Business of Machining: Recent Episodes
John Grimsmo & John Saunders
John Grimsmo of Grimsmo Knives and John Saunders of NYC CNC discuss their success, struggles, goals and more as machinists, business owners and entrepreneurs.
TOPICS:
- Hardmilling endmills came in
- Heat treating and worried about warp
- Kern still dropping tools
- Kind words from a listener
- Solution to Saunders' tolerance issue
- 50 tidbits by Dave Arneson
- https://www.airbearings.com/old-pages/news/50-tidbits
- Lapping for flatness and shiny!
TOPICS:
- Take your kid to work day
- Saunders bought another lathe
- "I'm stumped" - Saunders
- Wazer waterjet at Grimsmo
- Hardmilling
TOPICS:
- Kern is down!
- Internal inventory levels
- HARDMILLING!!
- Magnetic chucks
- Seville Classics cabinets and tables
TOPICS:
- Kern tool changers issues
- Creating videos for Youtube
- 11:-- error, 30 seconds missing
- Replacing glass on CNC machines
- Video - "The universe is hostile to computers" - Veritasium
- Artwork at home
- Flocking tumbler liquids
- DIY fixture rack
TOPICS:
- Saunders: "Grimsmo, project management is not your strong suit"
- How do you spend your day
- DSI free Fusion Fridays
- Regofix tool change station
- What's a good 5 axis with pallet changer?
- Heat treating in argon?
TOPICS:
- Safe start all operations
- Listening to the "Aquired" podcast
- Leading and coaching strategies
- Hardmilling blades and Puckchucks
- Laser probing grinding wheel accuracy
TOPICS:
- Checking in with your team after being on vacation
- Veritasium video on QR codes
- Grimsmo Fjell updates!
- How to hold incredible tolerances reliably
- Forcing a pause between each operation in Fusion
- Hardmilling
TOPICS:
- Podcast feedback from IMTS
- Threadmill design change caused issues
- Hardmilling features after heat treat
- Saunders recap of IMTS
- Consultants in manufacturing?
TOPICS:
- IMTS tools and technologies
- Hard gaging
- CMM Machines
- Grimsmo played with a Wire EDM
TOPICS:
- Family vs business
- Aluminum fixtures
- Autodesk CAM Challenge
- IMTS 2024 planning
- Rego-Fix PG hydraulic pressing unit
- Wire EDM Machines
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo's family vacation
- Alarms on Machines
- American Precision Museum in Vermont
- Kern toolsetter issues
- Okuma break detect issues
- Electropolishing metals
TOPICS:
- Accounts receivable issues
- Okamoto surface grinder
- Rask blade issues
- New Willemin at SMW
TOPICS:
- Time off with family
- Inbox zero
- Getting everything DONE
- What systems do you use? Smart AI stuff?
- Machines and processes
TOPICS:
- Book recommendation: 6 Types Of Working Genius
- Venturi coolant sucker upper
- Normalizing steel for flatness
- Solar power for a shop?
- E-paper display:
"#17 Using e-ink (epaper) Price Tags (Shelf Labels) for everyday needs"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCkMu57S_YA
TOPICS:
- 10 year anniversary of being in Ohio
- factory tour of willemin in switzerland and Kern in germany
- Grimsmo Blum update and blade grinding
TOPICS:
- Saunders Okuma Genos spindle update
- Completely off the grid time off
- Kern ballscrew replacement
- Speedio high accuracy mode weirdness
- G68 coordinate shift
TOPICS:
- Saunders needs a new spindle
- Grimsmo Blum probing issues
- Gen 3 mod vises in productions
- Macro programming!!!
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo's Blade Show adventure
- Johnny 5 robot progress!!
- Fusion "ground to parent"
- Shop maintenance?
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo pulling late nights to get his new knife done for Blade Show
- Purchases that are important or not.
- How to lead others and push them
- Great, good, and important companies
- Does anybody actually use PVA support?
TOPICS:
- Do I need a "reset"?
- Al Whatmough and Carl Bass leadership skills
- Grimsmo prepping for blade show
- Hardness testing
- UMC350 5 axis machine
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo exploded a 440c button
- Saunders pushed the PuckChuck to failure
- Building the shop to be easy
- Adding a bubbler to a coolant tweaking
- Puck chuck fixtures on the VF2
- Building the dream machine from scratch
TOPICS:
- Integral knife button tweaking
- Thermal growth on steel
- Optical comparator with Baty screen
- 3d printing brim and build plates
- Zero gravity tool suspension device
-
- Sloky torque devices
- Johnny 5 build
- Offset on horizontal got reset!
TOPICS:
- Creativity vs productivity
- Saunders' Willemin is gone
- Project management
- Johnny 5 robot update
- BlackFox Machining box cutter clip
- Awkward DOITS phase
TOPICS:
- weird door alarm on Okuma
- Product design and prototyping
- Tolerancing parts
- Nut runner torque wrenches
- Lapping parts FLAT
- Johnny 5 robot!
TOPICS:
- Saunders yard sale open house
- Wall control (pegboard)
- Drill press upgrades
- SMW puck chucks and fixture plates
- Willemin calibration procedure
- Probe tips
- Al Whatmough
TOPICS:
- Local Ohio Machinist and makers group https://forms.gle/CSLjYSQshDqDCWRE6
- Chemistry and filtration of liquids
- Future goals and Happiness
- 3 examples of the "rule of inverse Pi"
- Scissor lift sold
- Tall castle grips
- Anodizing crate
- Grimsmo grinding consistency on Speedio
- Saunders bent a probe tip
- Comparing shop cleanliness and organization
TOPICS:
- double tape and glue method
- Saunders open house April 13
- Willemin crash
- CNC machines of the Future
- Looking for an aluminum machine
- LIGO gravitational device
- Nut runner torque device
- Drilling holes efficiently
TOPICS:
- Latest hyperobsession - Chemistry
- Saunders yard sale!
- Local Machinist and makers group
- Grimsmo's Week in Review video
- Life hacks
- Nakamura window shattered, replacement is in.
- Torque wrenches
Interested in a Central Ohio Machinist & Makers meet up? Fill out this form - https://forms.gle/CSLjYSQshDqDCWRE6
SMW Yard Sale LINK: https://saundersmachineworks.com/collections/equipment-for-sale
TOPICS:
- Loneliness in entrepreneurship
- banking relationships
- Kosterising heat treat
- New Willemin coming to Saunders
- Frustrated with IOT devices
- Selling tools at the open house
LINK IN DESCRIPTION WITH OPEN HOUSE DETAILS:
https://saundersmachineworks.com/collections/equipment-for-sale/products/yard-sale
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo's new knife
- I love heat treating!
- Should I get a Brother Speedio R650?
- Crashed the Speedio probe
- Quality of life improvements
TOPICS:
- Being too nice or too driven to your staff?
- Grimsmo's Willemin needs pneumatic work
- Solved the Horizontal chip sorting issue
- Cash management
- Exit interviews
- Repair parts process bins
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo's new knife has a blade!
- Saunders yard sale! Sat April 13, 2024
- inverse of the Rule Of Pi
- Programming on the Horizontal
- Having a hard time selling 2 Haas machines
- carbon fiber double tape method
TOPICS:
- Gridfinity bins and inserted tooling
- 75 Hard
- Grimsmo's new Employee
- What's more accurate, axial or radial cuts?
- diamond burnishing on swiss
- LTL freight stress
- Labeling fixtures with paint
- Speedio tool touchoffs
- Saunders sorting chips
TOPICS:
- override process sheets and process bins
- Kids and work
- Days Off In The Shop is a failure
- Gridfinity!
- Grimsmo's erowa and Speedio update
- Automation and pallet changing
- Hardmilling
TOPICS
- Knifemaking Tuesdays are back!
- Multi color 3d printing
- Breaking drill bits
- Fusion Trim toolpath
- Days Off In The Shop is difficult, but wonderful
- Grimsmo's Speedio and Erowa are hooked up!
- Heat treating pullstuds
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo's plans for the year
- Naming products
- Days off in the shop - Best business decision EVER
- New employee at Grimsmo Knives
- Releasing new products
- Tom Lipton mentor
- Saving time and money
TOPICS:
- Days Off In The Shop ("Doits")
- Taking Purchasing off my plate
- Tracking and quantifying order issues
- Magnetic chip separator
- Variation between fixtures
TOPICS:
- Coming in hot for 2024. Reflecting and planning.
- Buckling down for a tough year.
- Grimsmo Buyer's Choice, new knife model
- Grimsmo's Eumach machines
- Selling CNC machines
- How do we buy cleaning supplies
- Dual color 3d printing for text
TOPICS:
· Wen_mir_langwilig_isch
How is lights out affecting cost benefit with the side eye on the time spent for process reliability?
· Burnandturnfabrication
Name one thing that you didn’t think would change the business but made the company.
· Benji_fost
thoughts on haas pulling the UMC 350 from commercial sales? Do you feel left high and dry?
· Felixwin2710
“Hey, I’m currently 19, and I’m in the process of building a small 5-axis cnc, any tips to get to where you are?
