<VV> Re: VirtualVairs Digest, Vol 14, Issue 9

[Rex Chivers]

Hello Ryan,
    I left machine work about 10 years ago to move into computer 
programming.  I was a machinist in the power plants for an electrical 
utility company for 20Years.  It was always an interesting job because the 
work was never repetitve, lot of one of a kind jobs, some field machine work 
where we had to build are own tools and rigs to perform the required jobs. 
I have run lathes that swing from 9" to 12' ( yes 12 ft, 120 inches). 
Vertical and horizontal boring machines, mills, surface grinders, and 
various other machines.  People often ask me how I went into programming 
from machine work, I tell them that my hobby is wood working,
Machine work, programming, woodworking all three are designing, creating, 
and executing a logical progression of steps to achive a product.  Just 
different media !!  We frequently had to work to the ten thousandth of an 
inch with  a tolerance of plus or minus 1 tenth.  Some of the most 
interesting jobs would take 2 or 3 days to setup and only an hour or two to 
do the actual machine work.  Patience and attention to detail are key, 
always try and think 2 -3 steps ahead on the job, figuring out how to do the 
most work with the fewest setup changes.

    My experience as a machinist has helped a lot with rebuilding my vairs 
from the mechanical and welding side.  The wood working has come in handy 
with the sanding and painting side :-)

Rex
65 Vert
61 Rampside

> Date: Fri, 3 Mar 2006 17:45:49 -0800 (PST)
> From: Ryan Verthein <daretocorvair at yahoo.com>
> Subject: <VV> Machinist, again. (No corvair)
> To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
> Message-ID: <20060304014549.64989.qmail at web60922.mail.yahoo.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1
>
> Well, I guess I'm really just an operator, but getting
> there. I started at my new job today at a Machine shop
> here in Grand Rapids.  12 hrs Fri Sat Sun (36
> total...get pd for 40!)
>
> I actually kind of enjoy machining.  creating tolerant
> peices of perfection....  the tolerance I had to be
> careful of today was a bearing journal diameter with a
> tol of +/- .0003
>
> Pretty crazy!
>
> Yeah I dunno.  I'd kind of like to learn how to
> program, and then be able to do my own machine
> work...custom billter pieces,
> honing/boring...turnin...all sorts of fun stuff.
> actually, a Manual Bridgeport would work best....and
> be easiest to operate probably too...
>
> but I digress.
>
> brakes, tires...should be driving my Vair in another
> month or so.
>
> Any other Machinists on the list?
>
> Ryan V.
>
> 1965 Corsa/110/4
> http://www.edselmotors.com/corsa.html
> and http://free4allband.tripod.com/corsacorvair.html
>
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