OT: Need a Mentor I can frequently bother with questions

[ps15]

I'm a tool room machinist who is, lets just say, a looooong way from retiring. In 2 to 3 years probably half the people at my company will be retiring and I'm not sure what is going to happen next. (We can't find new people to hire). Anyway, I'm really interested in machine tool building now and I know there are a couple reputable companies making machines in the USA which I consider a possible career down the road. The owner of my company is pretty much the only person who can give me good answers on stuff but now my questions are too far out of his experience for him to help me.
In the meantime is there anyone I can regularly PM or Email my questions to in order to avoid making threads? Most of my questions relate to spindle design and construction, anti-friction bearings and fluid bearings, electrical and controller design, design of linear ways, alignment, pre-load of bearings, etc etc.
I have a lot of text books and pdfs already. I have a decent garage shop now (3 mills, lathe, surface grinder) and I'm planning on building some small but heavy machines.
So anyone feel like entertaining questions?
Thanks

 

[4GSR]

When you have questions, ask them here.

 

[eKretz]

Not sure why you would want to avoid making threads. If you feel like it would be bothersome to post many short threads (valid), keep all of your questions in one thread, with a title like "Potential machine tool building advice" or something of that nature.

 

[technocrat]

Sharing the questions helps everyone and also helps you to focus and think about the real question. A mentors role is to extend you and your thinking, not to answer obvious or easy questions.

 

[EPAIII]

I am also relatively inexperienced in machining. That is why I am here and on other machining BBs over the past 20+ years: TO LEARN. And I have learned a lot. And I keep learning almost every day. Isn't that GREAT? Of course, I do try to contribute when and where i can. I do have a depth of knowledge in related areas.

I am a bit careful about where I post some questions, but I don't think any of my questions were really unwelcome here or on those other boards. Sometimes I have posted the same question on two or more boards. Some people don't like that, but it can get different viewpoints.

Another thing you can do before creating a new thread/topic is to SEARCH. This BB has a search function and internet searches can lead back to here or to other BBs where the question/topic may have been raised before. So sharpen your Google Foo!

I say, DO post here and/or on other boards as well. If a topic has not been discussed before (negative search results) then it could be welcomed by others as well as yourself: an education for all.

And don't let the old grumps here get the better of you. I may even be considered one of them, but scaring new members or new machinists is NOT my intent. NOT EVER!

DO read the forum's rules!

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I invite additions to that list.

 

[Glug]

Mentors are great, and most of us can benefit from many different types, if we can find them. They may or may not be close 'friends', because sometimes we need to hear it from people who aren't really our friends. Hopefully they give it to you straight. They may not even be people you particularly like.

Technical mentors, career, managing employees and business, relationship, investing, raising kids, staying healthy, making bbq or other hobbies.

Sometimes when we move on in our career we want to leave the old behind, but often there are those people we should stay in contact with.

 

[10 fingers]

RE: So anyone feel like entertaining questions?

Aw, no. Asking advanced engineering questions to strangers on social media is a formula for disaster. But that's an education you'll get around to leaning the hard way.

Invest in yourself. Get a degree in mechanical engineering. Relocate to gain the best possible experience. Once you stop learning, move on to a more difficult opportunity. Read every bearing engineering guide book you can get you hands on. Same for linear bearings and ball screws. You''l need to handle the math upside down/inside out for stress and MOA design limitations. Spend your vacations traveling to international machine tool trade shows. Speak with the best designers. Make a name for yourself.

 

[MotoX]

IF you get set up well, I need someone to build a compact simple machine.
1 spindle, 1 axis. Rapid to here, feed to here, orient spindle,then rapid home.

Ive been trying to get companies like setco to build me one, but nobody will answer my emails or calls. I could probably build one myself, but i think my time is better spent elsewhere.

Could be built from mostly off the shelf parts

 

[garyhlucas]

IF you get set up well, I need someone to build a compact simple machine.
1 spindle, 1 axis. Rapid to here, feed to here, orient spindle,then rapid home.

Ive been trying to get companies like setco to build me one, but nobody will answer my emails or calls. I could probably build one myself, but i think my time is better spent elsewhere.

Could be built from mostly off the shelf parts

I just built a simple one with 7 axis and two spindles, let me know what you are trying to do.

That mentor thing. I am a mentor for a FIRST Robotics team and also make all their machined parts. At my regular job I was hired to be a mentor to the whole company because I have an enormous amount of experience in a whole lot of things. I do a monthly video for the company on automation subjects. So if I can can help anyone, hit me up.

 

[Conrad Hoffman]

Definitely post- it helps everybody, plus you get differences of opinion. No one person knows everything. Make sure your book collection includes Roark, Shigley and Slocum's Precision Machine Design.