Why I Started My Machine Shop

[@motionsick]

Dropped out of a good engineering school after taking Intro to Engineering. The teacher said being an engineer was 90 percent desk and paper work. I thought I wanted to be an engineer, what I really wanted to be was a machinist/fabricator. Fusion 360 is such a powerful tool, really has made life a lot easier.

[@oxtoolco]

Right on! Don't let anybody get in your way and waste your precious time. I can't wait to see where your shop and business go in the next couple of years. All the best, Tom

[@kristenhosman]

“Successful people make mistakes,” Mel. You’re so right.

[@darkhill556]

Reminds me of the quote from Ingvar Kamprad (IKEA) "Making mistakes is the privilege of the active." You can't be successful or even productive if you're not working hard enough to occasionally make mistakes!

[@jimimmler9110]

I bought a NGC Haas machine new about 4 years ago and taught myself from the ground up with only KZbin University to help me. I’m so glad you are past all that bad stuff. I believe CNC machining is a wonderful industry for clean cut, educated, respectful people. You are all of that! I only wish I could have been able to provide encouragement to you a few years ago. I have two young, smart and creative daughters and it will be a dream come true if I can get at least one of them into CNC. I’m so glad I watched this and I am an instant subscriber!

[@PracticalMachinist]

So inspiring Melissa!

[@johnnyholland8765]

I just retired from a 36 year aerospace manufacturing career. I have machined parts for almost everything with wings both commercial and military. I was with the Boeing company for 13 of those years. I have a pretty good tooling background and also quite a bit of research and development. Some of the best machinists I worked with were women. Don't let anyone tell you that you can't do it. Just get out there and do it. If you do quality work and stand behind it the world will find you and beat a path to your door. If you give your word keep it. If you promise it deliver. Always strive to improve. These three things have helped me all my working life. I wish you all the success in the world...

[@sparkiekosten5902]

For many years I still got a kick out of wiring up a house and watching all the powerpoints working and all the lights coming on when you flick a switch. The sense of satisfaction for achieving something feels like nothing else. Great intro and have a subscription.

[@MADxHAWK]

You lady have my full respect for going your way, not giving up and start your own shop. If I would be from your region, I would apply for a job. I wish you all the best and good luck with your shop. Looking forward to see more from you and your work.

[@jtg2737]

Hello from San Antonio, TEXAS! Nice to see someone continue with learning and maybe teaching the newer generations with machining skills. These skills will become lost arts if they are not forwarded down. BRAVO!

[@trimmedbyjay1243]

This is awesome, looking forward to more videos from your channel

[@marcf7008]

This is so refreshing to watch. I myself am a young machinist, I am a guy but I'm still only 23. It's awesome to see someone like you getting ahead in this awesome trade. And the CNC world is actually really well suited to girls, unfortunately not many people see that. Stay strong. And keep moving forward. Good work. Not sure if you have heard of it or not but look up titans of CNC. His training videos helped me an amazing amount. Now I am a owner of a CNC shop as well.

[@eduardoc199]

Really proud of how far you’ve come. I can’t wait to see you go even further!

[@stevetriton1060]

BRAVO Melissa! Welcome to the CNC Universe where we all communicate in G and M Codes. A world where we get excited about Speeds, Feeds and MRR. If you try telling your friends why your so excited about something you did they look at you like you grew a second head and eyes glazed over!!! Lol I loved your video and hope more woman get into the profession. I have been in aerospace for over 35 years and just like you worked almost every type of position on the shop floor. It’s an awesome feeling as you know :) Looking forward to your next KZbin video! 🙏🙏🙏

[@PM.al.whatmough]

Powerful video Mel. Can't wait to see more content from you!

[@lookingupwards8652]

As a father of 7 kids I have to say I am very proud of you keep riding the wave you got this.

