Boom or bust?

Are jobs in this industry on the rise? Are there any sub-sectors that are growing?

Where are the jobs? Which places have the most cnc machinist opportunities?

I think CNC jobs are are n the decline because the employer are ether sending the jobs out of the UNITED STATES OR BUYING MORE ADVANCED MACHINES SUCH AS rOBOTS THAT TAKE FEWER OPERATOR TO GET THE JOBS DONE AFTER ALL WHY PAY 4 PEOPLE WHEN YOU CAN PAY ONE Its good for the employers its HELL for the workers

Also, nobody seems to want to pay for a good skilled worker. So you have a find a place you like and stay there for 30 years! In that 30 years, learn to program those robots, so you don't get replaced, lol. We run a basic robot every day as it is, lol.

It's my opinion CNC is alive and well. Robots are
expensive, and there are still many cnc machines
out there. There's lots of jobs out there, and if you're good you'll get the pay you desirve. It's
going to be a long time before robots replace us.

There are plenty of cnc machinist / oper.. jobs out there with half decent pay. The problem is that there seems to be less younger people getting into the trade. We are far from robots taking over the milling world !!!

definatly on the rise as companies just are not willing to relocate outside of the US and customers do not find it even practical to place orders outside of the US. the best thing modern machinists can do right now to become the most valuable in this trade is to gain experience in the swiss cnc field with a milling backround.

No Sky ive been woorking as a machinist for 6 yrs, 5 1/2 0f those were spent programming cnc! I crashed a few in the beginning but now I am fully confident i could out preform any 25 yr vet lol and have proven it a time or two... sweeping floors was never my thing and i dont know jack about manual machines, im sure my case is rare but its a new day and if anyone is able to understand how to read and write g-code, they dont need to waste time sweeping floors just because people like you are to lazy to do it themselves.

Old School vs New School? Come out fighting and lets keep it clean! Ding Ding!

I believe there are alot of young people out there that want to work. But most want to go to school so they can make the big bucks! Starting at the bottom is a thing of the past, why start sweeping floors and run manuals if you can go to school and bypass alot of grunt work. True you miss out on alot of in the shop on hands training, but thats the way it is now. Honestly a machinist can have 30 years experiance and still be a dull endmill, depends on the type of work, and if your just a stand in front of a machine changing parts all day machinist. Or do you get to design, draw, program, setup, and run the first parts and then pass it on the the part changing machinist. I believe there are many levels of a machinist, and a journeyman card means nothing these days.

i too think there are different levels of machinists and really it depends on where you actually work.
whats really killing this industry are companies out there that dont pay their employees what theyre deserved, hiring complete idiots with NO machining backround @ $8 and hr and expecting them to make the company money, taking on jobs with poor/unattainable lead time, buying super expensive machines and putting poor/innapropriate tooling in them etc. it all ends up in poor workmanship that gets put out there to all these customers who in turn ALSO lose time/money. the scary part about it is shops like this easily obtain IS Certs.
i for one will never say im above picking up a broom. personally i think it shows self respect and respect for your work enviornment, i would probably pick up a broom if i owned the place.

sky in Toronto is absolutely correct except that his plant manager is probably not full of sh*t. I own a shop and I've seen at least a 100 resumes in the past year (no joke) applying for a machinist position. The problem is that they've been pushing buttons for the past 15 years and think they're machinists just because they have a fancy toolbox but don't have the slightest clue as far as the basics are concerned.

As for Mr. CNC in TN, I think that YOU think you're better than you are. I'm pretty sure you're of the type that can't sharpen his own drill or know the difference between positive and negative rakes on tools and how/why they're applied differently in different materials.

The whole point in starting from the ground up is to understand the fundamental principals that must be adhered to in a successful shop. You don't sweep floors to clean up somebody's mess, the point is to instill discipline and pride in one's work environment, atleast in the teachable young one's. I should know, I'm now 29, started my shop when I was 24, started working in a shop when I was 18..... from the ground up... (sweeping floors, deburring, cleaning machines and so on for $7/hr). Within 10 months of just diligent hard work (watching the older guys, learning set-up techniques, hand-tapping #2-56 in titanium to gain "feel" , inspection, programming, etc.) I was at $16 and running 2nd shift. Now I own a high-tech 5-axis shop machining critical rocket and robotic components for our U.S. Space programs and paying the top guys top dollar, grunts start out at the bottom.

