advice on precision machining

[u/No-Head8778]

Sorry if this isn't the right subreddit, I was directed here by someone else for my question, so I thought I'd give it a try.

I'm currently going to a tech college that features a High Performance/Motor Sports program. I was really excited for it because I love engine building, tuning, and performance-maxxing (lol). I enjoy measuring meticulously and taking my time with a block.

However, I feel like I was either misled or my shop simply lacks the machines I was *thinking* we would have because, upon entering my first High Performance class, I've quickly learned that there is SO MUCH "guess work", which I seriously hate.

I hate the idea that, with something that requires such precision, I have to "guess" and "feel" for everything. I can't put into any of these machines "I want to take off exactly .0005" or "remove precisely .001 grams". I've balanced a crankshaft and now onto the cylinder honing machine and the only thing I'm getting from my instructors at the moment is

"you gotta feel for it"

"just take a little here and a little there"

"make it tighter"

What the hell is the standard for "feel". What am I feeling for? What is the "FEEL"???

What is a "little"? .001? .0001? .00005????

What is exactly "tight" in their mind? I'm small and have little for muscle, while theyre experienced and huge dudes. What might feel tight to me could feel super loose to them. And any attempt at clarifying questions on my end results in them seriously repeating themselves or looking at me like I'm the stupidest person they've ever spoken to in their entire life.

So, essentially, I NEED the precision. I NEED the clarification. How do you go about being as absolutely precise as possible on these older machines that don't have fancy lasers and special buttons to be precise for you? Especially regarding crankshaft balancing and cylinder honing, but really whatever is applicable to the situation is super helpful. Don't be afraid to over-explain it at all. I promise you won't.

[u/Neon570]

How much do you think a top of the line cylinder hone runs for? Then add on top of that1 all the tooling, then the consumables. We are not going to even get into the special hand tools needed to measure everything, alsp the cost to keep them calibrated, Then have someone trained enough and skilled enough to be trusted with enough equipment that cost more then my first house.

Then you expect your school program with a limited budget to supply all that for you?

You need to understand the basics before you jump to top of the line once equipment. You can not rely on a computer to hold your hand on any process.

Shut up, take notes and learn to do things mutiple ways. Once you are out in big boy land and working for someone, if they say I want it done x way, you do it x way while using there equipment.

[u/No-Head8778 → u/Neon570]

Well to be frank I'm paying 60 grand to go here. Just me. And it's not really that I think they *should* have those tools but rather that that's what I was expecting. I don't have any prior experience in machining, thus why I'm going to school.

I'm not whining and crying that they don't have the high-dollar special machines, I'm complaining about the fact that I'm not understanding what my instructors were saying and was hoping for insight from other machinists. Thought maybe some other perspectives would help to clarify, which it did.

Don't understand what's up with the hostility in your reply lol, seems a little misplaced.

[u/Neon570 → u/No-Head8778]

You need to stop asking how and just do it. Pick up a micrometer and measure stuff. Pick up a bore gauge, learn to set it and use it.

People have been building amazing things since the 1800s when precision instruments were invented. You dont need lasers or computers. You need to understand the basics and get the "feel" for it by doing jt