[@robertlawler1387]

Nice,good to see the future of Machining

[@overtheedgeministries6141]

This is great! I've wanted to start my own woodworking business forever. But there were so many naysayers. Your story is full of inspiration. Thank you for sharing. Subscribed

[@MattysWorkshop]

Gday, absolutely inspiring, I just hope that shop teacher sees this video, never think your not good enough because what ever you put your mind to you can do, definitely subscribing to follow your journey, thanks for sharing your story, cheers

[@alexkalish8288]

Never give up - great that you have such a strong will. I'm impressed, with your story so much you can do with these machine. Very little you can't do iif you are a creative woman. I am sure you will be very successful.

[@johnkirisits6380]

You go girl!! My daughter became an Automation Engineer after many people told her she couldn't as a girl. Awesome!!!

[@abpena50]

Melissa, you keep pushing yourself, don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do it. Mistakes, we all make them, but we learn from them. I will be following your journey. I wish you the best. Take care.

[@MrTryingtodobetter]

Way to go. Keep up the work. If you ever stop learning, just give up, if you do not make mistakes, you are not living. Look forward to videos

[@tjj5726]

Good on ya! Nice to meet a fellow machinist and business owner! I will be watching with great interest!

[@AronRubin]

Inspiring. I feel sad that you were discouraged at college but with any luck the journey strengthened you.

[@darkhill556]

This may be the first time I've subbed to a channel that just posted its first video. Mel, congrats on the new shop. Can't wait to see where this journey takes you and the channel!

[@theflowe6094]

Super inspirational cant wait to see your growth!

[@simon_fox_youtube]

OMGGGGGG I LOVE FUSION 360 TOO ITS SO GREAT!!! Also it's great to see ur determination and that u were able to start ur own machine shop! I can't wait to see what else u accomplish!

[@SFTUBEBENDING]

Excited to see where your passion for learning takes you. Great story....

[@RPWilson256]

You motivated me and I appreciate you for making this video.

[@toddsampson3389]

I'm a machinist for 32 years now and subscribed immediately since I have already been following you on Instagram. Looking forward to learning from you. Keep up the good work!

[@riliwi]

Congadulations on the shop .You sound like you know.Going to be interesting to watch your work.

[@e34hotrod]

Looking to see more, I also bought a older vf2 to do my own hobby stuff but since I had it, now making small runs of parts that larger shops are to busy to get done. So learning by doing and they are slowly paying me to learn and build up tooling, I’m a electrician by trade not a professional machinist. But willing to try, he who does not try will not ever fail. failure is good keeps the strong ones going to next thing and that is what this country was built on. Thanks and hope to see more maybe one day I will be on KZbin !!!

[@tomsdreamshopworx]

YT put this in my feed. Keep up the great work, you got this!

[@benmolina2058]

You are amazing. I have two daughters. I’ve shown them to be independent and try to take on tasks and never say “ don’t think I can do that but how can I do this” I was the first Hispanic salesperson in my business. Started about 40 years ago. To this day I’m still surprising people on how long I’ve been in this business. Ignoring their surprise and showing people my competence …something I’m sure you’ve experienced. Everyone is a Human being. We are all capable if determined. Be who you know you are. The best you want to be .

[@romanmersino7987]

HAAS "M95" = "Sleep Mode". HAHAHAHA!!!! I Love it!! I am starting on this adventure of being a CNC Machinist as well. I hope to soon follow in your footsteps and open my own shop. Good Luck, and I hope for your success.

[@ciscovip1]

Wow! Way to keep pushing

[@scania357]

Good on you Mellissa best wishes from the UK.

[@tonysmith7283]

Your story reminds me of entering biochemistry ( At 18 I loved exploring ) while working as a off the street tech guy nuts and bolts and after 4 years switched to electrical engineering and re entered electrical engineering also working for the original company … one freshly minted engineer was fond of using the first phrase that came to his mind when I proposed a different way of approaching a solution “No You Are Wrong” … after I glued his coffee cup over his head on the ceiling of his work place and he couldn’t find it after a week of searching … I suggested looking up… you too!

[@horstszibulski19]

Don't fish for compliments from people like this teacher that didn't encourage you where they have to support you and not take you down. Seems that you have come a hard way and the fact that you didn't gave up speaks for you! So let us see what you already learned and what you can do, I really look out for it! 💪👍

[@garywinters1112]

Always cool with your heart and always never stop

[@jacevedo497]

Super awesome. Good for you, hope you keep pushing forward.

