In a global scope, news about machine exports varies in most countries. In the United States, the current administration announced that they will push Congress to merge controls on exports of goods with military applications. For the sake of tougher security, it would also mean that the existing rules may push some company factories out of the country. The National Association of Manufacturers estimated that the outcome may cut $100 billion worth of exports.

Representative Ike Skelton of Missouri said that directing the export of technologies is essential to national security; however, it cannot be truly effective if the system has “gaps and inconsistencies across agencies.” Like what most of the industry sectors experienced in 2009, the machine tools industry had a sluggish time in consumption and distribution of manufacturing technology. Since the machine tool industry is the root of other technological industries, most companies are still struggling to recover from the economic downturn.

On the other side of the world, Taiwan machine industries’ outlook is positive. Reports that came out on the 1^st of April 2010 stated that tool producers have welcomed a change in their products to meet the current fluctuating demands. With the emphasis on reducing secondary machining to capitalize on cost efficiencies, machine tools producers have upgraded technologies sprouting various relevant products. Taiwan industries utilized current machine tools to produce materials such as chain-link fence, expanded metal, metal conveyor belt, metallic netting, perforated metals, and many more.

Even though several machining industries have been hit hard by recent financial crisis, the condition varies from country-to-country, depending on which company can rise on top. So far, the race has been steady with exports adjusting to the overall economic atmosphere. As far as change is concerned, industries should learn how to deal with them, whether economical or environmental, in order to answer the demands of its buyers.

The Machine Tool Industry

The machine tool manufacturing industry is one of the biggest in the country (perhaps even in the world), and is also essential for the investment goods sector as it provides the principal industrial equipment base for the manufacturing industries.

An Entrepreneur article entitled 2010 and 1/2 Trends to Watch specifies ten areas that discusses issues quaking today’s society. One aspect of the article features recent updates and trends in education since the global financial crisis, stating the vast numbers of people returning to school amidst a harsh economic climate. People find themselves hitting the books to gain ideas for new job opportunities.

Universities and Colleges are packed with enrollees, with numbers reaching to 12 million. One of the obvious reasons for this is unemployment, as reported by IbisWorld senior analyst Toon van Beeck. Neumont University of Salt Lake City, Utah entices students with postgraduate employment rates of 85% to 95% within the first two months, even during the slump.

In addition, the article affirms that 2010 will be a good year for higher learning institutions with revenues escalating to 4.9% or $421 billion. Colleges and trade or vocational schools are not exempted from the growing number of students. Most probably these vocational schools will profit more than the larger institutions.

Many perceive a bright future for the skilled workers. Studies by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics pointed out that this year there will be almost 2.3 million unfilled works in various skilled trades. Despite the growing importance of trade schools, students graduating from these learning institutions continue to receive high demand.

In these times, company employers are eyeing for potential employees who can get the job done as effectively and efficiently as possible. From a different perspective, the findings also showed proof that the deficit of skilled professional workers maims employers, costing them millions of dollars.

As of now, the numbers of industries searching for skilled workers are growing. In the field of machinery, companies are now looking for machinists who can operate and maintain the latest automated machines to produce engineering components. However, the best machinists (or other skilled workers for that matter) are usually the ones who have more experience. Hopefully, trade schools can accommodate this need, especially with the increasing demands to occupy several vacant slots for skilled workers.

As an initial impression, one can envision the machinist operating beside a hardware tool to produce and cut materials into its expected results. In a way, a machinist is no different than a traditional potter, taking away the excess clay to produce the required specifications of the company/client. However, this is not always the case as many industries today utilize CNC or computer numerically controlled machines.

Here are the following skills any one should have in order to become an effective machinist:

• The machinist should have the tolerance to produce and gather engineering parts made from a variety of materials, to within size distinctions of only a few hundredths of a millimeter.

• The machinist must also be proficient in handling the current and latest tools at his disposal, from hand and measuring paraphernalia to machine tools. In addition to this, he must have the knowledge about and experience with metalforming, machining, machine building, machine maintenance, stamping, screw machining, laser cutting and other specific skills important for a machinist.

Computerized Numerically Controlled, or CNC, machines are basically milling machines that are digitally automated. These machines are quite popular nowadays because of their ability to reduce time and manpower, while significantly increasing the quality of production. However, these types of machines still require the oversight of the machinist in making sure that everything is in tip-tip working condition.

• The machinist must have a keen eye for interpreting 2-D engineering illustrations/blueprints of engineering components or machines. He must also plan and economically complete the manufacture of the components utilizing the available time and equipment.