I've tried guys that think that all they need to know is a little g-code, touch a tool off and they're good to go. Guess what, when these kind of people make mistakes they're usually the dumbest and costliest ones, and first to go.

The "new-school" guys need to be a little less arrogant and appreciate what it takes to be a REAL machinist.

Regards to all,

NEW-SCHOOL GUY, OLD-SCHOOL ATTITUDE!

aero.... thing is most of the shops that are hiring only want the ones who never sharpen their own drills or even are able to run any manual machines. I been in the trade since before you was born and have pretty much ran everything manual, NC and CNC . At one time I was CNC group leader/programmer/job quoting/etc. (Even did a robotic welder). Now I can not even get a simple job interview. Then the ones I have had the jobs went to the younger guys with the CNC certificate. I really like your attitude and wish there was more like you out there. Thanks I know there is hope somewhere.

unemployed in ohio in Stewart, Ohio said: aero.... thing is most of the shops that are hiring only want the ones who never sharpen their own drills or even are able to run any manual machines. I been in the trade since before you was born and have pretty much ran everything manual, NC and CNC . At one time I was CNC group leader/programmer/job quoting/etc. (Even did a robotic welder). Now I can not even get a simple job interview. Then the ones I have had the jobs went to the younger guys with the CNC certificate. I really like your attitude and wish there was more like you out there. Thanks I know there is hope somewhere.

Hi Buckeye Steve, Interested in moving to California and working with a Hoosier?

Lana, I have been looking to relocate for a long time since there are zero opportunities here in SE Ohio. Tried for a job in Tenn. but no call LOL. No opposed to anywhere

I worked for a big aircraft company in Wichita this economy stuff started in 2006 after I put in 12 years of excelent work they fired me because I made a decient wage, and replaced my good work for a low payed excuse of a CNC Machinist. I won't fly that Compamies planes any more, too afraid. Bad work not good when flying. Thinking of changing my career to Aviation Machanics twice the pay! and can live anywhere.

unemployed in ohio in Beverly, Ohio said: Lana, I have been looking to relocate for a long time since there are zero opportunities here in SE Ohio. Tried for a job in Tenn. but no call LOL. No opposed to anywhere

Please contact Mitch McCall@ mmccall@hoosierinc.com - he's there until 4:30 PST. Lana

I work for a bearing manufacture and we produce bearings of all sizes bearing ranging from 2 inch diameter to 70 inch diameter, we mostly look for CNC MACHINIST who can Multi-task , setup, and edit, and program new programs for newer jobs we get in, up here in Pennsylvania most places are only looking for "Button pushers" as we call them, only to Load a part in and push the "green button" if anything happens push "Big red button"...but as times goes on and our new employees stay, I'm willing to go in depth with them and teach them how setup and understand G & M codes on HAAS ans OKUMA CNC as well I'll teach them mathematical formulas for figuring out tool nose radius and speed/feeds for o.d,I.d,drilling, reaming.. I'm willing to teach I learned hard way No schooling, I started in machine shop as a "SCRAP BOY" My job was take scrap out everyday that was 20 years ago...I was taught by watching and learning year of experience doesn't built up over night... CNC MACHINIST/PROGRAMMER was a hot Job back a decade ago. now it not too many people know how to program and set up CNC pay rates are starting to go down for CNC machinist in this Area. also due to Lay-offs economical problems it all adds up.

unemployed in ohio in Beverly, Ohio said: Lana, I have been looking to relocate for a long time since there are zero opportunities here in SE Ohio. Tried for a job in Tenn. but no call LOL. No opposed to anywhere

Tyco Electronics in Waynesboro,PA is looking for several experienced Production Machinist. www.tycoelectronics.com

Send email to mmccall@hoosierinc.com - In subject put Lana Referred

We are actively looking for CNC Machinists and CNC Set Up Operators, for both 1st & 2nd shift. Please visit our website at www.trianglemfg.com .