[@dannybrickwell]

Thousands of views on an introductory first upload is a good sign for the future of your YouTubing! Glad the algorithm threw this my way - appreciated the story, and appreciate your mission! Subbed, curious to see more of this journey!

[@DWorkshop]

Happy to see you here, I do believe I'll see many great videos from you. Good luck with this new journey. 👏👏👏

[@leozolt]

1:28 funny part about my apprenticeship in a machine shop was observing how productivity in the male only staff decreased by feeled 80% when a female walked trough the shop and failed parts raised by 20%..

[@joepace33]

Go for it girl! Only YOU can limit what you can do, how far you can go...... Work hard, be open to good advice, and aspire high. There is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING that a guy can do that you won't be able to achieve (and sometimes even better.....) Have faith in yourself and never give up!!

[@aimfg.3395]

Very impressive, I can relate as well as a young machinist being the same age as you are..seeking guidance in machining and finding nothing I’m glad you pushed through and made something of it!

[@TomZelickman]

I wish you didn't have to go through so much harassment to get where you are today but I'm so happy to see where your determination and hard work has gotten you. Keep at it. We are rooting for you!

[@EdgePrecision]

I subbed immediately! I have in my about 45 years of being a machinist, only worked with one woman that was a machinist. This was almost 40 years ago. (Can you imagen back then what she had to endure?). We had four Hardinge lathes in the shop. She ran them and made all the small turning jobs in the shop. She was one excellent machinist. Did all her own setups everything. I also have a KZbin channel so I know how difficult it is to make the videos. Every time you post something it's nerve wracking. How will it be taken will people understand (for me this comes from a different thing). For you first video you did very well. I look forward to your next! O one other thing. After owning my own business. I will say it has been my experience that woman make better employees than men. Men are the biggest cry babies when you have to manage them.

[@seantap1415]

You dont need to worry I love your content and I'm positive that most do... cheers.

[@jestonporter5049]

I will never understand people that think women aren't machinists. Some of the brightest students I've worked with are women. I'll also never understand machinists who don't want to pass down their knowledge. If you're worried about your job security, you need to change your attitude. All of that to say, thank you for sharing your story. Maybe this will help change people's attitude toward women in the industry. You're awesome. Keep up the good work!

[@CJ-ty8sv]

*_"Some of the brightest students I've worked with are women."_* How bright / smart someone is has NOTHING to do with their willingness to do the work. The question is not "can" they do it but *are they WILLING to do it* . Now that is not me saying that "women aren't machinists" or anything like that but like any industry that is predominantly male dominated, there is a reason why they tend to be male dominated often times, its work that women typically do not want to do because of the physical aspects involved. Can you name any physically demanding job that also brings heightened risk of physical injury that is even balanced close to 50/50 let alone dominated by females? About the only one that comes close to both aspects, physically demanding and heightened risk of injury while on the job that also happens to be predominantly female dominated would be nursing and more specifically, an ER nurse. To be 100% honest, I have a ton of respect for women like Melissa here and some of the awesome women I know who work in male dominated industries and do a damn good job doing what they do (like a few of the women welders / fabricators I personally know) but the fact is, those women are a rare bread among women. As a business owner in the machining and fabrication industry, most women simply cant hack it, not because they don't know how but because they typically do not want to.

[@camojoe2]

Let me lay some words on you, this may get long but hang with me. First, even though I don't personally know you, allow me to say "I'm proud of you". You are in a traditionally male dominated field. I'm also from the old school being 64 years old and health retired. I'm a second generation tool maker, my Dad being the first, and my instructor as well. I have worked in nearly every aspect of machining, with several of those jobs having women machinists in them. Machining is not color or sex oriented, don't ever let some jackwagon convince you that you can't accomplish a certain something. You've proven that you can. I taught machine shop for four years moons ago; I worked as a machine shop lead man for 16 years in an aircraft shop. I had women and young women on my crew, off and on. If a young woman joined my crew, I rode her like a cheap horse. I needed to find out what she was made of. Aircraft production is a serious business, I needed to know her mind set because I had to give reports to my boss while the new employee was on probation. Every female that came through my shop sailed through, and later moved on to bigger and better things. What I'm trying to say is all the women I ever worked in a shop with, wanted to be there to become a machinist. I wish I could have trained you in your formative years. You have the grit, and fire in your belly to prove and succeed. That is all. As you were. Regards, Duck😀