In addition to this, the machinist needs to know how to properly set schedules and priorities, formulate procedures and create a 3-D mental image prior to the manufacturing of the product. Planning ahead is a great advantage for any machinist who wants to do an excellent job.

• The machinist must also pay careful attention to examining errors in current or recently manufactured components or equipment. In addition, these faults need to be corrected so that the component can be used right away.

• Most of all, a good machinist must have a high level of craftsmanship. Craftsmanship is the sum of all the skills that is mentioned. A machinist should always find ways to create an economical, safe and effective ways to enhance the productivity of the company.

Even though the employment opportunities for machinists are slowly waning, job prospects remains satisfactory. For the 2008-18 decade, the employment of machinists is expected to decrease by 5%, all because of the increase in productivity of workers and the firm competition in goods production.

Machinists have grown to be more effective in their work as an outcome of the widened use of the latest technologies like Autoloaders and Computerized Numerically Controlled (CNC) machines. Though this may not be the sole reason for the reduction of machinist’ demands, employers have come to recognize the machinists who are more up-to-date with the latest technologies.

Some of the budding candidates qualified for such roles will opt to go to college or not want to work in production. Adding the possibility of retirement and transfers, there will probably be fewer certified machinists than there are a number of positions presented.

One thing is certain for machinists, though; as long as there are companies that are in need of operators of CNC machines, trade students training in the area ought to familiarize themselves with the most recent CNC technology. No matter how efficient the automated machines’ performance is, it is still dependent when it comes to maintenance and stability for long term usage, until such time that the company is ready to purchase higher performing machines.

Another positive outlook for employers in the future has something to do with the quality of employees applying for the position. There will definitely be a healthy competition among students who are trained in vocational/trade schools, and this will encourage them to work hard in order to gain employers’ attention during the hiring process. This is actually a win-win situation for both employer and the job hunters who are pinning their hopes on building a career as a machinist.

For self-taught trainees of the technological vocation, the National Institute for Metalworking skills should at least help in facilitating learning and mastery of the four categories of metalworking classified as machining; machine building and maintenance; metal forming; and tool, die, and moldmaking.

To get more ideas and insights for budding machinists, read the article “5 Essential Skills of an Effective Machinist.”

In order to understand where CNC Machining first appeared, it is important to note that the said machine’s advent can be traced back to the invention of the NC (numerical controlled) machine made by John T. Parsons during the 1940s-1950s. The NC was a breakthrough invention that led the way towards modern automated machines.

Together with Frank L. Stulen, Parsons first utilized computer methods to crack machining setbacks, especially the accurate interpolation of the curves that is found in helicopter blades. Stulen got an idea from his brother to employ stress calculations on the rotors. Parsons observed what Stulen was experimenting on with punched card machines generating an outline with 17 points and then inquired if it was possible for Stulen to generate an outline with 200 points.

In the process of developing smoother rotors, they managed to generate an early version of the NC, where generating numbers for complex and précised outputs was possible. At that point, Parsons considered a fully automated tool that can surpass the performance of the current NC. In 1949, he turned to Gordon S. Brown’s Servomechanisms Laboratory at MIT to develop a feedback system that can gauge how far the controls had actually turned.

With enough resources to back the project, the system was displayed in September 1952. The MIT’s system was a triumph, so that it was now possible to come up with any complex cut that cannot be copied manually. Yet due to its complexity, its reliability in a production setting is reduced, not to mention its cost that is worth more than $2,641,727.63 in today’s currency.

The Air Force halted its funding in 1953, but Giddings and Lewis Machine Tool Co. resumed the project by producing NC that can reduce the expenses and improve quality and efficiency. With their direction of the project, the Numericord controller was created, replacing punch type readers with magnetic tape readers.

The CNC machine first appeared when John Runyon managed to produce punch tapes under computer control. This showed dramatic results in terms of time, reducing the normal production duration of 8 hours to 15 minutes. In June 1956, the Air Force accepted the proposal to produce a generalized “programming” language for NC.

Eventually, the Air Material Command at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base and the Aircraft Industries Association (AIA) collaborated with MIT in 1957 to generate a fully computer controlled NC system. The invention of CNC machines paved the way for automated tools that meant cost efficient production for manufacturers.

CNC mills have very little differences with its predecessor in terms of its concept. The modern CNC mill still functions in machines to produce outputs in three dimensional directions: X and Y axes, and depth. Examples of CNC systems applied in various industries include laser cutting, welding and ultrasonic welding among others.

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