I missed the Staff meeting, but the Memos showed that Gerald Miller
wrote on Tue, 16 Sep 2008 01:09:45 -0400 in
rec.crafts.metalworking :

Later he made a comment to another fellow allowing that "owning a
lathe and a mill would only be a dream for me."

Can I presume this guy is NOT "a machinist"? G

Or is it possible that production-floor machine _operators_ call
themselves that?

Or are called that, think they are that, and are really just
"button monkeys" Some of them may learn the trade, but ... well I'm
learning the "problems" which occur when all you've done for a set up
is put fixtures in predefined locations, load ,material and go.
This machining is really wild. I'm learning a lot, but I'm also
building the base of previous 'experience'.


pyotr
When I worked as a manual cut off lathe operator in a tube factory, I
was classified as skilled labour, one step up from the floor sweeper.
My machine was set up by the shift lead hand but I was allowed to re
sharpen the cutter after receiving instruction.

We all got to start somewhere.

I was the "setup guy" for the Robomills. I loved setting them up,
but it .. took a while for me to "settle into the production routine."
But I started as one of those who pushed buttons after "Roboman" set
them up, too.

Now, I'm "back" as the new guy, drinking from the fire hose with
new machines and new procedures. At least this time I had a new
notebook on day 1.


tschus
pyotr
--
pyotr filipivich
"I had just been through hell and must have looked like death warmed
over walking into the saloon, because when I asked the bartender
whether they served zombies he said, ‘Sure, what'll you have?'"
from I Hear America Swinging by Peter DeVries