[@artszabo1015]

Very well spoken Mr. Duck. I am older than you with very similar experiences. I agree 100%, she does have a fire in her belly. I think the single biggest wasted resource America has is women. They are trained from birth to be stupid and the majority of them revel in it. This girl is the exception, she is an eagle amongst chickens and fortunately for herself and America she has fought her way out of that destructive mold. Hooray for her! Art from Ohio

[@adriansustaita5414]

Chase your dreams and never stop believing in yourself!

[@marks33363]

You rock! Thanks for making this channel

[@elchuco00]

Heck yea!! Kick ass girl!!!! I just subscribed 🙂

[@eddie5556]

Probing is awesome. I ran Haas machines for years setting offsets and tools manually then got probes. Holy smokes what a time saver. It's great to hear your enthusiasm for this trade. Good on ya for wanting to help others.

[@aguycalledlucas]

Nice to meet you!!! We’re here.

[@amtechnology64]

Nice we need more women in the industry 👏 👍 good luck keep going with the KZbin channel God bless 🙌

[@bobdart8373]

Congrats best of luck with your journey

[@kevndo]

Great Story! Keep pushing forward, you will thrive. Subscribed

[@jk911993]

I just subscribed and I'm along for the ride.

[@BruceBoschek]

Congratulations on you successes and efforts. Looking forward to learning more about your work. Thanks for sharing!

[@RolandElliottFirstG]

That's great you have achieved this much so far, don't give up and don't listen to those one sided pigs, persistance is the answer and just push on and learn at your own pace.

[@baggerf14]

Great job. You go girl!

[@robotnicw]

Great to see you found the confidence to make your dream a reality. You clearly have more confidence that you give yourself credit for. Looking forward to seeing your progress in future videos and inspire others to follow your lead.

[@brianweighill6371]

Awesome. Inspiring. Very engaging video.

[@TJRadway]

Awesome video, Melissa and I’m so proud of you, my friend 👍🏿

[@volodimirkun]

Wow, this sounds so awesome! What a way for young lady to go with. My best wishes to You. Greetings from far Ukraine!

[@carycano1040]

Happy to hear you stuck with it I almost quit one time when I was about your age. Machining is one of the hardest trades to learn it take a certain mind. Don't let people tell you you can't do something get the word out of your vocabulary. I started when I was 16, I am now 60 still machining parts every day. Teach yourself its the best way, if you are really really get stuck you will find help. I am all self-taught with on-the-job experience. I now have a small shop in Stockton for 15 years. Been learning Fusion 360 for a while now even at 60. NAVER GIVE UP!!!!!

[@landonjacobs830]

I'm 16 know and learning machining through a trade school while I'm in highschool. What advice would you have for me?

[@carycano1040]

@@landonjacobs830 Find a shop to get some experience and real-world knowledge do anything sweep the floor so can see how a shop operates.

[@landonjacobs830]

@@carycano1040 yes they have a machine shop at my trade school and I learned how to use lathes and milling machines and also clean them do mantience. I even got my osha card. I had to brush the chips out of the machines spray wd 40 on some of the parts that are supposed to move. It was really fun but now I'm going back for CNC machine this year.

[@artmckay6704]

Good for you! My best friend in life is a female civil engineer (retired now) and I have NEVER thought that there was something a woman couldn't - or shouldn't - do. Men and women ARE different but different doesn't mean that we can't do the same things, if we want to. I am glad that you're making a career for yourself! Btw, are you familiar with Titans of CNC? They have free online machining courses. Best wishes young lady! You can do this :)

[@wayneriedlinger]

Thank you for this. You are an inspiration to many. Though not machine related, I've known many women who worked right beside the men including my mother. She could harness up a 4 horse team of heavy work horses and hitch them to the grain binder without any problem and operate it. I see many heavy equipment operators and crane operators here in Alberta Canada that are women. I wish you the best.

