Staff Focus: Lee Rechtin, Senior Machinist Senior machinist Lee Rechtin brings an impressive thirty-two years of experience to BAE’s Agricultural Machinery Research Lab (AMRL) commonly referred to as “the Shop.” As the only certified machinist in the department, he trains everyone to use what he calls “the old stuff ”—hardworking, industrial machines, some of which date back to World War II. “Now almost everything is CNC, computerized machine tools, that the young guys know. But we’re not a production shop, so the old machines work better for our regular need to build prototypes, just one of something.” Rechtin clearly enjoys his work, explaining that the variety of projects keeps him engaged. In just the past day, he built a bracket to hold a camera mount on a UAV-style helicopter, brackets for Dr. Stombaugh’s sprayer nozzles, and a holder for a fiber optic cable for one of Dr. Payne’s projects. Rechtin describes Dr. Payne as a “constant customer,” often requesting projects with small tolerances. “My optical research requires precision-made parts having small tolerances and sometimes unique materials, for example, the UV LED holder that Lee made for me. Lee can make a small precision part in one day that would cost $2,000 if we had to use an outside shop. We’re very fortunate to have such a resource,” Dr. Payne noted. “I do all the small stuff. Small tolerances, where there’s only a small measure that’s critical—that’s what they get me to make,” Rechtin said. “And anything aluminum. I like welding aluminum. There are different ways of welding it, but it’s the hardest thing to weld—until you get the hang of it.” His favorite part of the job? “Without a doubt, working with kids. They’re motivated. A lot of them come from farms. They have great work ethics. They’re a great group of young engineers. They come in ready to learn.” The AMRL staff have different skills, and those differences allow them to work as a team, sharing projects across levels of expertise. It also helps that some of them have worked together for decades, developing steady friendships that allow them to meet their demanding production schedule good naturedly and with a lot of laughs.
His favorite part of the job?“Without a doubt, working with kids. They’re motivated. A lot of them come from farms. They have great work ethics. They’re a great group of young engineers. They come in ready to learn.” — Lee Rechtin