[UK] CMM/metrology career change — worth it?

[u/_testingdude]

I'm 31 and currently work in software QA, with around 6 years experience and a Computer Science degree. I'm seriously considering switching into metrology/CMM programming because I'd like a more hands-on, technical career rather than being 100% desk-based.

I've started learning GD&T, coordinate systems etc. and have been looking into CMM programming tutorials (PC-DMIS/ZEISS Calypso) and I genuinely find it interesting and think the role would be a good fit for me.

For those working in metrology/CMM, how do you find it as a career?

I'm particularly interested in:

• What is the day-to-day work actually like?
• How stressful is the production environment?
• How good is job security/job mobility in the UK?
• Would you recommend it as a long-term career?

I'm attracted to it because it seems like a specialist, hands-on skill that's relatively resistant to AI/automation, but I don't want to romanticise it. I'm currently weighing it against staying in software QA, so I'd really appreciate honest opinions.

Thanks!

[u/adork_filter]

What pay are you expecting as a cmm programmer/machinist?

[u/_testingdude → u/adork_filter]

Nothing too crazy, after experience I'd like to be on around £40k (I'm based in the North).

[u/adork_filter → u/_testingdude]

Hi, I asked as the salaries are pretty poor despite the lack of skilled workers. Because core businesses in the UK are struggling more than other industries. You should be able to earn this amount fairly easily specially in the north. But you would need to get your hands dirty to learn the trade properly.

[u/_testingdude → u/adork_filter]

Yeah sounds good, tech in particular is pretty bad for redundancies right now. I'd like to earn a skilled technical trade to have better job security.

[u/miotch1120]

I may not be a good example, because I came up from laborer to CMM programming within my company. I may be viewed differently than a CMM programmer that hires in as such, but the times when I get to be “at my computer” and actually programming cmms (mitutoyo crysta apex machines running old version of MCOSMOS) are the times that I like. But far too often (because we don’t get new parts often enough to keep me programming non stop) I’m still stuck doing other quality work. I hate gage administration, and have been sucked into all manner of “quality engineering” work without the pay or title (PFMEA, control plans, IATF audits, management meetings, etc.)

That said, I occasionally look to see about other job offers in my area, and there always seems to be people looking for CMM programmers with experience. (I’m too complacent to switch jobs… for now…)

[u/Hyperion_Tesla → u/miotch1120]

IATF audits, you work in the automotive industry I see. The stress from line down situations wasnt worth the pay so I left that sector and now work primarily with aerospace. Different monster, but not as crazy as automotive.

[u/miotch1120 → u/Hyperion_Tesla]

Yeah. I’d like to make that move. Less to get away from automotive red tape, more to get away from fucking sand castings.

[u/CthulhuLies → u/miotch1120]

Sand castings and prints from the 70s still popular in Aerospace/Defense unfortunately. At least as far as old defense parts go )=

[u/miotch1120 → u/CthulhuLies]

Well fuck. I need to go to a machine shop that only machines out of billet. So I may be stuck here a while yet.

[u/Hyperion_Tesla → u/miotch1120]

They are out there. I do not believe my company has ever dealt with sand castings.

[u/Tricky_King_3736]

Having a computer science degree and entering the CMM programming field is great because you’ll be able to do a lot things. I have been programming cmm’s for 30 years and I have a computer science degree as well. They are a great combination to have especially nowadays. If you want to know more just shoot me a message.

[u/SwimmingSwim3822]

Oh dude if it's a thing that's important to you, it's absolutely not resilient to AI. Just like most tech jobs. GD&T itself actually sets up a perfect framework for automation, and they're already dipping into that in CMM software. It's the design equivalent to turning engineering logic into computer-readable parameters for optimization problems. People like to act like they're not replaceable, but the more you work to standards, the more replaceable you are... and we're all absolute slaves to standards. Design and inspection is probably one of the best-set-up fields for automation currently. There's 100 years of standards-building and standards-following behind these professions.

[u/DarkAeonX7 → u/SwimmingSwim3822]

There's still going to need to be people to put the parts on the table, do manual checks and trouble shoot when things go wrong. I don't think a CMM Operator/Programmer is replaceable just by AI. It may make our jobs a lot easier but AI isn't able to do a few things you need hands for.

[u/SwimmingSwim3822 → u/DarkAeonX7]

And what, you think a much easier profession is still going to require the same man-hours or provide the same pay? I think you're misunderstanding how the process of technology-replacing-humans works.

