Something neat happened during a visit years ago to Ameritech Die & Mold, which is profiled in this article. One of its young machinists brought a tricky mold component to the attention of the shop’s president, knowing I was standing nearby taking photos for my story. The employee obviously was proud of the career he had embarked upon and the workpiece he had machined.
I thought that pride of workmanship was cool.
I’ve visited a number of shops during the eight years I’ve written for this magazine. To be honest, the people I most readily identify with are those on the shop floor. I can envision myself working as a machine operator or programmer if I weren’t already writing about how shops apply machining technologies in creative ways.
My upbringing may have something to do with it. My dad is a mechanic who has restored more cars than anyone I know. And as the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, I enjoy wrenching on my ’55 Chevy when I have the time. Working with my hands to create something from what had become nothing after years of neglect is good therapy for me.
An inherent interest in metalworking led me to this magazine. I’ve found that my appreciation of machining technologies and admiration of the people who apply them in innovative ways have grown with each article I write.
So in my case, my articles are my workpieces, and I’m proud to share them with you.
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