[Veselin Kolev]

I started FIRST a while back not knowing CAD or machining. My tolerance was jigsaw and +- 0.050

Then I got some experience, made some plates and learned to mill on a junky benchtop mill. Tolerance +- 0.010

Later as a student mentor I got into shifting gearboxes, press fit bearings, the works. Used a Bridgeport with a DRO / rotary table / boring head. Tolerance +- 0.001

Then came hydraulic valving in college, grinding, precision cnc, etc. Tolerance +- 0.0005.

Now... microfluidic valving. Tolerance? Hah! +- 0.00004

The more you learn, the more awesome the stuff you work with becomes.