· A_knights_life
Swiss Army knife (do it all, mill turn, etc) machines vs. scalpel machines(kern, swiss lathe)?
· Heidelworks
What critical steps did you take to go from a small business (solo) to a multi employee business?
· DFMtoolworks:
Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?
· Amishsolanki
Is Rathi AI?
Laurenswijnschenk
Can you learn Amish how to not break taps?
Cito_charlie
Top 3 book? Business or non business
Grimsmo:
Emyth
RSF
Relentless
Apolo Murders
Saunders:
Small Time Operator
How to win friends and influence people
· Tips on how to organize tools in Fusion when changing them out often in a hobby garage?
· Stang_bladeworks
What is the closest either of you have come to giving up and how did you overcome it?
· Martinskot
What’s a shop/machining related product you wish existed but don’t have the time to develop yourself?
Topics:
- Defining the vision of your company
- Dedicating time to organize the shop
- Post processors
- scrap metal company
- designing a new knife
TOPICS:
- Distributing tasks among the team
- SmarterEveryDay Nasa video - watch it!
- End-of-year goals
- DSI video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubQ1LLYvaaU
- 4th-grade class lecture
- DLC coatings on pens and knives
- Costing mistakes
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo's CMM is producing interesting results!
- Bad fixtures are bad!
- Probing too much isn't always a good thing
- Personal goal failures
- "The Machine That Changed the World" book
- The era of lean manufacturing
- Mailcall request - businessofmachining@gmail.com
- Mentors and advisors
TOPICS
- Haas power usage correction
- Erik is getting married
- We did not crash the Okuma...
- hiring
- Okamoto surface grinding
- Puck Chuks in stock!
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo's Kern had toolchanger errors
- Procedures and process bins
- Power consumption on CNC machines - $0.05/hr for Haas to be on.
- Air compressor maintenance
- selling machines
- DNS settings to make sure e-mails get to customers, thanks Joe F
- DKIM add freshdesks to SPF records
- custom endmills from deboer
- Nakamura lathe issues
- Oil skimmers
- Critical projects DONE
LINKS: https://saundersmachineworks.com/pages/equipment-for-sale
TOPICS:
- SMW stopping through coolant drill bits
- Utility bills
- Pierre being deported
- Speedio high accuracy mode
- Grinding wheel technology
- Detent ball dropper
- Gen3 mod vises
- Super secret sauce
TOPICS:
- SMW Willemin is fixed! Replacement Fanuc motor worked.
- Haas UMC350
- Office Phones
- "Lean Built" podcast with Jay and Andrew
- "Sooner, not faster"
"Slow is smooth, smooth is fast"
"Speed is fine, but accuracy is final"
- Blinders in business
- Wera tooling
- SMW is selling Proven Cut
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo visited Kern Precision in Chicago!
- Four Areas that will put you out of business
- What I need and want out of the company by the end of the year
- Tour of Lapmaster
- Saunders made a splash guard for his Okuma grinder
- "we have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one"
- Confucius
TOPICS:
- Maintaining CNC machines
- Process bins!
- Carbon Fiber tips and tricks
- Sandvik drills
- ERP systems managing lead times
- Freshdesk for customer service
TOPICS:
- Work/Life balance
- Okuma Horizontal machining valve covers
- 3d printing parts for the shop
- Fusion 360 frustrations
- Grimsmo vising Kern Precision in Chicago
- Shipping computers
- 3d printed metal parts
- craftcloud3d.com
TOPICS:
- CMTS tradeshow
- "Tool Aquisition Syndrome"
- Tool life and Sandvik tooling reps
- Polishing small parts
- Saunders designed a door for his surface grinder
- Machine maintenance, Kern and Willemin
- Carbon fiber Saga
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo crashed the Speedio
- Saunders is surface grinding!
- My dream job
- Willemin U axis errors at SMW
- How do you manage all the tasks and projects?
TOPICS:
- Lots of problems
- Building custom computers for CAD/CAM
- Willemin is sorta broken
- Bambu 3d printers!
- Calibrating printed parts
- Machining carbon fiber in the Speedio
- SMW puckchuck to market
TOPICS:
- Resin 3D printing with Grimsmo's daughter
- how we first learned about CNC machining
- Willemin lathe parts
- Saunders' Okamoto surface grinder runs!
- Coolant foaming
- Process improvements
TOPICS:
- Autodesk Fusion Summit recap
- Spoiled with new equipment, reinvesting in the company
- Willemin updates
- Swiss lathes
- Grimsmo's 1968 Volvo Amazon wagon runs!
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo's heat treat improvements
- SMW puck chuck anodizing
- Scrap metal
- Okamoto surface grinder and UMC350 delivered!
- Bambu 3d Printers
TOPICS
- Saunders lost power
- Grimsmo to sell his old Eumach machines
- How to re-work parts or call them scrap
- videos of shotgun barrel manufacturing
- heat treating puck chucks
- Setup sheet tool tracker
- Question to the audience
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo grinding blades on the Speedio!
- Growing your company
- metal 3d printing, costs?
- Downcut endmills
- AI image creation and how it relates to machining
- Heat treating SMW Puck Chuck parts
- SMW bought the Okamoto grinder!
TOPICS:
- Fusion 360 across a team
- DSI Fusion Summit Aug. 22, 2023 in California
- SMW video on coolest unknown trick.
- Cutting through the heat affected zone
- Speedio sub micron option works!
- SMW bought a HAAS UMC350!
- Financing options
- Reverse Osmosis water
TOPICS:
- Coolant management, foaming, etc
- Milwaukee Hermle tour! - https://www.hermleusa.net/en/info_center_en/5axis-summit-usa (Hermle tour) and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7Dygi8uGvA (Machining the James Webb Space Telescope Mirrors)
- Speedio Sub Micron option for Grimsmo
- Surface grinding deep dive
TOPICS
- The balance of leadership
- SMW Puck Chuck pallet system!
- Erowa update with Grimsmo
- Selling older machines and fully utilizing what you have
TOPICS:
- Chicago museum of science and technology
- Grimsmo looking at the Sub Micron option for his speedio
- Saunders overhaul to fixture plate Process
- SMW puck chuck!
- Lasers!
- RO water systems and algae
TOPICS
- Grimsmo was on vacation
- Terminator movie
- Breaking drills on Swiss lathe
- Puck chucks and training classes at SMW
- Speedio grinding
- SMW internal newsletter
- Coolant temperature
TOPICS:
- New equipment for Saunders! Grinder, laser, 5-axis.
- tips for youtube channels
- Surface grinder notes from Adam Demuth
- Grimsmo grinding blades on the speedio
- PTO forms
TOPICS
- Family stuff
- Kern updates, running great!
- Saunders Puck Chuck, heat treat, tolerances
- Surface grinder
- Coolant management, foaming, water management
TOPICS
- Saunders went to Germany
- Grimsmo Kern spindle fix update!
- Chat GPT student
- PFG Live youtube channel
- Deutch science museum in Munich
- Buying new equipment and growing a company
- shop floods
- coolant foaming
TOPICS:
- We want to see everyone Win
- Shop rags
- Kern spindle is coming in 2 weeks
- Willemin updates!
- The future of manufacturing?
- ChatGPT
- heat treating parts
TOPICS:
- Kern update, it is running!
- Planned downtime
- Lost packages in shipping
- Lapping and flatness
- Saunders air conditioner fix
- Fixturing Ideas
- Haas purple grease
Link: https://saundersmachineworks.com/products/smw-zero-point-system
TOPICS
- Willemin machines are awesome!
- Yates precision IG link
- Kern needs a new spindle
- Saunders had to fix a Helicoil
TOPICS:
- The cost of team trips and lunches
- Grimsmo visits the Elliott Matsuura Joint Open House
- Youtube!
- Grimsmo's CMM
- Prototyping SMW zero point fixtures
TOPICS:
- Removing yourself from the company
- Okuma tool load monitoring
- SMW purge of old stuff
- Gridfinity!
- Process bins
- Haas lubrication system
TOPICS:
- The life of a business
- Unwillingness to let go of control
- Giving a tour to Toyota employees
- Storing production tools
- Selling unused tools
- Process bins!
- Chip build up on the Okuma
Topics:
- SMW Okuma is 1yr old!
- cash budgeting and spending money
- A2 bushings heat treat
- Formlabs resin printer
- Willemin making the Saga clip
- Fire hazards with oil machines
- Process bins!
Topics:
- MTDCNC visited Grimsmo
- Net 30 customers
- SMW Zero point system
- Willemin 2d wrap toolpaths
- 140 hours a week of Kern run time
- Fastems
- Tool life management
- Bambu 3d printer
TOPICS:
- Biscuits with the boss
- Willemin works! From both teams!
- Pipe organs
- hiring
- Kern crash at Grimsmo
- Bambu 3d printer
TOPICS:
- Interviewing and hiring people
- Lasers!
- Bambu 3D printer
- Shipping processes and job turnover
- Willemin and oil
TOPICS:
- Willemin progresses from both teams!
- Shipping mistakes led to innovation
- Lifestyle creep
- Bambu 3D printer
- dedicated tools in machines
Topics:
- Origin of John and John meeting in 2015
- Saunders gave a speech: "Ways to automate a shop without spending 6 figures"
- Youtube content!
