New member from Missouri

[Meche_03]

Hello all,

I've worked in machine shops since I started college in 1997. I've run manual and CNC mills and lathes, plasma tables, water jets, mig and stick welders. I was a research and prototype engineer/machinist for the last 18 years. Just recently took a new job 10 hours closer to home and now I'm a facilities engineer.

I don't personally have many shop tools. I have a 7x12 vertical metal cutting bandsaw, a small craftsman floor drill press, a Lincoln 120v mig welder.

If things work out I'll start teaching an intro to manufacturing shop class part time next week. I'm working out how I can afford a personal plasma table. I should have access to one at my part time teach gig.

I cut firewood to heat my house on a 12 acre hobby farm.
I have several projects in the works on the farm from a gantry hoist to log skidding equipment for my tractor. I grew up 4 hours away from my current home on 240+ acres. We farmed just shy of 1000 acres before my grandfather retired and I graduated college.

[rdj357]

Welcome!!

Sounds like a blast and some great background to do fun stuff in the home shop! I grew up on a beef ranch and occasionally dream of doing some ranching in retirement - then the 7 days a week thing comes back to mind and I move on.... LOL

[mtvet06]

Welcome Meche_03,

That is an awesome background for sure! Welcome aboard. I personally just joined myself, have fun on here and ask questions if you have any. I am personally working towards purchasing my own plasma table. Currently use a buddies water jet on the weekend and plasma table at the college. Awesome to see a Missourian on here. I grew up in Kansas and relocated to Montana after the service.

zach.

[adbuch]

Welcome aboard Meche_03! That's quite an impressive resume you have. I do all the same sorts of things that you do (minus the water jet experience), and I started out as a mechanical engineer many years ago. The cnc plasma table just adds one more capability to the "tool belt". I've had my Plasmacam table for about 6 years now and use it occasionally for small projects and gifts. But it's lots of fun, especially the design portion of the projects.

With your cnc machining background, I expect you do know your way around the "G-code world". Do you have any particular design programs you like to use for your cad work? I use MasterCam for my cnc machining work along with AutoCad. But for cnc plasma Inkscape/Sheetcam is a popular combination, and Fusion 360 is used by many of the Lanbmuir cnc table owners. Feel free to share any interesting photos you may have of your shop, projects, etc.

David