If someone were to start over their career at 50 and given these choices, what would you pick and why? We are talking about retraining and certification

a. CNC machining
b. welding
c. Additive manufacturing (3D printing)

I think some of the choice would depend on the background you have and any job opportunities you think you may be offered.

I’d choose welding personally but mainly that’s because I think I could stay in the industry I’m already in and I could use that skill to sell products in another field that I am familiar with.

I would choose welding as it is a skill I possess. If you’ve never welded or you’re not already good at it, it may not be the right career path. It takes a lot of time and skill to make really good money as a welder.

I would steer toward CNC. Good operators make good money and it’s usually not a physically crushing job.

Crane operator.

I looked in to welding,

Sure seemed like a young man's gig to me.
Numerous work place hazards.
Strenuous working conditions.

Tools ain't cheap.
Hours can be family not friendly.

But I was 55

At 50 I would suggest the lest physical demanding choice you can make. It seems that 50ish is when a lot of aches & pains start popping up.
I know for me that I was a living example of starting to wish I had taken better care of my body.

Not welding. As already mentioned, dirty, physically demanding. Just usually an overall rough career.

I wouldn't really call additive manufacturing a career. It's done in relation to a lot of prototyping, and in recent years 3D sintered parts are becoming more prevalent in manufacturing. But I don't think there are many jobs for solely that. Though I know of a local medical device manufacturer that has one guy that does mostly that.

CNC seems a good area (though I'm biased). Maybe consider taking a course or two at a local community college or even CTC. Lots of places are not really using operators so much, but they want people with some basic setup skills to make minor changes like offsets, or at least know when there may be a problem.

I spent 4 decades in machine shops as a machinist primarily in the aerospace and defence industry with a few plus years in medical metal replacement body parts and engine building shop. At 50 I would not get into CNC machining myself. CNC machining can mean many things from basic load program, load part cycle start, change part, repeat. To full blown read blueprint and specifications, understanding machine language, programming, understanding metals and tools. select right tools for the job, setup tools and fixture. Load tool lengths into controller. In these processes one has to be extremely thorough with sometimes 1000s of numbers. The later full blown case can take many many years of experience.

I see you are from PA. Let me put this out there. Boeing has a plant in PA. Many Boeing plants are short on workers these days. There are many different jobs at a boeing plant. Some jobs they will do on the job training. When they are short on workers. At a large plant like this there is room to transfer around to other jobs after you are there a couple years.

I don't know much about C but I'd check into it more. It's a good possibility.
Otherwise A.
Welding, no.

Let your geography account for part of your decision. If you live in a small farm town with no industries, you may need to relocate for employment. If you are busy in life, raising a family, this may effect your learning time. Outside advice is always good but let the final choice come from your heart. Go snoop around to see what is involved in these industries. I love the CNC field. Learning and expanding your knowledge is a powerful tool box. Don't let 50 hinder you in any way. Use that mind! Use that desire. Study and become. Move away from farm Town to where the industries and money are. If you are in a position to do schooling, especially if you can get financial help, go to the best local school you can find, study hard and learn best. Apply yourself with passion. Take the knowledge and let Noone slow you down. Learn! It is good for the mind.

You might also consider starting your own small business, even at home. Two examples for you to see. The young man who sells Armor gun belts on this and other Forums. Mike was in collage full time yet, we here and others ordered loads of his gun belts. Heck, I even caused him a engineering change with a wider belt, which sold well. How he kept up with the orders of many I will never know. He makes a strong belt, almost over night and at a reasonable price. I bet his bank account did well. Go see what has become of Wayne Novak of Novak sight fame. He started making those basic sights in his garage, on a milling machine. Used by and copied by many a pistol manufacturer for many years now. A self made millionaire I dare say. Things for you to consider.

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Additive manufacturing

This is the only choice of the 3 with a future. You can complete any task of the other 2 with it.

I'd consider:
1) Available jobs in your area?
2) Are you willing to relocate?
3) Natural aptitude.
4) What the are projected growth markets for the next decade?

Dave Bean:

For a look at both state of the art CNC machines and Additive manufacturing, have a look at GROB Systems website:
https://www.grobgroup.com/en/

GROB's US headquarters, design and engineering and assembly are located in Bluffton OH, just off I-75.

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what would you pick and why?

So what are your thoughts ~ you are the one with the potential career change?
Reasons for a change vary ~ what are yours?

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Originally posted by smschulz:

quote:

what would you pick and why?

So what are your thoughts ~ you are the one with the potential career change?
Reasons for a change vary ~ what are yours?

Been working since I was 18. Bachelors. MBA with a minor in CIS. Got laid off in 2009. Tried to start my own business, that flopped. Went into family biz when parental unit got hurt. Sold it during Covid19 at a loss. Moved to PA since NY was burning into hell. Licking my wounds and finally recovered. Worked in Finance and Info Systems. Looking to settle into my final career change, hope to make something tangible instead of Excel spreadsheets.

What is your background/work experience?

I've done A & a little at B. I enjoyed machining, but I had to give it up due to a messed up back.

I hated every minute of welding. It's hot and nasty. And I also may have set my pants on fire more than once.

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Originally posted by FenderBender:

quote:

Additive manufacturing

This is the only choice of the 3 with a future. You can complete any task of the other 2 with it.

I would say not during the remainder of his working years. We're not as close to replacing machining with additive manufacturing, contrary to popular belief.

The precision and surface finish vs. economics just isn't there yet.

A & C are psychically less demanding. My initial opinion was either of those 2. However, I think a lot of people can do those along with up and coming AI.

Welding, if you can become one, requires the welder to be physically at the place where welding needs to be done. You'll be doing on the job welding, not on an assembly line where they've given that to the robots and machines.

But, at least, once you're established, you'll be secure barring any physical deterioration on your part.

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Originally posted by esh21167:

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:

quote:

Additive manufacturing

This is the only choice of the 3 with a future. You can complete any task of the other 2 with it.

I would say not during the remainder of his working years. We're not as close to replacing machining with additive manufacturing, contrary to popular belief.

The precision and surface finish vs. economics just isn't there yet.

How about the structural strength?!??! I am amazed at the metal parts but are the pieces as strong as something forged and then machined???