- Willemin!
- swiss machines and dual channel machines
- DIY Spectrometer and lasers
- visit shops and bring questions
- can we implement automated workholding?
Topics:
- Willemin updates!
- Cutting wood in Grimsmo's router to clean endmills
- Lasers!!!
- Saunders had a huge win on the Horizontal
- Cast Iron lapping plates
- Visit to Borne and Co
Topics:
- Lapping plates
- wood blocks in the router
- Willemin!
- Okuma is running deep into the night
- expensive power bills
- Machining Cast iron
- Material inventory
- Sharing responsibilities
- breaking taps
- sacrificial wood block in the router
- Inspecting parts and improving processes
Topics:
- Machining cast iron is dumb
- Grimsmo making hand-lapping plates
- Saunders giving a keynote speech on Okuma 2023 Technology Showcase Link: https://www.okuma.com/events/okuma-2023-technology-showcase
- CNC training classes
- Bambu 3d printer
- Willemin
- Lasers!
- Packaging!
- Inventory of products
Topics:
- "the world is not perfect". Making parts to tolerance.
- cutting foam
- Insurance claims
- Lasers!
- making small parts with vacuum
- Lapping parts to ultimate flatness
- Willemin install at SMW
Topics:
- Team meetings
- hiring shipping staff and leading a Team
- feedback from listeners
- Detent ball dropper in Grimsmo's Kern works!
- Tool load monitoring on the Okuma
- laser engraving!
- Saunders has the LS3655 100w laser
- Saunders' Willemin machine arrives tomorrow!
Topics:
- Distractions and losing time
- tool life hacks on Haas machines
- Grimsmo's router works!
- Grimsmo's Willemin works too!
- Henry Holsters visited SMW
- Inventory and sub assemblies
- Detent ball dropper designs
- CAM help for Saunders
Topics:
- oil failure on Okuma horizontal
- Grimsmo's Kern got a new tool changer dampener
- vacuum pump for CNC Router
- all about returning products
- process bins!
- drilling an angled hole
- logging information, standardizing
Topics:
- Grimsmo's CNC Router
- Saunders got a Saga pen for Christmas
- Machining copper tips and tricks
- process bins
Topics:
- Saunders is getting a Willemin!
- Purchase process, options chosen, etc.
- Machine shop insurance
- Saunders python script for tool setup is working!
- ChatGPT and Dall-E
Topics:
- Surface grinding blades, milling fixture plates, flatness flatness flatness!
- ISO9001 certification
- Implementing procedures through the shop
- Dedicate tools for dedicated parts
- Inventory count
- Foam
Topics:
- New full-time employee at SMW
- Hiring and firing
- Grimsmo's lathe machinist taking a month vacation
- really tough week at SMW
- complicatons of robots
- sharing your vision
- Fusion 360 video
- Growing a team, getting them to solve problems
Topics:
- Saunders went to North Carolina, shop ran well without him!
- Autodesk event
- Grimsmo working on improving his Kern, toured a flavor factory
- Saunders toured an egg factory
- Tracking process flow through the shop
- Managing your tasks
- Crashing machines
Topics:
- I love lathes
- Planning workflow on automated CNC machines
- Saunders updating fixtures
- Grimsmo's router and custom foam
- custom oil bottles for nano oil
Topics:
- Grimsmo's CNC router is coming together
- Design review meetings
- Custom Fusion 360 tool management script!
- Willemin coolant or oil.
- IMTS tooling claim
- PNMU insert for 4140
Topics:
- year in review
- packaging, costs
- Continuous improvement, lean manufacturing
- Routers, Willemin, etc.
- GoPro and audio technology
- Selling used CNC machines
- "Greg" buying manufacturing companies
Topics:
- Saunders got 2 new Haas machines delivered for their training classes
- Grimsmo building their CNC router
- printing with TPU flexible filament
- Taco Bell and Okuma crashes
- recording quality audio
Topics:
- Grimsmo's Willemin machine
- dealing with tough conversations
- Creating a metrology lab
- Mill-Turn machines, Tsugami, Willemin, Mazak
- Long term thinking
- Reverse osmosis water systems for coolants
- building an enclosure for Grimsmo's CNC router
Topics:
- Designing a chip conveyor
- replacing a Blum probe
- costs to service machinery
- stop using e-mail for internal communication
- duplicate SKUs, Shopify
Topics
- Saunders running his horizontal mill 18 hours a day
- Making custom Porsche parts
- kids in the shop
- Grimsmo crunched the probe tip on his Speedio with custom programming
- Chip management on the Speedio
- probing, manual programming
Topics
- Grimsmo releasing a new case for their Saga printer
- 3d printing for production
- cardboard packaging
- Autodesk Fusion meetup in December https://www.dsi-mfg.com/fusion-summit-2022
- multiple computers for workflow
- tool breakage control
Topics:
- Machining is the coolest thing ever
- "failing as a business leader if we don't purge our junk"
- "what do I want in the next 6 months"
- how to hire and train new people quickly?
- Variance accounting
- SMW online training classes
Topics:
- "The only constant is change"
- Near fatal car accident for SMW employee and how it affects the company
- Saunders' wife filling in
- perpetual biggest failure?
- can do great things when able to focus, but...
- 4 new employees at SMW in the past 72 hrs
- Tornos update from Grimsmo
- Running machines unattended overnight
Topics
- Fired up after IMTS
- Authenticity in marketing
- Willemin booth at IMTS, all about lathes!
- Takeaways from the show
- shop update video
- Mini chip conveyor on the Speedio machine
- Check valve on coolant nozzles
- Opportunity cost of being an entrepreneur
John Saunders and John Grimsmo recorded this episode live at IMTS 2022 where they talk about new tools and great fans at this epic tradeshow!
Topics:
- Richlite
- purchasing high dollar items and utilizing cash to your benefit
- Joe Rogan and Zuck Podcast
- "I've won"
- philosophy of business
- Grimsmo is in love with his Speedio machine!
- Zero point workholding
- Miyano lathe
Topics:
- Vacation + Work Trip: Autodesk Event in Birmingham, England
- Saunders, A Pilot/CNC Book Author, Tormach 770 MX, and an Escalator
- KERN Spews and Sputters Coolant Everywhere at Grimsmo Knives
- KAESER Air Compressor Coats Entire Shop in Fine Oil Mist
- New Tool Syndrome: Forklift Edition
- Abom79's SMW Shop Tour Video
- Speedio Training for GK Team
- BLUM Laser Tool Setter Installation Blues
- The Johns Gush Over CNC Machine Design Aesthetics
- Sticker Bombed: Erowa Pallet System from IMTS 2018
- Low Coolant Sensor
- CNC Lathe Talk
CHECK IT OUT!
TOPCIS:
- Grimsmo is having massive power problems that caused some awkward solutions.
- The boys talk about the value of business insurance.
- Willemin and Speedio updates!
- Saunders goes into a deep dive with their LEX erp software.
- 3D printing with magnets!
Topics:
- Incremental Business Growth Experiences
- Real Estate - Build or Buy Existing? Area 419 Tour
- Baby Brother Speedio Arrives Friday at GK!
- The Marvel of Rigging CNC Machines
- Shipping Insurance - Is it worth it?
- Legal Counsel - Sometimes a Letter Will Do!
- Chips on Willemin, Inserts, Adding Sharpie, and BANG ON Tolerances
- Precision Microcast 15 with Christian Wenzel Innolite
TOPICS:
- John & John crashed the Willemin, Okuma & Kern, yikes...
- Grimsmo getting the Willemin to measure probe length.
- How to calibrate your spindle probe length.
- Saunders is finishing us a big fixture plate order.
Topics:
- SMW Relaunches CNC Training Courses in a New Center!
- Grimsmo Tweaks Grinding Process on KERN
- Should You Max Out Spindles That Run Less Than 20K RPM?
- Brother Speedio + Auto Door Coming to GK Soon!
- International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS)
- Okuma Mist Collector Activation Issue
- Reorganizing Endmills
- GERP Update, Inventory, Operations, Tooling, Purchase Orders
TOPCIS:
- We finally get closure on Judd
- Mama Grimsmo is visitng for the first time since 2019!
- Grimsmo starts getting great results after a much needed training sesisons from the CMM.
- Saunders dives into endmills and surface finishes.
- Metrology!!!
- Grimsmo has been on a rabbit hole to try to make their saga mechanisims better.
- Saunders chats about probing issues.
Topics:
- Saunders opens up about his 11- year CNC companion
- Grimsmo takes on more duties while Angelo attends CMM Training
- Eumachs Sold! Avid CNC Router to cut foam for GK
- SMW Training begins July 19th
- Renishaw Probe Repair & Settings
- Willemin/WileMILL Probe Issues & 3D Printed Key Bracket
- HDPE Plastic Warp: Will annealing solve the lakes/hills?
- Rust Prevention: Looking for Input!
TOPICS:
- John Grimsmo came in to learn the new Zeiss CMM until 4am.
- Saunders is experiencing variations on some parts.
