Career change, What to do?

[JCasper]

I have been a Plastic injeciton Moldmaker for about 10 years and am starting to get burnt out. I enjoy CNC programming which I have been doing for the last 8 years for my own jobs and full time for a year now.



I enjoy programming more then I like being on the floor. It looks like I am getting shoved back to the floor and I don't really want to.



I have been at this shop for 2 years and I hate being low man on the pole. I am trying to decide if I stick it out until I can find a business of my own to start or leave now and go to another shop.



I have thought in the past about opening my own shop, but I think I would enjoy doing something else instead. I really enjoy computer/internet stuff and have thought about trying to go that route, but I don't know where to start.



I am 28 with a wife and 2 kids so I need a steady income. We have some income that comes every few months from some investments, but I still need a job.



I think what would be best is my own business I can do from home and have some more family time.



Any ideas and or suggestions are appreciated.

 

[TPCDrafting]

I ran a drafting business out of my house for 6 years. I've since gone back to construction and into management. There were moments where I could say that I had "extra" family/free time, but for the most part not really. Working for yourself means, if you're not working, you're not making any income. I really liked the concept of the more I worked the more I made, but I tended to take it too far and worked most weekends/holidays to stay ahead of my clients. I knew a couple guys that did what I did, but for plastic mold injection design work. It paid much better than commercial/residential drafting/design. Looking now at my responsibilities, workload and time away at work, I didn't realize how easy I had it here at home.

 

[ASimpson]

Kinda Neat Jcasper I Work In The Plastic Business Too But On The Other End. We Build The Injection Mold Machines. Actually They Say We Are The Largest Supplier In The World, And Even We Are Struggling Just To Keep Going. Plastic Futures Dont Look Real Good With The Auto Market Falling Off, But We Gotta Work Somewhere I Guess At Least Until I Win The Lottery.

 

[jkalchik]

I wouldn't say the plastics market is necessarily falling off, but it probably is changing.

I worked (as an IT geek) for a plastics molder from '88 to '94. The business was all lighting oriented, lenses, reflectors, housings, etc. Less than 5% of the business was automotive, and that small fraction was a *SERIOUS* PITA. The firm has it own mold shop, and while it's not a completely rosy business, they are doing well on their own terms and in their niche market. BTW, I'll bet you don't go a day without seeing one of their products... ...

JCasper, remember that if you strike out on your own that you're going to need to invest in your own computer equipment and software. Don't forget about backup!

 

[JCasper]

Wow, quite a few guys in the plastic industry.



In the ten years I have been doing this I have seen a lot of molders in our area go out of business. HP used to be real big around here, but now a lot of our clients our out of area.



Like I said above, I enjoy the programming but I am burnt out on the working on the floor part of it. I felt very lucky to get hired into the shop I am in 2 years ago. Now I feel kind of stuck. I would like more family time, which I have been taking. The problem is I am only working about 35 hours a week because I am burnt out on the moldbuilding part of my job and that is hurting the paycheck too.



I know I will find something better, it is just hard to make a switch with a wife and two kids at home. There is a small shop close to here that I have thought about going to work for. I know the owner and he has asked me twice in the last two years if I am happy where I am at. Each time I said I was, because at that point in time I was enjoying programming. Now that I am not programming as much I feel really burnt out.



Also, as far as the mold making part of the job goes, I don't feel that you can forget much of that. The more I am away from programming, the more I am falling behind. I was away from it for a year and things had changed a lot with the release of Mastercam Version X.

 

[jnelson]

Friend of mine is starting a business with a CNC Water jet blah blah blah. . he was looking for someone knowledgeable in the field, he works for Endyn. But you would have to move to Alice TX. Its already in the high 90's and is considered Northern Mexico for all pratical purposes. But if you wanna make a big move... ... I'll call him.

 

[JCasper]

Friend of mine is starting a business with a CNC Water jet blah blah blah. . he was looking for someone knowledgeable in the field, he works for Endyn. But you would have to move to Alice TX. Its already in the high 90's and is considered Northern Mexico for all pratical purposes. But if you wanna make a big move... ... I'll call him.

Thanks, but that is too far and tooooooo HOT.



I have a lot of options in the area I am in. My problem is I just can't figure out which way to go.

 

[Alan Reagan]

I was watching TV the other night and saw and interesting story about a guy that purchased a plasma cutter and built a large X-Y axis holder. He buys sheet steel and makes cut outs from designs either he or his customers come up with. When the steel is cut out, the uses the steel patterns to sandblast shower glass or glass of any type for custom home installation. The portions of the steel that were cut from the sheets are welded as sculptures to go in the homes in the rooms with the custom glass. All work is done in his barn and the demand for his work is very high both in new construction and remodeling.



The X-Y axis machines can be purchased from several vendors. As a CNC person, you would certainly have the technical capability to do something like this.

 

[JCutter]

Honda's building a new plant here in southeastern indiana and i believe they had jobs for plastic molding and stuff like that. Might not be able to apply unitl next year cause there just hireing machinist and maintaince right now.



Would be a good paying job for the area.



Jeremie

 

[Champane Flight]

My vote!

My vote is open a house of ill repute... . Of course you will have to run things by hand until you get some girls... . :-laf