I guess you could call me a machinist. I am a tool and die maker by trade, but I teach machine shop and design at a high school. I guess that makes me a machinist now. I do make repair parts for our machines as needed. I use and understand CNC machines but I am very comfortable with traditional machines and attachments. My shop has vertical and horizontal milling machines, lathes, surface grinder and OD grinder, drill presses, and an assortment of fabrication equipment. Right now I need to make a cross feed nut and cut an acme thread in it. I am also putting together a home shop with retirement in mind in the next year. I have a small cnc mill, a small cnc lathe, and I just purchased a 1964 Myford ML7 lathe with the intention of reconditioning and restoring for use making whatever I want to, without being asked 'what are you doing now sir?'.