About me, Richard Carresi
I started as a machine setter operator at camshaft manufacturer, Weyburn-Bartel, back in September 1993. I was 20 years old and definitely hadn't found my calling up to that point. I was a trainee, apprenticeships had all but disappeared but the company wanted to bring in some new blood and myself along with 3 others were the chosen lucky ones.
We would be full time production operatives allowed day release to college to study towards BTEC qualifications. I was assigned to cam and plain journal grinding under Graham, Eddie and Bill, old sweat, highly skilled guys, who would become my mentors.
In these early years I found that I had an eye for accuracy and precision and as my abilities and knowledge grew, I nurtured this fascination with metal cutting.
After 5 years or so and just before starting my HNC, I moved on to pastures new, in search of metal chips and CAD/CAM programming.
Over the next 22 years I worked for some of the top companies, in the most interesting and exciting industries in the world including defence, aerospace, niche automotive and F1. I made the jump from permanent to contract working mainly as a CAD/CAM programmer but also fixture design and process improvement. I like to work with data and using it to tell a story and improve the narrative.
Each industry has presented fresh challenges and shown me new things and improved my understanding. It has fostered in me a desire to look for the improvements, however small and shown me that I am a problem solver and have the tenacity to work the problem until it is resolved or at least improved.
All this knowledge and experience leads me to here.
Being a long time Vericut user, I was instantly impressed with the development of the FORCE module and recognised its potential immediately. Using real cut data in combination with physics calculations will give your machining operations the edge. That is why I wanted to build a service around it.
A copy of my CV is also available for your reference.
Sadly, after buyouts and disputes, changing supply chains and recessions Weyburn closed. I was thrilled when I found this link a few years back. Those might be empty workshops and corridors but I look at those pictures and they come alive with memories.
https://www.derelictplaces.co.uk/threads/a-factory-in-the-woods.22369/