[@essentia2705]

Best of luck on your endeavors. Stay in continuity!!!

[@markhoff5205]

Great story, I’m glad that you got through it. It will make you a Great Machinist!! You should be Proud of what you have accomplished!!

[@chrispfeffer1106]

As the Dad of a daughter who works in a male dominated field, you go girl!

[@Hendreh1]

Wow inspiring

[@mubafaw]

Inspiring. Thanks for sharing

[@RickLLindsey]

Congratulations, on your new channel and shop! Edge precision has the absolute best channel on cnc setup, detailed step by step process, programing and even customer relations. Most of his content are on his Mazak integrex and Mitsubishi horizontal, but some of his earliest videos are parts produced on the Haas that he keeps in the garage at his house. I'm sure his philosophy would be beneficial.

[@adventuresingoatfarming6754]

Way to go I’m just an old fart 💨 but I just love your stubborn drive to fallow your passion and dream. Keep posting and I’ll share with the young people at the school district I work at to get them inspired .

[@samvojtech1153]

I am so glad you kept going, Ma'am! Haas are awesome machines & super user friendly. I was a machinst & I know what you do & appreciate you! Please show us more of what you do!

[@jetenginethrust863]

I highly recommend watching Titans of CNC here on KZbin. Lots of free machining education. They also just started a new educational series on grinding. Good luck to you. I'm going to buy a milling machine and metal lathe hopefully soon to learn on. I want to build a live steam diesel locomotive and railroad in 1.6" scale in honor of my Father and his Father who both worked for the South Buffalo Railway until they retired. I subscribed to your channel.

[@VanoverMachineAndRepair]

Excellent video. Great work. Subbed

[@SouthernEngineering]

Best of luck with your channel. New Sub! ☺️

[@wi13y88]

Good job Melissa and standing strong in chasing what you wanted to do. I'm sorry that you had to deal with an insecure teacher, but you ended up tougher and better for you! You rock it!

[@joelblacksmith1064]

I’m proud of you!

[@izakvanderwesthuizen793]

Hi from South Africa. Your path was the way it was suppose to be, you are who you are because of it and the fact that you had the drive to push thru. Wish you all the best.

[@iantizzahtlizzards9558]

Super inspiring 🙏

[@michaels1984]

Great story, very inspiring, keep up the great work.

[@ScaleDreamsStudio]

Good for you on taken this challenge and winning. where I work we have lots of women that are very good at machining. keep strong and keep living your dreams!

[@garywinters1112]

Never give up always keep your dreams in your eyesight

[@rosselnator]

Good to see how someone who has an keen interest in a profession will always find a way to learn and grow. Keep true to your goals and filter out people that don't have your best interest in mind.

[@nevillecreativitymentor]

Seriously need more women to throw those perceptions out of the window and get into Machining and MEchanical Engineering. So much to say ... but some other time. Very proud of you. (Subscribed instantly ...my support to you)

[@robertogrady1321]

You learned a lot getting where you are and that will be to your strength as you grow. Hopefully you can teach some young people that want to learn how to do things the correct way. The person that never made a mistake never made anything. Keep up the good work and good luck with your business 👍

[@bArda26]

Amazing and very inspiring

[@mikeaustin9810]

I hope you post another video soon I'm anxious to follow your career

[@CNCMachinistEducationNetwork]

great start !!

[@Amaysing79]

will be watching thank you.

[@ronsayer1057]

well done !!

[@damaunu]

Good for you!

[@brandonescobar2629]

the surface finish on the part is beautiful

[@JS-cs8gz]

Great success story!! Keep honing your skills and you can do whatever want. Learn to teach others and grow your business. You'll be in the office looking out at your shop floor getting the work done.

[@praetorians235]

Good Luck ! Greetings from Germany !

[@m17wolfmeme50]

Learning machining here, I cant believe some would say women can’t machine in this day and age. You seem to have a better grasp at everything now, and I would love to know more machining skill from you as a beginner student.