- Learning more about epoxy tombstones
- The oldest Renishaw probe cracked the glass.
- Grimsmo provides an update on the Speedio & Tornos oil issues.
- Saunders has his training class start in only 3 weeks!
Topics:
- Task Lists and Being Overwhelmed
- Hiring Employees, Time Management, Efficiencies
- Priority List: Dump & Triage Tasks
- Okuma Fixture Offset Calibration
- Horizontals with Intrinsic 4th Axis: No rotation around center line!?
- Tool Orientation in Fusion 360 doesn't seem to work for Saunders
- Ultrasonic Cleaning Systems
- Internal Conflict Between Nerd & Entrepreneur: A 15 Year Debate
- Robots. Saunders gets random call from a guy at Tormach. Use for demagging material?
- Horizontal Fixture Overhaul
TOPCIS:
- John & John chat about what it is like to be a self taught machinist.
- Saunders made a little bit of a mistake on the horizontal.
- The boys chat about having no manager only roles inside their company.
- Grimsmo got the Zeiss CMM installed to help measure EVERYTHING!
- The benefits of using glass materials for accuracy.
- Chip thinning and rubbing on endmills.
Topics:
Tool Life & Part Finish Issues
Grimsmo & Saunders brainstorm solutions for less than ideal tool life and part finishes.
- Speeds & Feeds
- Brand Loyalty & Tools That Don't Cut It (pun intended)
- Tool Coating
- 2D Contour Wall Finish
- NYC CNC Chip Thinning Calculator
- Coolant VS. Dry Cutting with Through-Spindle Air blast
- Reaching Occluded Precision Features
CNC Machines
- Kern makes a move on skates
- Minor Tweaks to the Erowa Pallet System
- Brother Speedio headed to Grimsmo Knives
- ZEISS CMM, where are you? Also, who is going to learn Calypso!?
- Converting the Willemin from Metric to Imperial
Lives of Entrepreneurs - The Second Half of Your Life
- Hobbies
- Accepting Changes Gracefully
- The Importance of Developing Meaningful Friendships
NYC CNC Training Classes are BACK!
TOPCIS:
- Saunders is machining parts for Johnny 5
- What is a tool room?
- Coolant & air conditioners.
- Grimsmo has a daunting task to move the Kern over to make room for the speedio.
- Saunders did an oil change on the horizontal and jammed up the chip conveyor.
- Knife grinder discussion.
- Expoy tombstone is in!
TOPICS:
- Preparing for Economic Recession Video
- Better Business Decisions: Evolving from a Short Term to Long Term Mindset
- Saunders gets personal about life, ambitions, and expectations
- Make Sure YOUR Goals are Finite
- Softening of Tech Market/Industry, Cash Flow, & Borrowing Money
- KERN Damper Life & Replacement
- FREE WAY TO INCREASE MACHINE TOOL LIFE!
- Okuma Tool Break Detection & Break Control
- KERN Workflow for Bang On Bore Sizes
- Wear Comp, Speroni Tool Presetter for Measuring Tool Diameter
- DIY Tombstone Pour
- Keith Rucker's Video on Concrete Mold for Casting
- Grimsmo's Belt Grinder Advice
- SAGA Pen and Pocket Book
- Precision Microcast with Adam Demuth & Nicholas Hacko
- Turning on the Willemin
TOPICS:
- Saunders talks about his origin story.
- The boys chat about the importance of education, wether school or investing in yourself.
- Grimsmo is dialing in the issues they are having with the swiss lathe pump.
- Saunders gives updates on the ever changing LEX ERP system.
- The boys talk about the movie "The Founder" about the origin story of Mc Donalds.
- Saunders has 2 new hires starting next week!
- Grimsmo crashes the tool changer on the Willemin.
TOPCIS: * Saunders is visiting Wichita State University for Project MFG. * Grimsmo has a ton of updates, open house, tornos problems & willemin progress. * Saunders dives into the horizontal process control. * Mobile machine shops?!? * Teaching the teachers. * Grimsmo is starting to use their ERP system to track procedures throughout the company. * Saunders learns the hard way not to rush a project before a trip. * Grimsmo updates on the CMM and Speedio machines.
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo finally have their Willemin machine fully functional and ready for parts.
- CAM Programming tips and tricks.
- Material shortages and price hikes.
- Preparing for a slowdown.
- Grimsmo has swiss coolant pump issues.
- Making tombstones for horizontal machines.
- Saunders will be judging on Project MFG in Kansas next week!
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo's Willemin Works!
- Saga Pen Clips & Workholding Brainstorm Session
- Brother Speedio & Zeiss CMM: Lead Times Could Cause Time Crunch
- SWISS CHEESE? A New Pump Could Solve the Tornos Oil/Coolant Issue
- IMTS 2022 & Autodesk University
- Saunders talks additional building, Okuma Horizontal Production Workflow, & Re-Starting Training Classes!
- Digital Depth Micrometers
- Saunders and Alex embark on a DIY Tombstone Design for the Horizontal
- Grimsmo Wiki: The Place Where Odd Fanuc Stuff Lives
- 86 GERP, We'll Take Google App Sheets, PLEASE!
TOPCIS: * Lending companies for buying machines & early payment policies. * Sauders root story, attitude towards prepayment. * Saunders shop tour with Adam Demult * Horizontal machining challeneges. * Air compressor maintenance time with Grimsmo. * Willemin updates.
TOPICS:
- Process Capability Index (CPK) - Six Sigma?
- Batch Production in the Auto Industry
- 3D Printed Haas Parts Catcher & Grimsmo Knives Fixture Loader
- Heat Treat Sandwich & Stacking Blades
- Vendor Relationships: MAKE SURE YOU HAVE DETAILED PRINTS
- Okuma Post Modifications: Almost a Catastrophe
- GAME CHANGER: The "Compare To" Feature in Visual Studio Code
- Shop Computers & Remote Desktop
- Lights Out Production & Air Compressor Ball Valve Solution
TOPCIS:
- Saunders is probing on the horizontal.
- Grimsmo is finalizing their Brother Speedio purchase.
- Installing tools on the horizontal.
- Saunders' had a bad day.
- Grimsmo Tornos oil updates.
- Willemin updates & CMM purchases.
TOPICS:
- Okuma Horizontal: After Hours Machining Dream
- Why We Bought a Horizontal Video
- Fusion 360: Changing Tools at Master Library Level?
- Renishaw Probing, Okuma Probing, and Macro Variables
- Fixturing, Solving Tolerance Issues, Post Modifications
- Multiple Tolerance Ranges
- Metrology Tools
- Update on Grimsmo's Swiss Coolant/Clarified Butter
TOPICS: * Grimsmo is expanding! * Never Split The Difference - Buy Now * Dedicating employees are doing so much more! * Saunders had a dumpster fire of a morning. * Grimsmo probing issues on the Kern. * Saunders is thinking about getting a Brother Speedio before Grimsmo pulls the trigger on theirs. * Small business healthcare in the USA. * CMM fixture plates for Grimsmo's new Zeiss CMM.
Topics:
- Okuma MB-4000H Arrives at SMW
- 3 Tombstones Loaded
- Training on Collision Avoidance to Begin
- Delayed Chip Conveyor Appears
- Important PSA about Buying CNC Machines & Paying Invoices
- Zeiss DuraMax CMM for Grimsmo Knives
- Active VS Passive Scanning: Zeiss Tour
- Part Deviation
- Fixturing/ Work Holding
- Bourn & Koch Tour
- Occam's Razor & Eliminating Setups
- Air Quality Meters
- Temtop M2000
- *Tsunami 21999-0440-R*
- Leadership & Management
- At least we're not THAT person!
COMING SOON
-
- Manager Meetings at SMW
- Creations Unlimited Tour with Dennis Rathi
TOPCIS: * John & John share their recent persectives on life & sharing information online. * Custom quotes in Shopify. * Choosing manager, book on "setting the table". * Grimsmo is going to play in a CMM room for a day. * Saunders provides a horizontal update. * Grimsmo is still dealing with swiss althe oil problems.
Topics:
- Grimsmo's Swiss could have an air leak OR a bad batch of coolant
- Okuma MB-4000H is here but the coolant tank is delayed!
- Willemin, Kern, and Speedio Updates
- Saunders shares his tour experience at Creations Unlimited - Video Coming Soon!
- Decision Making & Organizational Chart Changes
- Emphasis on Communication, ERP Data Tracking
GOOD READS
Setting the Table: The Transforming Power of Hospitality in Business by Daniel Meyer
Small Giants: Companies that Choose to be Great Instead of Big by Bo Burlingham
High Output Management by Andrew Grover
TOPICS:
John Grimsmo breaks down the barrier with a brief history of starting Grimsmo Knives. Its not always easy, but it is the most rewarding thing that they have ever set out to achieve. Personal and professional growth is immense.
TOPICS:
- Saunders and his team anxiously await the Okuma MB-4000H
- Building Inventory + Moving Machines
- Programming Tombstones
- Post Modifications: Date & Timestamp & G11 Coordinate Plane Rotation
- Grimsmo's Eumachs are for sale!