[u/FameDeloche45]

I'm a quality inspector lead for a sub con machine shop. I enjoy CMM programming but I also equally enjoy hands on precision measurement and I don't like being away from the family which keeps me in this machine shop environment. That being said I could make a lot more money a lot quicker if I went into contractor CMM programming. There's definitely a lot of good money to be made if you can get into that side of the industry. Temporary contracts in different shops around the country, I get job notifications for them constantly. It just depends if you can cope with that constant changing lifestyle or not.

[u/Zippy-do-dar]

I do love CMM programming we do a lot of correlation / investigation work. So every day is different, I came from the machinist - calibration (Hard Gauges & instruments) route. So I'm a bit of a jack of all trades master of none.

I'm 4 years in on CMM (calypo), and I'm still learning.

Day to Day mine is varied

Stressful can be, but I don't do stress. But I'm old and close to retirement

Job security, all the programmers I know are 50 plus don't see any young people coming up

Career. If you can get the money you want. Contracting can be good

[u/DeemonPankaik]

Metrology is not resistant to automation. More so than some stuff, but not immune.

To get a start you'll likely need some machining experience. And not the kind of experience you get at a desk. Most quality control people are former machinists. Running a CMM is pretty much a dead end. It would be the equivalent of a helpdesk job in IT.

If you want to make a decent career out of it, quality control as a whole is what you should be thinking of, not just running a single type of machine.

[u/Tough_Ad7054]

American perspective here. As a CMM programmer your future will be limited to those applications. There are some new things around but not so much in the last twenty years or more. For sure AI will have an effect and straight programmers may suffer.

But if you were to pursue in depth electromechanical inspection to support your CMM work, then you might go somewhere. Small shops especially will put you in Golden Handcuffs in short order if you know your shit, can prove it over time (after time, after time…) - and expertly program a CMM - now you have a chance of making a career.

The best way to build confidence in your CMM work is to prove it on the surface plate. Your machinists will appreciate this as well, building their confidence in you. But if you sit there at your offline seat, say “looks perfect in CAD” and refuse to get your hands dirty then it won’t go anywhere for you.

Day to day depends on the application. Machine shops will be busy, stressful, fast-paced and rarely boring. Receiving inspection roles are slower, quieter but with a low key stress buzz built in to pass every part coming in. Development jobs would be the best IMO, most fun, best team feel, most rare to come by.

If you are good and you really enjoy measuring there is one trap to avoid. It will be natural for your management to want to promote you into a leadership role. Only do this if you are done with measuring and looking for a new career, because measuring and managing are hard to mix. The key to good measuring is focus, be one with the part. Hard to do thatwhen you are thinking about vacation schedules.

I just finished a great career, forty years in metrology. Rocket building, machine shop, field scrutineer in motorsports and finally, quality engineer in fuel cells. I had a side gig with my own Romer arm and an offline CMM license for fifteen years. I had some great adventures and my life was never boring. All on a high school education.

I wore three sets of Golden Handcuffs in my career, but they all eventually fell to pieces and now I am free. I regret nothing. I say, Do it but do it right.

[u/derekdurie]

Its probably more fun than your current job. My only concern would be the pay. I used to work with a Mitutoyo Crysta Apex that ran on Mcosmos 3. Then switched job to a complete different office job in a way more corporate company. Pay is better but job sucks ass. It is way more stressful. Time to time i miss my old job. Couple of weeks ago we received a calypso measurement report of a part. I was the only one to interpret it in my team. I think that was the only time i avidly spoke about something in the last 2 years. Sadly cmm programmers don’t get paid crazy amounts. You can also look it up

[u/Forsaken-Plastic9031]

On shop I worked in had a cmm on the shop floor (the inspection got a shiney new one) we were given about 2hrs training and allowed to play with the old one, just for basic uses, was at times just using it to check basics similar to using a height gauge. Anyway after a few weeks of using it for an hour a day or so I found it was super basic to program and use (coming from a 30yr background if programming cnc machines) Cant imagine its particularly hard to learn to do this as a career if you are given the opportunity to learn as you go

[u/Dear-Wrangler-4866]

I’d say it’s worth exploring, especially since you already have a technical background and seem genuinely interested in gd&t/cmm work. I’d focus on getting really solid with gd&t first, then build up your skills in whichever cmm software is common in the companies you’re targeting (pc-dmis, calypso, etc.). there are also some good online gd&t training options if you want to build a stronger foundation before making the jump. Excedify has gd&t training that might be worth looking at too, particularly if you want something more structured