Machine shop books

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Posted by Thomas A. Frank.

Engineer on team #121, The Islanders/Rhode Warrior, from Middletown (RI) High School and Naval Undersea Warfare Center.

Posted on 10/5/2000 2:51 PM MST


In Reply to: Re: Machine shop books posted by Ken on 10/3/2000 9:02 AM MST:



: Thank You so much for your advice. I've been waiting for a while to hear more titles out there.

Glad to help. The more I think about it, the more I would say the Tabletop Machining book is the best starter book, because it is aimed at the hobbiest/amateur builder, which is the perfect place to start if you are just learning (just like me...see below).

: One question though: In the old days how do people get training in work shop? Was it always a 'Master' teaching an 'apprentice'? or Was it a teacher lecturing to a class, demonstrating the methods, and give project to the students to work on? Or do the teacher just give out books for students to study and give them test at the end?


Good question, to which I do not have a good answer.

In the case of clock/watch makers (which I do know about), the apprentice(s) came to the master (essentially, the apprentice became a slave to the master in exchange for the training...a really long time ago the apprentice would have literally lived in the clock shop, and been given room, board, and training, but no money, in exchange for complete servitude), who started them out doing menial tasks like cleaning the shop; then they were shown how to do something simple (say file something), which they would do until they got good at it, then they would be shown something a little bit more difficult (say make a pivot), and so on. After a good many years (7 was a number I've commonly heard), the apprentice had learned all the tricks that master knew, and would produce a 'masterpeice', which was their graduation project. This would then be judged by the members of the guild (trade), and if deemed acceptable, the apprentice would be allowed to practice the trade as a master. But that was a while ago...

Today, I would guess that machine shop trainees would go to school, and it would be a class like any other, only once you learned something in class, you would then head out into the shop to try it. And the instructors would grade your results.

Once they graduate and get into the 'real' world, the old timers at the shop (if they like you) would teach you the real tricks of the trade...today we would call it 'mentoring'.

If you like the 'making' aspects of this (I sure do), make friends with one of the machinists on the project, and pay careful attention. You'll learn a great deal, which will be valuable to you in the future, and you'll have fun (I have in both senses...since getting involved in FIRST, I've bought myself a little lathe and mill to make things at home; I'm an electrical and systems engineer, so this ME stuff is somewhat new to me...although I've worked on cars since I was about 8...only now I'm making clocks for the fun of it, and my wife says it's all Dean's fault).

You might also check out the magazine 'Home Shop Machinist' at the local news stand.

Tom Frank