Kevin Bumgarner

Well, this is the point where employers usually stop reading, so here we go. I Do Not have a clean background. I have in fact been to prison. My tenure at Carolina Precision began as a community work release job. I am very transparent and open about everything. I was initially hired as the saw man for the entire shop, production and job shop. I learned various materials, the differences, and how to identify them from one another (If Possible). I have a steep learning curve, so I progressed pretty fast. I was asked if I could do some assembly of tool kits carolina sells. I picked the entirety of assembly very quick as well. One of the owners, also lathe machinist on the floor, needed some help. I was taught set up (change/bore jaws, tool up machine(all of the various inserts/tools), and operation of the machines. I took to cutting metal like a duck to water. Progress was fast again and got some serious eyes looking at me. In three months i was editing programs to make perfectly nominal spec'd parts. I was given to the best and fastest Mill Machinist on the floor. He was told to teach me mill, hand programming only and simple parts. I blew there mind one day when I programmed a part using X0 as left side of part in the stock and Y0 as center of the stock. I programmed the part that way to show my understanding of the coordinate system. My mentor was green lighted to teach me CAD/CAM. The rest is history, as they say, I quickly picked up speed (in machining process and set up), understanding of material characteristics and the correct process for each (SFM, chip load, the formulas machinist use everyday, and why). I also gained confidence in my ability to produce more and more complex parts. I became the fastest (from pick print up to setting part on inspection table), I had an extremely low scrap rate (check every operation like you are only making one when its being set up), and the parts became very complicated or tolerance's to death. Carolina may not be the cleanest shop around, but at that place you hold +/- 4um all day and on multiple jobs. 9-10 ops on some parts are simply necessary at times. I have had some good jobs thus far into my career, but I have never had a career (job) that I have enjoyed more. I love Machining, the difficulty, the problem solving, and the challenge of cutting metal. I am at home in a machine shop, it is were I belong. I am familiar with Mastercam. I am familiar with Haas, Fanuc, and Okuma OSP controls. I can check every part i make in many different ways (sometimes to double check my initial findings). I work very well with others, most of the time. Every shop has that one guy who not all of us is going to get along with. I am dependable, honest, and straight forward. I have my own tools and instruments. I like to work all I can, while I can. I have a two year old daughter who is with me. So, I am not a short term type of guy. I like to stay somewhere for a while and produce as much revenue as I can. If the company is making money, then I can make money. I am not ready to slow down yet and I haven't found a young man yet who can hang with the ol man. I am a crap talker, but it is in good sport and fun.