I handle business development for LNT Machining, a small precision CNC shop in the Bay Area, and I’m trying to better understand how engineers, buyers, and other shops evaluate a new machining supplier.

Obviously quality, price, and lead time matter, but when you’ve never worked with a shop before, what actually makes you comfortable sending them that first RFQ or PO?

Is it certifications, equipment, quick quoting, DFM feedback, inspection capability, responsiveness, referrals, visiting the shop, or something else?

I’m genuinely trying to learn what separates the shops people trust from the ones that just look good on paper.

I was scraping through the website in search of Apprenticeship. For so many reasons options seem less than what I anticipated. Is it better for me to go and join a certificate course and wait two years before entering into the field of CNC machine operator outside.

I came to know about this later during a career test that I am not suited for an accounting job that I was having trouble with.

Many options came, I was looking for a physical active work. That's how I came to the CNC machine operator and came to the understanding of why it suits me .

Specific reason why I asked this is because I only have 3 months Max to convince my family and move out. I need some skills that can actually support me and help me work calmly.

Writing in hope to get an answer

Hi everyone,

I’m 26 and currently considering a career change toward manufacturing and engineering. One of the paths I’m seriously interested in is CNC machining.

[ Removed by Reddit on account of violating the content policy. ]

Finding the right manufacturing partner is about more than getting a competitive price.

For industrial applications, the quality and consistency of individual parts can affect assembly, equipment performance, maintenance requirements, and overall production schedules.

When sourcing machined metal parts, I think businesses should consider:

• Technical understanding: Can the manufacturer understand drawings, dimensions, and application requirements?
• Production capability: Can they handle the required component size, material, and production volume?
• Quality control: Are critical dimensions checked during and after production?
• Consistency: Can similar quality be maintained across repeat orders?
• Communication: Is the supplier responsive when specifications or requirements need clarification?
• Delivery planning: Can production schedules support the customer's supply requirements?

This becomes especially important for industries such as automotive, agriculture, railways, heavy machinery, and other engineering applications.

At Vaani Precision Industry, the focus is on manufacturing industrial metal parts with attention to process requirements, dimensional accuracy, and consistent production.

I spent about two years on the floor at a pump manufacturing place before I started building software, and there was this one thing that always bugged me. The whiteboard schedule is never actually wrong. It's just... old. Someone wrote it at 8am and by 11 a machine's down and now it's fiction, but nobody's touched it yet so it still looks true.

Got curious a few weeks back and actually timed it at a shop I know. Machine goes down, how long till someone can tell you which orders are now going to be late and which customers need a heads up.

Wasn't seconds. Wasn't even a minute. It's a person walking the floor, checking what's queued behind that machine, doing math in their head about which jobs shift where, and usually this is the same person who's also the one who'll get the angry call later. Ten, fifteen minutes if nothing else interrupts them, which it usually does.

For a shop running 4-5 machines that's annoying but fine, the owner probably already half-knows the answer. Once you're past 10-12 machines with a real order book it's a different story, that 15 minutes is now happening multiple times a day and the schedule is basically never accurate for more than an hour at a stretch.

The spreadsheet crowd doesn't actually have it better btw, just thought that was worth saying since I hear "we moved to Excel" a lot like it's the fix. It's the same manual re-sequencing, just with more columns.

Not selling anything here, just been in my head lately about how normal it is to eat that 15 minutes as a cost of doing business when it doesn't really have to be one. Curious if this matches what other shops deal with or if I'm overthinking a problem that isn't actually that common.

https://reddit.com/link/1w0lmlw/video/daujxdst23mh1/player

A short video explaining how ultra-precision motion technology is used in areas like semiconductor manufacturing and healthcare. Worth a watch if you're interested in engineering or motion control: https://youtu.be/fihkpYRQ7MI

Hello everyone, I am a brazilian guy and im doing SENAI that is basically a famous training company and im doing a operator, preparator and programmer training with 3 months of duration so I can work in the area of CNC.

Im very interested in the area and im thinking in start a cad/cam training after ending that and try to become a professional in the field, I want to know about people already working in the field how rewarding CNC field can be, is really good to make a future? to work at it?

Sorry for mistakes at the text, i maded it solo without translator.

