The week my CNC ran perfect for 5 straight days - never happening again

I had a week back in March where everything just clicked. I was running a job for a medical parts company in Cleveland, 200 pieces of aluminum brackets. The machine didn't throw a single warning, tools lasted the whole run, and the first article actually passed inspection on the first try. My boss Steve came by and said "you know this never happens, right?" and I just knocked on the table. But here's the thing, that week set my expectations way too high. Now every time I get a chatter mark or a broken tap I get frustrated faster than I used to. Has anyone else had a week like that where things went so smooth it almost felt wrong, and then everything went back to normal?

3 comments

3 Comments

caseys302mo ago

Nah I get what you're saying though. It messes with your head when everything goes perfect because now you KNOW the machine CAN do it, so when it doesn't you're like "what the hell machine.

felix1552mo ago

Wait, are you really complaining about a good week?

xenarobinson19d ago

Yeah I actually read something about this the other day, some study saying how people who have a string of good luck actually get more anxious because their brain starts looking for the trap. @caseys30 is right though, it's like the machine can do it so now you're just waiting for it to screw you over again. Like last week I had three perfect deliveries in a row and I spent the whole time thinking "okay when's the shoe gonna drop" instead of just enjoying it. It's messed up but it's how we're wired.