- Haas chip filter system, Bringing Products to Market, and Small Victories
- The E-Myth Revisited: Technician VS. Entrepreneur
TOPCIS: * Sharing info on YouTube. * Buying machines and how to choose their options. * FOCUS UP! * DIY chip conveyor and paper band filter. * Coolant control. * Buying horizontal machines and Brother Speedio. * CNC controls on a new machine & providing power.
TOPICS:
- Don't ignore Windows 7 & Fusion 360 Incompatibility Warning! Windows 7 causes CAM kernel errors.
- Visual Studio Code: Hot Exit = Hot Mess. Disable hot exit to prevent VS code from reposting older versions of code!
- Greenshot for PC screenshots
- Optimal Printer Location and Rubber Stamps?
- Fiber Laser Engravers: RAYCUS, Mactron-Tech, + Cloudray
- Tool Matrix Options
- Finding Joy: Sometimes it looks like pushing cycle start
- Rigid Tapping Load Limit: Stopping too soon or not soon enough.
- UC Berkley Tour Video: Genius Spring Mechanism
- Measuring an Arbor Press with a Hydraulic Cylinder
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo removed a spindle on their Willemin.
- Saunders is bringing back CNC training classes. Click me for more.
- Grimsmo is building a new CNC router.
- Saunders has passed a fixture plate off to a different shop.
- Saunders has ordered his horizontal machine!
- Grimsmo scrapped a part on the Kern.
TOPICS:
- How to have a crappy day (vendor issues, forklift gets stuck)
- Grimsmo considers adding 2 Brother Speedio Machines
- Graphite EDM Vacuum Setup, Manual Indexers, UR Robots
- Purchasing Horizontal CNC Machines, Tool Matrix Considerations, & Tombstone Workholding
- Purchasing CNC Machines: Travel, Weight Capacity,
- Automation Washdown & Spin Drying Parts
- Want to take over the DeWalt product line at SMW?
- Culture Code & Clear Communication
- Deep Dive on the Fancy Chip Conveyor
TOPCIS:
- Horizontal Machining centers for 3 axis machines.
- Renishaw touch probes. Double vs single touch.
- Grimsmo thinking hard about buying a Datron Neo.
- Saunders is still dreaming about a Hermle RS1 pallet changing 5 axis machine.
- Porsche update from Saunders on his 944.
Topics:
- KERN calls in sick at Grimsmo Knives
- Pride in Work & Small Business Culture: Read Small Giants!
- Last Part for Willemin Arrives Today!
- Eumach Spindles
- 3D Printing: Voron & Prusa
- Haas DT-2
- Saunders' Porche
- Grimsmo Debates the Fate of the Mori
TOPCIS:
- A year in review from both Saunders & Grimsmo.
- Taking guilt free time off.
- Grimsmo got a Voron v0 3d printer.
- Performance reviews for employees.
- Putting pride into your work.
TOPICS:
- Small Business Growth & Efficiency
- Staffing Concerns
- Handling Potentially Fraudulent Orders
- Work Culture & Employee Impact
- Eumachs, Power Outages, and New Quenching Plates for Heat Treat
- Automating Processes
- IoT: Operating on "If this, then that"
- Don't Automate for the Sake of It
- Performance Reviews for Employees
TOPCIS:
- Winding down 2021.
- 3 Things that Grimsmo and Saunders that changed their businesses this year.
- Deep dive into ERP systems.
- Grimsmo ran their Kern for 136.5 hours last week!
- What makes us successful?
TOPICS:
- Bootstrapper VS Life Style Creeper: Which Gets a Seat at the Table?
- Production Hurdles at GK
- Machining
- Heat Treat
- Surface Grinding
- Processes
- Tabbing Strategies: AutoDesk...we need a 2D Contour Tab Finishing Strategy PLZ!
- Shift Toward Cycle Time Improvement
- SMW Pipe Dream?
- New Stabilization Product Sells Like Hot Cates at SMW
- Quality of Life Improvements
- Jib Crane
- Plate Inventory Storage Crates
- CDI Meters: WHY DIDN'T ANYONE MENTION THESE BEFORE!?
- Optical Comparator
- Can High Demand Be Dangerous?
- Willemin Repairs #worthit
TOPCIS:
- Small Giants: Great book about growing a company.
- Sourcing a new chain hoist.
- Cogsdill burnishing tool.
- Business Vs. Personal life.
- Measuring the pressure on the arbor press.
TOPICS:
-
DIY a Monochromatic Light Source & Optical Flats from Ukraine
-
Geeking Out: Zeiss- From Eye Doc to CNC Machine Shop
-
ERP System Development: Are We There Yet?
-
10 Rules for Entrepreneurial Success
-
Okuma Chip Conveyor - Wasting Pans!
-
Ultrasonic Cleaners
-
The NEW Prusa: Don't Over-Engineer Parts!
-
Thanksgiving in the USA
We really appreciate everyone who tunes in to listen, everyone who has helped us along the way, and everyone who is part of the CNC family!
TOPICS:
- Saunders got his Okuma chip conveyer this morning.
- Horizontal milling machines.
- Haas lathe origin went wonky.
- Grimsmo is diving into optical flats. Watch this!
- Rask blade surface finish issues.
- Willemin updates.
TOPICS:
- Fraud and small businesses: Don't be emotional; make a protocol!
-
Okuma Training & Pre-Staged Tooling Quirk in OSP: Post Processor Solution?
-
Starrett Optical Comparator & Mitutoyo Electronic Indicator
-
Visible Valley in Knife Spine: How to Pinpoint the Problem
-
Debate on Hiring Gives Saunders New Perspective
-
Higher Education: Is is a Must?
Read 10 pages per night!
The Hard Thing About Hard Things - Ben Horowitz
Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap and Others Don't
TOPICS:
- Student internships & explaining machining to a 16 year old.
- Willemin updates!
- Grimsmo purchased an optical comparator and it is incredible.
- Horizontal milling machines.
- Saunders' Okuma is getting isntalled.
- Daily to do lists is huge!
Preview attachment Saunders regional map_v2.pdf
Saunders regional map\_v2.pdf 6.7 MB
Topics:
- Grimsmo shares exciting updates about the powered up Willemin as Saunders eagerly awaits word on his own Willemin!
- Loading Code Onto Machines (Sneakernet, Ethernet, and Floppy Disks)
- Deep Dive into Automation Cells, Robot Arms, & Erowa Pallet System
- Haberle automation cell for Fanuc Robodrills:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v53DmWinRWk
-
- Haberle automation cell for Fanuc Robodrills:
- Okuma is arriving at SMW! Good thing they've got Northern Tool rigging skates
- Horizontal Milling Machines
- Podcast winner, "Stress is a choice."
- Starrett Optical Comparator strapped to the top of a Miada?
TOPICS:
- Saunders had a humbling experience shooting and editing a video to completion again! Watch here.
- New air compressors.
- Optical comparators.
- 8 Deadly wastes - D.O.W.N.T.I.M.E
- Saunders is getting his Okuma very soon!
- Grimsmo gets the Willemin powered up!
Topics:
- Okuma TMAC Tool Monitoring & Tracking
- POCKET SIZED INDUSTRIAL 5-AXIS MACHINE BY CHIRON
- Automation Systems (HERMLE RS-1)
- Heat Shrink Automation Cell
- Zeiss Microscope
- Robots VS Cobots (FANUC, KUKA, & UR)
- PODCAST CONTEST WINNER ANNOUCEMENT!
- KERN Micro HD - The Benefits of Hydrostatic
- Grimsmo searches for more 3-32 through-coolant drill bit
- Troubleshooting Bowed Parts
TOPICS:
- "Clouds & dirt"
- Saunders is improving Lex work orders.
- Email screenshots to businessofmachining@gmail.com
- Saunders is jumping into different roles.
- Grimsmo had the kern running for 39 hours!
- Saunders new Okuma is 2 weeks away.
- Shop updates, more space?
- Grimsmo has a potential collaboration in the work.
Topics:
-
240 is a special number! Grimsmo and Saunders share their experiences with the Volvo 240.
-
Shipping & Receiving at SMW Needs Work and LEx (ERP System) Has become a Nightmare
-
WIllemin: Something is Definitely Missing
-
Air Compressors and Paralysis by Analysis
-
Why Aren't We Making Money? Livestream
-
Shiny Happy Challenge Coins from Vince
-
3D Printed Chip Augers for the Haas
-
Tweaking Tool Life on the KERN
-
Fresh Desk: A way to centralize customer service and communication for small businesses
TOPCIS:
- Saunders chats about LEX and what ERP systems cannot handle.
- Grimsmo had a week off from the shop and was able to get tons of programming done.
- Willemin is almost up and running!
- Saunders received the Shapeoko HDM.
Share the podcast! Email proof to businessofmachining@gmail.com to win a sit down chat with Saunders & Grimsmo!
TOPICS:
- Power Surges at GK after a night of thunderstorms
- Haas Tap Recovery is GREAT!
- Scary Haas Software Bug on Haas
- Internet Speed: Don't Overlook Your Router's Limits!