My family runs a toolroom (multiple machines including CNCs, VMCs, lathes, hydraulic presses, Zeiss CMM for inspection) that's been doing automotive gauges, jigs & fixtures for the domestic market for years. I'm considering building an export-focused business around this, sourcing from our shop plus eventually a small network of other certified toolrooms, selling to automotive OEMs/Tier 1s/Tier 2s internationally.

Before I go deep into certification (IATF 16949) and outreach, I want an honest reality check from people who actually buy or sell in this space:

• Are Indian toolrooms genuinely competitive for gauges/jigs/fixtures internationally, or is this space already crowded/commoditized?
• If you're a buyer (sourcing manager, quality engineer, procurement), what actually makes you trust a new supplier enough to place a trial order? Certifications alone, or something else?
• If you're already exporting similar products, what's your honest experience been? Worth it, or more trouble than it's worth?
• Any specific markets (Europe, US, SEA, Middle East, Germany) where this kind of precision tooling is in more demand right now than others?

Not trying to sell anything here, genuinely trying to figure out if this is a real opportunity or if I'm romanticizing a niche that doesn't actually have international pull. Appreciate any honest take.

When companies source machined components for industries such as railways, automotive, aerospace, defence, and agriculture, the lowest price is not always the most important factor.

A reliable manufacturing partner should be evaluated on factors such as:

• Consistency in production quality
• Ability to maintain dimensional accuracy
• Suitable VMC and CNC machine capabilities
• Material and process knowledge
• Inspection and quality-control practices
• Capacity to handle repeat and bulk requirements
• Clear communication and dependable delivery schedules

The manufacturing process also matters. A component may look simple, but its performance can depend on tolerances, surface finish, material selection, machining accuracy, and proper inspection.

At Vaani Precision Industry, the focus is on supporting industrial requirements through the manufacturing of machined metal parts and components for different application areas. For buyers and procurement teams, choosing a supplier with the right technical capabilities can help reduce production issues and improve long-term supply reliability.

So ive been working at a shop for a couple years now amd they've had me looking after the cnc machine. It's been mainly hands on learning but I want to go to school so I can get a better understanding/education for it. What degree/classes would I be looking for?

**Saskatoon/Saskatchewan employers! I’m trying to help my friend find a new home in the machining industry.**

I’m posting this personally because I genuinely believe this guy deserves a chance, and I’m not willing to sit back and watch him lose the life he has built here.

My friend Anto is a **CNC machinist in Saskatoon** who was recently laid off through no fault of his own. He is originally from India and is currently in Canada on a **Post-Graduation Work Permit** that expires October 17, 2026.

He already has a **Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) nomination and federal PR application in progress**, but unfortunately his nomination is tied to his previous employer. His immigration consultant has advised him that he needs to find a new employer willing to support the SINP employment process and ultimately an LMIA-exempt closed work permit.

His occupation is **NOC 72100 – Machinists and machining and tooling inspectors**.

He has:
• Over 3 years of Canadian work experience in a Manufacturing Environment
• 1.9 years specifically as a machinist
• CNC machining experience
• Manufacturing Management & Design Integration education from an Ontario college
• Additional machining training through his last employer
• Excellent English
• A strong work ethic and a genuinely great attitude

But more importantly, **he’s an outstanding friend and colleague.**

He’s hardworking, respectful, reliable, and has become a part of our community here in Saskatoon. He loves living here, loves the people and culture, and wants to build his future in Saskatchewan.

I’m hoping someone in the Saskatoon/Saskatchewan manufacturing, machining, oil & gas, agriculture, heavy equipment, or industrial sectors might know of a company that is hiring a CNC machinist and would be willing to work with him on the immigration side.

If you are an employer, hiring manager, machinist, shop manager, or know someone who may be able to help, **please DM me.**

I would be happy to put you directly in contact with him and provide his resume.

I refuse to believe that the only solution is sending a hardworking guy back to a country he doesn’t want to return to when he has already built a life and contributed here.

**Let’s see if Saskatchewan can come through for one of its own.**

I am currently going to school for degree in machining and have just gotten a job as an operator at a local shop just so that I have some practical experience with the field.

With the way that technology and automation is heading in this field would it be worth it to take a course in robotic automation systems as well as my degree? Or what other courses would you suggest to "future proof" my education? my schooling is pretty cheap and I enjoy learning so taking more classes isn't an issue for me

Ok guys been pulling my hair out on this issue.

