach K-12.