R9 Machining
Initial skills rating **
September 2011
As part of a four year mechanical engineering apprenticeship I spent 18 months dedicated to learning how to use metalworking machines both in a dedicated training centre and factory setting.
In addition to this I have spent the last four years working as a design and technology technician in a secondary school. I gained a broad experience of woodworking machines.
Although I am sure with practice I will regain confidence using metalwork machinery. At the moment I would not feel confident sharing my knowledge.
In addition to this I have spent the last four years working as a design and technology technician in a secondary school. I gained a broad experience of woodworking machines.
Although I am sure with practice I will regain confidence using metalwork machinery. At the moment I would not feel confident sharing my knowledge.
Centre Lathe
Oh they let me loose with a centre lathe again….it’s been 27 years since I last used one but it was the machine I seriously debated changing my future for. I loved the precision bespoke work I was doing in the factory with a very talented engineer so much so that I considered asking to change from heading to the drawing office and become a turner.
I was really nervous about using one again, those spinning jaws and my imagination over what happens if you hit them kind of terrifies me. But then again a healthy respect for powerful machinery is no bad thing.
So the centre lathe, I did things wrong but I learned by them. And I learned a few things like judging cutting speeds and starting a die off on the lathe using the tailstock but most of all I started to regain my confidence. I do however have difficulty knowing my left from my right and I really have to concentrate on numbers when I am turning. I think this would be a problem when I am teaching but it does give me an understanding for students that have a similar difficulty
So what can I do about this, familiarity may be the solution or a notepad with the setting you have just used. Chances are I won’t use a lathe in school for a while so what I do now may be forgotten again so I need to be aware that If I want to teach something I find difficult I need to put some time in to become confident with it.
So the day after I revisited the lathe I found myself being Annie’s tutor. Explaining the drawing was easy. Teaching her to use the Zeus book and cutting threads was fine. Over the next few days I became aware of the problems beginners were having and they were quite different to my own but I was confident in my ability to help resolve issues as they arose..
The need to turn off the machine at the isolator when working in a school is a different practise to my more familiar surroundings of a factory. When asked a question by someone whilst they were turning was a situation I was not prepared for. Although I backed away quickly as I was not wearing protective goggles I had still put myself in danger. That situation needs to be planned for.
I was really nervous about using one again, those spinning jaws and my imagination over what happens if you hit them kind of terrifies me. But then again a healthy respect for powerful machinery is no bad thing.
So the centre lathe, I did things wrong but I learned by them. And I learned a few things like judging cutting speeds and starting a die off on the lathe using the tailstock but most of all I started to regain my confidence. I do however have difficulty knowing my left from my right and I really have to concentrate on numbers when I am turning. I think this would be a problem when I am teaching but it does give me an understanding for students that have a similar difficulty
So what can I do about this, familiarity may be the solution or a notepad with the setting you have just used. Chances are I won’t use a lathe in school for a while so what I do now may be forgotten again so I need to be aware that If I want to teach something I find difficult I need to put some time in to become confident with it.
So the day after I revisited the lathe I found myself being Annie’s tutor. Explaining the drawing was easy. Teaching her to use the Zeus book and cutting threads was fine. Over the next few days I became aware of the problems beginners were having and they were quite different to my own but I was confident in my ability to help resolve issues as they arose..
The need to turn off the machine at the isolator when working in a school is a different practise to my more familiar surroundings of a factory. When asked a question by someone whilst they were turning was a situation I was not prepared for. Although I backed away quickly as I was not wearing protective goggles I had still put myself in danger. That situation needs to be planned for.
Knurling is another finish obtained using a knurling tool on the centre lathe.
12th February 2012 ***
I am happy to share my knowledge of using a lot of different machines. I feel more confident having recently used a centre lathe again. Gaining a deeper understanding by working out machine speeds and feeds would increase my ability further. I am looking forward to using more CNC machines now that I have a better grasp of 2D design and Solidworks.