- Live Stream about LEx ERP System
- Grimsmo's Vacation
- Grimsmo Explains 75 Hard
- Power to the Willemin
- The Excitement of Buying Used Machine Tools
TOPCIS:
- Saunders toured 3rd gen machine in Utah.
- John & Erik finished their latest book and are working closer than ever.
- Inventory management.
- Ted Lasso!
- Flood sensors and coolant filling.
- High feed endmills.
- DHL Issues.
TOPICS:
- Spindle Utilization - Both Johns calculate the weekly percentage of working hours for their machines and discuss factors that affected those outcomes.
- Don't let the ERP become the company POS!
- Internal Culture & Branding
- Mori Spindle Time Increase - Grimsmo is tracking spindle time so he can make in-process tweaks to get MORe out of the Mori
- Upcoming Business Videos That Everyone Needs
- Why isn't my business making money!?
- Economic Downturns & How to Protect Your Business
- Warranty Repairs for GK: Is there a good solution?
- WILLEMIN, KEARN, & ESA INSPECTION
- Shipping Errors - Saunders and Grimsmo share recent shipping mistakes and preventative measures to implement.
- Grimsmo Bros Book Club: Erik and John are reading Attraction by Gino Wickman to make big plans for the future of GK. Is this the Grimsmo Finer Things Club!?
TOPCIS:
- Mental health in running a business.
- Asking why 5 times.
- Saunders got a new machine! Okuma M660!
- All about surface grinding and finishing.
- Robot Pallet Loader?
- Process reliability.
- Think of something you are grateful for every night.
Topics:
- Accountabilibuddies & Truth
- Relentless by Tim Grover
- Hardmilling Speeds & Feeds
- CBN Endmills for Norseman
- Variable Feedrate & CNC Acceleration/Deceleration
- Adam the Machinist: Carbide for Hardmilling
- Zedaro Cutting Tools (WNT, Ceratizit, etc.)
- De Boer Tool in Toronto, Canada
- Weird Alarm on KERN
- Saunders considers custom drills
- LSC, Sandvik, Magical McMaster
- Process Reliability Disciples
- Cost Per Edge
- Dobson Pipe Organ Fire & Pipe Organ Tuning Tools
TOPICS:
- CBN Endmill testing.
- Humble vs confidence.
- Saunders building accounting data to LEX.
- Grimsmo is going to use oil on the willemin.
- Rushing emergency parts.
- Saunders solves lathe chatter.
- Saunders playing with a new shop layout.
TOPICS:
- Naming Products and Businesses
- Willemin Update: Oil or Coolant? While the machine can run both, after a 17- year run with oil, the experts advise Grimsmo not to change. Fire suppression is a must!
- CHANGE THAT WHEEL! Grimsmo creates an alert for the KERN.
- CNC ALARM: Tool Radius Too Large & Cutter Compensatio
- Fusion 360 View Toolpath, Show Points, and Smoothing
- Rodico Putty - Green > Blue?
- Machine Tool Weldments VS. Castings
- Resonance VS. Dampening by Spencer Webb
- Tornos: Cracked Guide Bushing
- Communication for Small Businesses
- Liquid Nitrogen Generator?
- Shipping & Freight (we assure you, there's nothing too large for a freight carrier to lose).
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo got their Willemin delivered.
- How to be eternally optimistic.
- Ted Lasso - Show
- The Last Dance - Show
- Atomic Habits - Book
- Relentless by Tim Grover - Link
- Winning by Tim Grover - Link
- Saunders got their ERP system all knowing.
- Saunders Marketing director is doing great!
Topics:
- Saunders Get Hosed by the DIY CNC Machine Washdown System
- Plastic VS Brass Quick Disconnects
- Grundfos MQ3-35 Pump
- The Worst Freightmare Ever: A Perfect Storm
- Customs Duties & Warranty Work
- Ted Lasso - A Dose of Optimism & Leadership
- Threading
- Fusion 360 Imperial VS. Metric for .STL file export & Improved Contour Selection
- Multi-Part Probing & Renishaw Macros
- Re-cutting Chips, High Feed Mill, Swiss Cheese Fixture
TOPICS:
- Saunders' grandfather has a great quote: "if something is wrong, and it can be fixed, fix it, and if you can't, don't worry about it".
- International shipping via DHL.
- Grimsmo bid on his first machinery auction!
- Saunders is still fine tuning coolant washdown system.
- Kern senses pallets loading.
- Airtags to track shipments?
Topics:
- Tour of Miltera
- CMM machines and Tolerances on Norseman Features
- Born & Koch - Grinding Wheels on a Mill
- Sweetwater Sound, Inc. - Business Plans and Visions
- Willemin Update
- Stainless Steel SFM & Endmill Chipping
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo tries to figure out a Kern alarm he has never seen before.
- SMW got their new DT2 milling machine and it is QUICK!
- Saunders is taking a Javascript course to edit post processors better.
TOPICS:
- Business Problem Solving & Developing Systems
- DIY Coolant Washdown System
- Shipping, Customer Service
- Air Compressor/Drain System IoT Failure
- Google Sheet To Do List
- Thingyverse RC F1 Car: 3D Printed Parts & Inspiration
- Pro-Active Machine Shop Maintenance
- Learning the KERN - Mid Routine Program Restart: Heidenhain Block Scan, Haas Setting 36
- Programming G-Code using Visual Studio Code Detecting Syntax Errors
- Grimsmo Knives Shop Tour Video
- Fluke Power Meter Determines Power Availability for Willemin
- Growth Vs. Scaling: Approaching with Caution
- Sister Tools & Multiple CNC Mills
- Lathe Tooling & Tool Life
- Seco Quick Change Toolholder on the Swiss
- Capto Toolholders for the Nakamura
- SMW Fixture Plate Packing & Shipping Process
Check out Spencer Webb's IG @spencer_webb_nh for Kinetic Precision PFG Stones
TOPICS:
- Being vulnerable & making decisions.
- Moving and reorganizing areas of both shops.
- CORE VALUES.
- Traction by Gino Wickman
- Saunders installed a coolant washdown system.
- Chip management & draining coolant.
- Renishaw probe batteries.
- Draining air compressors!
TOPICS:
- Chip Trapper VS. Freddy
- Machine Shops & Climate Control
- Regularly Scheduling Maintenance
- DIY Washdown system for the Haas?
- 3D Printing a Detent Dropper Mechanism Creality LD002H
- Information and Operations Overhaul at SMW
- Communicating Important Information for Team
TOPICS:
- Both John's are reading Traction by Gino Wickman. Has tons of great information.
- What are the most important numbers to monitor in your business?
- Do you watch cash on hand on a daily basis?
- Standardize info without the noise.
- Grimsmo is trying to machine acrylic, which is tougher than it looks.
Topics:
- Grimsmo shares an update about firing his father
- How the justice system relates to owning a business
- Saunders leans toward LEx tracking inventory and communicating with Shopify's API
- Astronaut Hangout: Outer Space, Infinitesimal Perspectives, & UFOs
- GK Seco Tool Update
- Swiss IRL - Setup, Material, Guide Bushings, Turning Centerless Ground Material
- Willemin - A Customs Nightmare
- Helpful Advice for Decision Making - More alternatives = Better decisions
- KERN - Tool Life & Pallet Management
TOPICS:
- This week Saunders & Grimsmo give a deep dive into all their employees and what they do.
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo quits (this is a good thing, we promise)!
- ERP Systems & Purchase Orders
- Raw Material Shortages
- Willemin (Mill-ish) coming to Grimsmo Knives from Ohio
- Haas VF-3 & Haas DT-2 for production at SMW!
- KERN & lights out production
- Diagnosing Tool Life Killers & Solutions (Chip Evacuation, Fusion 360 Adaptive with Ramp Taper Angle, tool coatings, through spindle coolant, flute count, magnetism, and more!)
- Higby Threads, CNC Lathe Love, Master Ring Gauges
- Dimension Drawings for QC at SMW
- Fusion 360 FINALLY allows threading with a grooving tool!
TOPICS:
- How do business leaders spend their time inside their company?
- Saunders wants to hire a machinist or an operations manager.
- Saunders did an awesome tour with Area 419.
- DT1 Favorite machines.
- "Leadership is being present."
- Lathe facing passes and how to get the best finish.
- Saunders QC bin for diamond parts is getting better and better.
TOPICS:
- Area 419 Tour will be premiered on YouTube Monday April 19th, 2021 at 1:30 PM EDT!
- Cashflow, Loans, and Post Covid Economic Impacts
- Grimsmo's purchased a used Willemin
- Neodymium Magnets
- Swiss Miss - Saunders Decides Against Swiss for Reversible Inserts
- CNC Lathe Probing & Tooling Options
- Business Mindset - The Shift from Preparer to Reviewer
TOPICS:
- Saunders is settling in and working very hard on some updates to the shop this past year.
- Grimsmo dives into new coolant dispenser.
- Being a parent and teaching your kids cool stuff!
- Oil vs coolant.
- Grimsmo talks about ordering two new lathes!
- Cycle time speed increases across different machines.
