SA's massive skills problem

[emperornemesis]

I thought it would be written by ChatGPT, turns out it was a woke human with a phd. Someone who can't possibly live or work here.

Hey keep in mind that in SA, you can get a PHD without having to actually do the work, just pitch up every day, and you too can get a degree based on your attendance, no intelligence required, and then you too can say to people "I am calling about your Ackermans account".

 

[HunterNW]

Yes, especially in SA, seen as a lower class piece of trash because you make things. Electricians are STILL regarded as the lowest of the low. Mechanics too, until a car breaks then the people suck up to them.

There is VERY LITTLE interest in SA amongst kids re technology. All of them these days want to be influencers or TikTokkers and those that have half a brain want to do things like be a lawyer of an accountant.

At the mine Electricians are at the top. Riggers are the lowest. All that gets dirty is their one finger - and that's from pointing at stuff.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Used to be with NQF though. It worked well for electricians, chefs, lathe operators etc

By "electricians" do you mean capable of working on low voltage single phase domestic electricity only or high and low voltage three and single phase industrial electricity? The old apprenticeship qualified electricians for industry, allowing them to work on domestic electricity.

By lathe operator do you mean that is the single machine they can operate or is it the same as the old fitter and turner apprenticeship that allowed machinists to use lathes, milling machines, Whitworth saws and other machinery to produce metal parts up to a few microns in accuracy only after they had learned to cut and file metal by hand accurately?

 

[HunterNW]

By "electricians" do you mean capable of working on low voltage single phase domestic electricity only or high and low voltage three and single phase industrial electricity? The old apprenticeship qualified electricians for industry, allowing them to work on domestic electricity.

By lathe operator do you mean that is the single machine they can operate or is it the same as the old fitter and turner apprenticeship that allowed machinists to use lathes, milling machines, Whitworth saws and other machinery to produce metal parts up to a few microns in accuracy only after they had learned to cut and file metal by hand accurately?

Been there. Nowadays it's a pot kak.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Been there. Nowadays it's a pot kak.

I had last used a lathe 30 years back. Working in the offshore oil industry I needed to cut some metal for a spare part to fit. I asked the chief engineer if I could use the workshop lathe. He came with me to see if I could use one. I managed to work out how to set the correct speed, choose and set up the cutting bit. I then inserted the job in the chuck, remembering not to commit the all important rookie mistake of forgetting the removal of the chuck key before starting the lathe.

I started the motor and just couldn't remember how to engage the feed. I had told him I last used one 30 years ago, We both laughed when he pointed to the feed engagement lever at my knee.

 

[HunterNW]

I had last used a lathe 30 years back. Working in the offshore oil industry I needed to cut some metal for a spare part to fit. I asked the chief engineer if I could use the workshop lathe. He came with me to see if I could use one. I managed to work out how to set the correct speed, choose and set up the cutting bit. I then inserted the job in the chuck, remembering not to commit the all important rookie mistake of forgetting the removal of the chuck key before starting the lathe.

I started the motor and just couldn't remember how to engage the feed. I had told him I last used one 30 years ago, We both laughed when he pointed to the feed engagement lever at my knee.

Remember a Shaping machine ? Spend hours sitting next to that thing getting my work pieces within tolerance.
It's not in the training centers anymore. Loved how you grinded your own bit for any type of shaping.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

Remember a Shaping machine ? Spend hours sitting next to that thing getting my work pieces within tolerance.
It's not in the training centers anymore. Loved how you grinded your own bit for any type of shaping.

The shaping machine also had a Whitworth quick return motion. I was always fascinated by its ability to gouge a millimeter of metal per stroke off a 10 mm thick steel workpiece.

 

[cda]

By "electricians" do you mean capable of working on low voltage single phase domestic electricity only or high and low voltage three and single phase industrial electricity? The old apprenticeship qualified electricians for industry, allowing them to work on domestic electricity.

By lathe operator do you mean that is the single machine they can operate or is it the same as the old fitter and turner apprenticeship that allowed machinists to use lathes, milling machines, Whitworth saws and other machinery to produce metal parts up to a few microns in accuracy only after they had learned to cut and file metal by hand accurately?

The matric electrical subject gave you the required N level for low voltage work (by that I mean less than 10kV) yes, then you could apprentice or go to technikon (or both even) to build on that.

Yes I meant fitting and turning, also used to be a matric subject. Both alongside technical drawing.

It was a really good system that was ditched sadly.

 

[cda]

The shaping machine also had a Whitworth quick return motion. I was always fascinated by its ability to gouge a millimeter of metal per stroke off a 10 mm thick steel workpiece.

That thing scared the pants off me. Now I just watch youtube videos of them

 

[Cosmik Debris]

The matric electrical subject gave you the required N level for low voltage work (by that I mean less than 10kV) yes, then you could apprentice or go to technikon (or both even) to build on that.

Yes I meant fitting and turning, also used to be a matric subject. Both alongside technical drawing.

It was a really good system that was ditched sadly.

Ah yes, the technical high school designed to cater for industry and entrance to technical colleges and universities that offered engineering.

Although the matric work was on the N3 level, no certificate was gained in matric. But the college and/or apprenticeship would allow for the matric prior learning and exempt the student from gaining N1 and N2.

 

[Cosmik Debris]

That thing scared the pants off me. Now I just watch youtube videos of them

Here's a great video of one working. And schoolboys learnt how to use them.

 

[Stokstert]

Here's a great video of one working. And schoolboys learnt how to use them.

Memories of good times in my youth.

 

[B-1]

Here's a great video of one working. And schoolboys learnt how to use them.

Thats really cool. My cousins kids in Australia all learned how to use the modern equivalent of these types of machines at school. CNC machines, 3d printing and other machining/manufacturing machines were all taught in their "shop classes" along with the design tools for them.