Programmer Engineer Helping R&D Make the Tough Stuff
Tony Cattery has been in the machining business for more than three decades. But in some ways, he’s also in the business of proving people wrong.
As programmer engineer at R&D Machine, Tony is responsible for quoting parts, writing CNC programs and designing fixtures along with other types of workholdings. As part of his job, he also decides what can or can’t be made at the Compass operating company.
Sometimes, that includes producing parts that other manufacturing companies tell customers that they can’t make.
“[Customers] will regularly say, ‘We were told we can’t make this,’” Tony said. “Sometimes, you’ve just got to think about it a little bit. Then you find out it wasn’t that hard after all.”
Tony began his machining career at Rolls Royce, where he worked close to where he grew up in South Florida. Seeking a change of scenery two years later, he took a job at a machine shop in Wisconsin.
He described liking Wisconsin, but after a couple years, he moved back to Florida to be closer to family and to avoid harsh winters. Shortly after returning to the Sunshine State, Tony’s adventure at R&D Machine began.
Tony started at R&D as a machinist and setup operator in 1994. About two years later, he received a promotion to his current role.
“One of the great things about Tony is that he thinks of jobs not just as a programmer, but also as a machinist,” explained Justin Kovscek, R&D’s VP & General Manager. “He can better conceptualize the best tool path because of his experience in actually setting up and running jobs.”
Tony continued to perform setup work with the company’s machines for several more years. But as the company grew in size, other machinists slowly assumed that duty.
About 15 years ago, he started completely focusing on the quoting and designing aspects of his role.
Tony said he enjoys the variety of work he receives and the aerospace parts he gets the opportunity to work with at the Compass operating company.
“I have to think a little bit outside the box sometimes,” said Tony. “Just try to figure out a unique way to make something, and try to make it in fewer operations or just a lot of times it’s figuring out how to get something done that’s going to actually work well.”
He estimated that about 2-3 times per year, he is able to figure out how to make a part that customers have previously heard can’t be made.
“I think one of the reasons why R&D Machine has so many close customer relationships is because of what we do here,” stated Kat Pennison, the company’s Operations Manager. “Led and inspired by Tony, we successfully manufacture parts no one else can.”
“R&D Machine, like the part of Compass Precision, gravitates toward difficult projects,” added Compass VP of Sales Jim Miller. “We make the tough stuff.”