TOPICS:
- SMW and Grimsmo in limbo between the lone bootstrapper and leader of a team
- Plurality of Swisses. Saunders and Grimsmo discuss production volume, process reliability, and other decision making factors for buying new CNC lathes
- I'm Nak sure if I need a Willemin or Nak. Grimsmo and Saunders debate about whether or not the Nak should be let go in favor of a Willemin Mill Turn
- Sourcing centerless ground 17-4 Stainless
- Bar feeders & Automation
- Area 419 Tour of the new shop gets Saunders dreaming big. The tour is set to premiere on YouTube on Monday, April 19th!
- GK products like the SAGA, Norseman, and Rask increase in demand
- Superordinate Shop Goals - Giving the team a unified vision
- Renishaw Probe Replacements = Worth It!
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo crashed a Renishaw spindle probe on the Mori.
- Saunders hired an intern just to focus on Johnny Five!
- Orbit mechanical water timer for filling coolant.
- Should we both get another swiss lathe?
- Saunders is reorganizing the whole shop.
- Doing a night run of pallets is a game changer.
TOPICS:
- Just Start! Saunders and Grimsmo discuss the importance of context and relativity when it comes to business advice.
- SNAP OUT OF IT! You may not realize you're in a comfort zone!
- Work Smarter AND Harder? The age old debate.
- Intelligence Vs. Diligence & Practice Vs. Skill
- Lights out production on the KERN
- Saunders hires out the cleaning and bookkeeping!
- Odoo ERP at Seneca Woodworking & Using Data
- SMW got flooded! Delay on/off switches: https://amzn.to/3eU8ZB2
- Martin upgrades the Shapeoko into a detent track burnishing machine
- How and when to hire more people
- Grimsmo talks about the possibility of selling the Nak for a bigger Tornos!
- Oil Vs. Coolant
- Ultrasonic Cleaning
TOPICS:
- Saunders' makes something awesome that went to the bottom of the ocean!
- Machining titanium
- Fusion 360 Tool Library issues and fixes
- Catching up on backorders.
- Shipping delays and organizing.
- Playing catch-up.
- Grimsmo gives a deep dive into swiss lathes and purchasing info for Saunders
TOPICS
- Learning - The importance of Curiosity and the Dunning-Kruger Effect (overestimating your competence)
- 3D Printers for Dual Extrusion
- Pivotal Machinist Moments - Area 419 Tour, Never Stop Quitting Your Job, and the Downside of Bootstrap Mentality.
- It Figures. After releasing the "How to Get Paid On Time" video, Saunders gets stiffed.
- Don't Take It Personal! Implementing systems and strategies for handling problematic situations is a MUST.
- Whip It Good! Haas Lathe Spindle Liner Whipped Itself into Shape?
- Lights Out, KERN ON. Grimsmo and his team arrive at the shop to find the KERN still running after successfully completing 10 pallets.
TOPICS:
- Saunders talks about his experience with quitting his day job and when you should to.
- Do you spot holes in machining?
- Saunders goes into a huge rabbit hole of 3d printing.
- Lathes, Lathes and more Lathes!
- Hot glue in the shop? What are the uses?
- Saunders does a shop tour at Area419
TOPICS
- Does a College Education Matter? Grimsmo and Saunders share their different paths and initial interests BEFORE they got into CNC machining.
- Someone is looking for a new machinist---could it be you?
- Optical Flat & Monochromatic Light for Part Flatness @laneymachinetech
- Grimsmo and Saunders offer each other workable solutions for tool break detection and other quirky issues.
- Renishaw probing macros and lathe part off techniques
TOPICS:
- Reaming holes.
- Endmill coatings and storage.
- Grob factory tour.
- Tool like time and replacement methods.
- Johnny Five returns.
Links:
https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/09782467
TOPICS:
- Trusting Instincts
- Social proof for marketing and branding
- Creative Fixturing and Workholding
-
Grimsmo and Saunders Approved Tools!
- Grimsmo's Favorite Gripper Pad
- The "I can't believe it exists already" wrench
- Good reasons to outsource things beyond the scope of your business
- Xometry Pay - Solving Collection of past due accounts for businesses?
- Prusas, 3D printed 1/4" Royal Collet for sub spindle & Gauge Housings
UP NEXT:
FEBRUARY 2021 GOALS FOR GK
TOPICS:
- Ordering Lathe Material - Purchasing/procurement
- Finances in Business
- What makes you happy?
- Growing a business in 3 stages
- Lathe talk
- Past due accounts receivables?
- Creating your own cnc machine?
- Saunders on feeling overwhelmed and a defining moment at Pierson Workholding.
- Can daily tasks actually KILL your business?
- "You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems." - James Clear
- Marketing
- Business accounting
- Tool life for lathe parting inserts
TOPICS:
- Saunders is starting 2021 off great with their ERP system and staying busy with orders.
-
Saunders also tells us about his broken tool on the lathe.
-
Grimsmo has been getting their Okamoto surface grinder up and running and it has been awesome!
- The big news out of Grimsmo is that the Rask is back! They have been hard at work for almost 4 years to bring back the Rask.
TOPICS:
- Grimsmo starts us off with a smooth lead in
- SMW Product Demand Increases & The Struggle to Reduce Lead Time
- Super Helpful Tools & Gadgets (Scales & Pallet Jacks)
- https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200680712_200680712
- Precision
- Abbe's Principle
- The Perfectionists: How Precision Engineers Created the Modern World
- A Crazy Metrology Question on the NYCCNC Forum
- Toolpath & Product Improvements
- Reliable Processes VS. Cycle Time
- Using templates for easier programming
- Conventional VS. Climb Milling
2020 has been a wild year, and we are sure you are tired of hearing about it by now. But here at the Business of Machining we decide to reflect on the positives. Thank you to everyone for being with us throughout this year!
Grimsmo has found a solution to lift very heavy objects within their shop without the need of a forklift. It takes them back to the old Volvo days in the garage. Saunders is playing with a Vortex cold air gun and is having a literal blast.
TOPICS:
- Podcast Feedback & Developing a Consistent Opening Statment
- Strategy: Learning Your Customer Base & SEO
- Email from Brewery | ERP VS Wiki
- Covid Hits Close to Home at SMW
- Staffing A Growing Business & The Concert Mindset
- Recycling Chips: The Need for a Compactor
Grimsmo makes a big move and purchased a Okamoto surface grinder! Saunders' offers his input and general advice on purchasing new machinery. The boys talk about the potential of using "Slack" in their respective companies. This could help bridge the gap between consumer and company and it is worth looking at.
Saunders has started to step away from his ERP system "LEX" to let his team run it. While Grimsmo works very very hard to get shipping Rasks before the end of the year, how exciting!
Business of Machining has now reached it's 200th episode! That's 3.84 years of "private" conversations about manufacturing and growing small businesses.
A sincere thank you to the listeners out there--or as we've lovingly dubbed them, "parking lot circlers." In the past 4 years, this podcast has been downloaded over 1 million times!
TOPICS:
-
The importance of authenticity
-
Detailed trips down memory lane for both Grimsmo Knives and Saunders Machine Works.
-
Mental Health & Tony Hseih
Saunders & Grimsmo are ending of the year with expansion! Both shops are on similar growth paths in their respective shops. Grimsmo has hired on Pierre to help boost production, while Saunders has hired 3 people around his shop.
Grimsmo's surface grinder should be here in a couple of weeks! Which means they have to make some room for it and figure out how to bring it into the work flow.
Top 10 List for entrepreneurs
Saunders' describes how "Lex" is formatted. Going in depth about the benefits of an ERP system when it just works. Grimsmo and Saunders talk in depth about pride. Pride often gets confused with arrogance, but letting the pride replace arrogance is a step we all need to think about.
TOPICS:
- Auctions, Warranties, and Riggers
- Is Saving Money the Ultimate Purchase Factor?
- Developing Decision Making Framework
- Formalizing the Interview Process
- Tom Lipton's Test Jig
- Pierre - New to GK Team
- SMW Phase 5 of Shop Overhaul
- Machine Modifications for Chip Evacuation & Larger Coolant Tanks
- Water & Coolant Delivery System Update
- Vendors and Relationships
- DLC Coating
- Sandvik QS Holder
The boys have been crazy busy this week. Saunders' and his team have developed a little bit of a safe word around the shop. PINEAPPLE! This signifies that the person is safe. For example, if you hear a loud bang or somebody drops something and hear the safe word. Than you know that person is ok! Its actually a very good idea especially when you have a lot of ground to cover or a lot of employees. Saunders' also visited the Grob machine manufacturing facility in Ohio! He said that he had an awesome time and learned a lot while he was there.
"Confidence is a superpower" - Robin Renzetti
The boys also touch on quality control methods. This is especially important in both Grimsmo & Saunders' shops because of the attention to detail needed for both products. Grimsmo is also buying an Okamoto surface grinder! This is a machine that was thought about for a long while and they are finally pulling the trigger.
Today the Johns are reppin' each other by sporting SMW and GK tees.
Grimsmo Knives Tee
SMW Tee
TOPICS:
- Orange Vise Tour
- Grimsmo's Next Machines
- Process for Pressing Bearings into Bearing Cages
- Surface Grinding Machines - CNC or Manual?
