INSTRUCTOR // Don Trettin
Don grew up in a family of artists and engineers. His first career was in the machine shop where he learned how to run lathes and mills before the days of CNC machines. He became interested in composites and went back to school to study ceramic engineering with the goal of working with composites. This led to a second career in the transportation industry working with composites and structural adhesives. Now he uses his creative upbringing combined with his machining experience and engineering background to help others develop their skills.
Don lives in Stanwood with his wife Flora.
OVERVIEW
Lathes are ancient tools and provide a notable example of how technological innovation is constantly driven forward by relentless incremental improvement. From the wood lathes used in Assyria to CNC driven lathes used in industry today, the lathe has earned its reputation as the mother of machine tools for the pivotal role they played in the invention of machine technology and the influence of our adoption of machine tools on an industrial scale. Whether you are interested in making simple parts for larger assemblies or rebuilding an engine, the ability to operate a lathe correctly and safely is an invaluable addition to your skillset.
Simply put, a lathe rotates a workpiece while a tool is applied to create a finished object with symmetry around the axis of rotation. In this 2-hour class, you will learn how this deceptively unassuming premise enables you to create an amazing variety of parts. You will walk away with the ability to safely process appropriate material and produce your own projects on our Victor Machine Lathe.
Welcome to our brand-new Machine Tech program. This orientation happens right in the machine shop where your instructor will explain how the equipment works, familiarize you with essential terminology, and demonstrate appropriate equipment operation. You will learn how to set up appropriate material and run essential operations including turning, facing, tapering, and drilling. You will develop a working understanding of the benefits and limitations of this tool so you can design to this process. Your instructor will cover best practices including how to set up your work and reset equipment to original conditions for the next user. Along the way you will gain the knowledge and confidence to process appropriate material safely and troubleshoot typical issues.
This is a hands-on training. You will have time during class to create a finished object to your instructor’s specification that demonstrates your understanding of the process and your ability to safely operate this equipment.
ACCESS
Pass this orientation, or a checkout, and you’ll walk away with access privileges to independently operate our Victor Lathe. This class is also a prerequisite for our upcoming Advanced CNC Mill trainings including our Machine Tech Feeds and Speeds Intensive.
HARDWARE
-Victor 1340GHE Engine Lathe
SAFETY
-Eye protection
-No gloves of any kind
-Closed-toed shoes
-Tie back long hair
-No loose-fitting clothing
-Remove rings and all dangling jewelry
NOTE
If this is your first class at The Facility please arrive 15 minutes early for a short safety briefing and some paperwork.
Orientations start promptly at 6.00p.
This Orientation prepares you to safely perform basic operations in plastic and aluminum on supported equipment. It is not intended to cover design concepts or comprehensive operation of this equipment. If you are interested in learning more about design or advanced equipment operation look for additional upcoming classes.
SBU Orientations at The Facility are open to anyone over 18 years old. Please feel free to pass this invitation on to others. Minimum enrollment of 3 people is required to hold the orientation.