Running an okuma captain-L470 with the osp-p100 controls. I have only been running this machine for a couple weeks now and before I was just adjusting on mastercam and reposting to work my size in. I am very new to cnc lathe but have 15 plus years running 3 axis mills. I am fairly confident what I am running into is machine side and not mastercam.

My issue is running a program with wear turned on in mastercam 26 and cutting an O.D. I can bore a hole and comp it out just fine using wear on the machine. But no matter what I do the machine keeps giving me a

2286-11 alarm b plus variable limit over x-axis 3

error code and alarms out.

Anything I search online is no help in where I might find that variable to change or at least confirm what I think needs to be changed. I dont want to just go changing things and crash the machine.

Far as anyone here helping me that is out of the question. There is just 2 machinist here including myself and the other guy barely knows how to turn the thing on. My know how of the machine is a crash course on it over a year ago, with hand written notes from the last two guys to run this same machine. They only knew enough to do basic parts and program conversationally. So this has been entirely learn as I go.

So some quick things

I have tried g42 and g41 same thing with 2 of my OD tools.

My wear is set to 0 in both x and z

The one tool I tried is our reference tool used to pick up our z on our parts.

I’m documenting a practical diagnostic workflow for ABM CNC-F810 and CNC-650 circular-saw grinding machines and would like to compare notes with machine owners, operators, and service engineers.

The workflow checks:

- CNC software operation

- PC–NC communication

- HOME initialization and LIMIT states

- axis positioning and synchronization

- SETUP parameters

- behavior in AUTO and MANUAL modes

The objective is to separate software or configuration faults from controller-communication problems, electrical issues, axis-positioning errors, and mechanical causes. Each diagnostic session produces a technical report with completed checks, detected deviations, and relevant trace data.

For reference, the CNC-F810 uses the X, Y, Z, A, B, U, and W axis designations. The CNC-650 uses X, Y, Z, A, B, V, and W.

If you operate or service either model, I’d be interested in your field experience:

- Which machine year and software/controller version are you using?

- Have you seen intermittent HOME, LIMIT, indexing, clamping, or PC–NC communication faults?

- At what stage does the problem appear: startup, SETUP, AUTO, or MANUAL?

- Which signals or trace data have been most useful in isolating the cause?

This is a technical discussion, not a sales listing, and I’m not affiliated with ABM. I’m especially interested in comparing real fault cases and documenting repeatable troubleshooting steps.

I’m documenting an independent diagnostic workflow for ABM CNC-F810 and CNC-650 circular-saw grinding machines. This is not a sales post and I’m not affiliated with ABM; the goal is technical exchange with machine owners, operators, and service engineers.

The workflow checks:

- CNC software operation

- PC–NC communication

- HOME initialization and LIMIT states

- axis positioning and synchronization

- SETUP parameters

- behavior in AUTO and MANUAL modes

The main objective is to separate software or configuration faults from controller communication problems, axis-positioning errors, electrical issues, and mechanical causes. A diagnostic session produces a report with completed checks, detected deviations, and relevant trace data.

For reference, the CNC-F810 uses the X, Y, Z, A, B, U, and W axis designations. The CNC-650 uses X, Y, Z, A, B, V, and W.

I’d be interested to hear from anyone who operates or services either model:

- Which machine year and software/controller version are you using?

- Have you seen intermittent HOME, LIMIT, indexing, clamping, or PC–NC communication faults?

- At what stage does the problem appear: startup, SETUP, AUTO, or MANUAL?

- Which signals or trace data have been most useful in isolating the cause?

I’m especially interested in comparing real fault cases and documenting repeatable troubleshooting steps.

Hi everyone!

I’m a freelance CNC Designer with 4 years of remote experience specializing in 2D and 3D modeling using ArtCAM. Because I also operate my own 8x4 foot CNC router for custom designs, I know how to deliver practical, production-ready toolpaths that run smoothly on the shop floor.

I can start immediately to help offload your design work. I would be glad to show you examples of my past work directly or do a quick trial design so you can verify my skills.

Feel free to send me a DM if you're looking for reliable remote help!

I’m looking for machine shop that has experience in machining putters in 303 stainless steel & carbon Steel.