Since custom machines are largely composed of machined parts, it is certainly an advantage for a designer to understand how those parts are made.

I have seen prints go out to the shop which quite literally, could not be made. Far more often I have seen parts released that were ridiculously expensive to make for no compelling reason.

I don't make mistakes like that because I am a machinist.

Growing up with access to a machine shop, I was making chip when I was old enough to reach the crank handles. Through reading, watching, trial and error along with the guidance of some master toolmakers, I acquired enough skill to work part time in a job shop during my high school years. After high school, I worked professionally as a machinist in an aerospace shop (Sundstrand Aviation) for seven years where our primary customer was the DOD.

Responsibilities included all aspects of setup, running and inspection of high precision parts in a production environment. Experience with manual turret lathes and mills, horizontal, vertical and hydraulic tracer mills, CNC lathes and CNC vertical machining centers.

• Certified by Quality Assurance Group for inspection and record keeping in 1986.
• Attended annual testing courses to maintain that certification.
• Maintained average efficiency of over 100% and a quality yield of 99% to 99.5%.
• Attained a rating of machinist level five and instructed new machinists.
• Typically worked on problem jobs due to my aptitude.

That was many years ago but I still have and use a couple lathes and a milling machine for hobby work to this day. I'm not a master toolmaker by any means but I have the knowledge to design parts that are feasible, functional, durable and economical to manufacture.