It makes more sense to teach CNC programming than it does cutting threads on a manual lathe, especially at the post-high school level.
As a machinist and teacher, I disagree. You need the fundamentals, the how, the why, Feeds, speeds, how metal behaves when you cut it, tool selection, etc. before you program. I tell my students, running a CNC machine is easy, being a CNC Machinist takes some work. If you don’t understand the foundation, you’ll never be more than an operator.
It makes more sense to teach CNC programming than it does cutting threads on a manual lathe, especially at the post-high school level.
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what you say makes some sense. while craftspersons can benefit from know the old machines and the old skills there is also a need to get people trained to use the new tech.
Same goes for welding - arc welding has been supplanted by a number of newer methods, but it probably will continue to have some value to those who have that skill.