Swiss Cnc Programmer Job Description

The Workday of a Computer Numerical Controller

A person who works for a computer numerical controlled machine will study specifications and other documentation to determine requirements, be responsible for the production settings on the machines, and program the machine to produce the component parts. They solve problems, ensure quality control, and measure results. People who work for the government are often thinking about the most efficient way to do things.

They work with machines, math, and computers all day long, double checking to make sure it's accurate. They live in a world of ideas, data, and details, using facts to figure out solutions to problems. They create something beautiful.

The Swiss-type machine of Groth Manufacturing

Groth Manufacturing is an example. The contract manufacturer in Illinois has 35 machine tools, including horizontal and vertical machining centers. Tsugami's B0124 Swiss-type is its most recent machine purchase.

John Groth says the components used to be made on a more conventional turning center. A box tool turned the diameter. The shop had to start carrying inventory when the customer asked to be able to order parts in smaller quantities.

Mr. Groth had to find an offsetting cost reduction because of the extra expense that was created by stocking the inventory. The needed savings were delivered by the efficiency gain from turning the pins more quickly. The difference is important to remember when it comes to Z- axis offsets.

The Swiss-type lathe has a plus offset on it, but it requires a minus offset on the conventional lathe. The order of cuts in the cycle is different with a Swiss-type. On a conventional lathe, it is normal to rough turn and finish turn the work, then machine features such as OD grooves or threads to complete the part.

Not on a Swiss-type. The cutting fluid on most Swiss machines is oil. The lubricity is bigger.

The National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS): A Resource Center on Computer Numerical Control

A junior-level position is the CNC programmer. They work under the supervision of a production manager, the next position up the ladder for those looking to advance. The National Bureau of Labor Statistics says demand for metal and plastic machine workers will decline through the year.

It is up to the programmers to make sure their machines are in top shape. They perform basic machine repair and maintenance. Once they enter the settings, the programmers don't leave their machines.

They have to check each machine to make sure it is in the correct position. It is possible to get a job as a CNC programmer with just a high school diploma, though some employers prefer a certificate or an associate's degree from a technical school in an area of study, such as machine technology, precision machining, or CNC operations. Certification from industry organizations can help make programmers more employable.

Most employers have training programs for new hires. The national median salary for a computer numerical control (CNC) programmers is $55,400. Those at the bottom of the scale make $41,000, while those at the top of the scale make $78,000.

The National Tooling and Machining association has more than 1,300 member companies, most of them independent. There is a section that contains documents that are helpful to machine shop managers. The National Institute for Metalworking Skills is an organization that sets the accreditation standards for programmers.

Swiss-Style Machine Tools

Machine tools that are Swiss-style can be a good choice. Swiss machining is more difficult to master than standard machining, because it is complex. Swiss machines and related products have been trying to make Swissmachining simpler for operators, setup personnel and programmers.

Their efforts have yielded a number of important improvements. Practical steps can be taken by shops interested in Swiss machining to make it easier for operators to understand the process. Randy Carlisle, an applications engineer at Index Corp., said that the guide bushing is the key to Swiss machine making.

The guide bushing arrangement allows for parts with long-to-diameter ratios as high as 50. Ed Garber, national sales manager for Star CNC Machine Tool Corp., said tool presetters have become more popular with Swiss machine users over the last couple of years. The emergence of quick- change tooling is a fairly recent development.

The growing popularity of quick- change, a modular system featuring interchangeable cutting units, is easy to explain: "If you don't have to re-touch a tool, you're going to save a lot of time." Swiss machines rely on third-party software that is flexible enough to output code for multiple machine types. According to Briggs, Swiss machines don't usually come with any software.

Shops that perform Swissmachining can take actions to make things easier for themselves, just like how others can. They can resist the urge to buy the cheapest machines. The amount of money shops are willing to spend for their machines is a lot according to the application and service engineer for Swiss machine-tool manufacturer.