- Air Compressors & Sound Proofing
- Tasks - Batching VS. Whack-A-Mole
- Organizational Chart - G Suite Alias Emails
- SMW is Hiring! SMW Careers
Have you ever had such a premium custom table experience that ruined every other table in the world for you? Well Saunders has! He is loving the MakerPipe table systems to make some custom solutions for his shop. You can find Makerpipe here.
Both Grimsmo and Saunders are falling more in love with the idea of full ERP integration in their respective shops. Grimsmo especially are looking to get very creative with "GERP".
Saunders needs a new air compressor while John reminisces about the old shops compressor that would constantly be yelling in the background.
Both shops are looking at expanding the team! Saunders is considering hiring a marketing strategist while Grimsmo had two working interviews with some great potential team members! Things are looking great but we are going to need a bigger boat!
Grimsmo has a new book he has been reading called "E-Myth Mastery: The Seven Essential Disciplines for Building a World-Class Company".
The book is a must read for any business owner big or small to teach some essential habits and disciplines.
RASK KNIVES ON HOMESTRETCH, LIGHTS OUT MANUFACTURING, LATHE CRASHES, DATA & TOOL LIFE MANAGEMENT, MACRO VARIABLES, Q PARAMETERS, FUSION 360 BUG, PROVENCUT PART SERIES, and MORE!
Machining Verbiage
The new rule is that when running machines, you add "ING" to the end of the machine brand name to create a new CNC-centric gerund.
Acceptable examples are:
KEARN--ING
TORNOS--ING
HAAS--ING
TORMACH--ING
A BUMP IN THE NIGHT...
Just when you think it's dialed, you hit the lights and leave the shop only to be welcomed in the morning by 200-300 scrapped parts.
Grimsmo shares this one minor detail that derailed the entire lights-out process. Saunders points out that evaluating problems further up stream is worth doing!
FRIDAY - DATE NIGHT WITH A LATHE CRASH
The ST-20Y is set to run the one and done, dialed process for SMW diamond pins but the lathe insert broke on the 2nd pin. And that's not all. Not only was the insert blown, the parting blade took a huge crap! Luckily, Saunders had back up blades on hand, right? WRONG!
With similar experiences being shared between them, they embark on an in-depth conversation about tool life management, tool counting, macro variables, and Q parameters. The question remains: how do you incorporate these into your shop operations successfully?
Forget textbooks---except the one Grimsmo is a true FAN...uc (I mean, fan of)
Fanuc CNC Custom Macros: Programming Resources for Fanuc Custom Macro B Users
Machines Personified
Remember the poetic interpretation of Mars Rover's final message to NASA? While the rover never explicitly said, "My battery is low and it's getting dark," that partially humanistic phrase still managed to evoke a tinge of sadness for many. Why? We have a long history of personifying everything under, and including, the sun. In a strange way, machines have their own temperaments, quirks, likes, and dislikes--and that might be why it feels kind of sad leaving them alone in the dark.
Fusion 360 - Team Hubs & Documented Bug
The guys discuss migrating to Team Hubs and the importance of a local back-up copy of data. By the skin of his teeth, Grimsmo saves his butt by using Instagram to approximate the date of the correct version of a specific file. During a livestream, Saunders stumbles across a bug that is driving EVERYONE insane! Finally, Grimsmo discusses how one tiny checked boxed beside, "Make Sharp Corners" has been life changing! Click here for the HSS Spline Shaft Tool Video that incorporates spring passes + make sharp corners for awesome results.
ProvenCut Part Series
Saunders announces a new addition to ProvenCut that makes it more than just a library! Now, you can find parts similar to what you want to machine, select the machine and type of material, use the mouse to hover over the part to see which types of operations were used, and more! The first part being added to the series is a T-nut and there will be many more to come!
RASK IN HAND & FINE TUNING
All parts have been made and now the only things left are final tweaks for the surface finish, fit, and solving the 5-10% lock-stick issue. Grinding is all systems go. The blades are now the best they've ever been!
Rebuilding The Shop - Custom Tables and Benches for Organization
For Saunders, rebuilding the shop has been in progress for several months now but it's still like a breath of fresh air! He's excited to meet up with someone from Maker Pipe who's offered to help with custom solutions to get SMW to the next level!
John & John go over the never ending struggle of the classic make vs buy scenario. This time they are talking about making a custom shipping table to help speed up Saunders' work flow. Grimsmo has a Canadian version called FlexPipe.
Saunders' has been doing some WORK when it comes to Automatic Brix reading of coolant systems. He has been using a digital refractometer that you can find two versions of them here.
ATAGO MASTER-20M
Atago PAL-1
John Grimsmo is still struggling with the Kern. It has been full of little victories and bigger issues. Luckily Angelo had a good idea that helped solve a grinding problem!
Solopreneurs, Robots & Payloads, ERP + Inventory Tracking, Brix, Automated Coolant Distribution, and MORE!
Business of Machining Podcast = The Manufacturing Entrepreneurcast
You CAN Be The Crazy Guy In Your Garage Forever!
The idea of expanding beyond oneself or even becoming self-employed isn't enticing to everyone---and that's okay! Grimsmo reflects on his evolution from solopreneur to entrepreneur and Saunders shares an experience with an electrician who likes his gig just the way it is.
Speaking of Solopreneurs, check out this shop update with
Adam Demuth, an incredible machinist who made the shift from a 9-5 to being self-employed. If you're not into stress but want to run a business, Adam's zen-rific perspective on entrepreneurship is perfect for you! Also, check out the Precision Microcast hosted by Adam and Joshua Hacko from Nicholas Hacko Watchmaker!
Lockwood Begs to Differ
Idealizing the infallibility of robots is nice and all but Rob's administering a heavy dose of truth!
"Why are we not better at this already!?"
Saunders is disappointed in our lack of progress when it comes to payload issues for FANUC robot arms. Not to worry, 5th Axis is working on it! Check out their videos here!
THIS SUCKS! (but it will be worth it)
During Phase 3/4 of Nuking the Shop, Saunders faces the fact that all material and supplies must be removed from the racking and the team will have to start from square one. While discussing one of their new favorite topics, tracking inventory, we learn that the Johns are taking different approaches when it comes to quantities!
BRIX, The Holy Crap Scenario, and "Screw This, I'm Goin' Home!"
The guys outline the specifics of their automated coolant delivery systems and air lines. They discuss solenoids, refractometers, ball valves with external motors, IoT (internet of things), Mixtrons, and MORE! They share progress, plans, and solutions to problems. Find out what Grimsmo means by "The Holy Crap Scenario" and the situation that made him throw in the towel, so-to-speak.
The Smoking Gun--I mean, Knife?
Grimsmo tackles the lowest hanging, highest yield fruit during his "days off in the shop"! A few episodes ago, Grimsmo knew the one thing he could do to increase production right away and he nailed it! Now, there's something nice--uh, Norse, that can run lights out on the Mori!
RUN FROM HERE - Running Code from A Certain Point
SMW is focusing heavily on developing reliable processes when it comes to posting code. While they used to run from the "Run From Here" feature, things have changed....
Grimsmo has made some glorious progress on the kern. They have finalized an auto grinding routine for Rask blades. While Saunders' and their team have been toying with the idea of buying a Horizontal machining center.
Saunders' also has some awesome upgrades he is adding to Proven Cut.
References:
Surebonder.com
RASK PROGRESS, THREADMILLING, WORKHOLDING FIXTURES, 5-AXIS ROTARY TOOLPATHS, DIAMOND BURNISHING, GRINDING, SURFACE FINISHES, PROBING, & TOOL BREAKAGE DETECTION.
KERN IT UP.
Grimsmo machines his own ER 16 collet for the KERN! Wait until you hear about how he made this monolithic-integral ER. All this talk about holding parts on center brings back a good ol' Memory with Marv. Saunders recounts an accuracy test for cylindricity on the KERN--Swarf VS. Polar Interpolation in Garmisch- Partenkirchen.
Threadmilling. Single Point or Proper Threadmills? Tool Standardization?
The guys dive into threadmilling and tooling up machines; including single point versus proper threadmills, tool deflection, and whether or not to buy or DIY Collets. Regardless, the process needs to be reliable AND no matter how magical the brand of machine, it's still subject to the laws of physics.
Click here for the Ultimate Guide to Threadmilling on NYCCNC (video and threadmilling calculator).
HEAR ME OUT: The Synergistic Effect of CNC Theory.
Saunders asks an interesting question, "Could the collets be made on the Nak?" At first it seems like an impossibility but with an open mind, new ways of thinking can lead to solutions you never could have imagined.
Cogsdill Diamond Burnishing Tool on the Tornos: YAY or NAY?
Grimsmo shares an update on the SAGA pen clips.
Inconceivable---really!
Saunders teases Grimsmo with the mind blowing video that's in the works. This Covid-friendly collaborative video about MetalQuest's INDEX MS40-8 will be about the harmony between machine capabilities and maximizing workflows. It's hard to imagine the back-work, which is all the more reason it MUST BE SHOWN! Get ready to reduce cycle time, increase output, balance cycle time between spindles, and more!
Covid and Manufacturing: BIG GIANTS FALL HARDER.
No one wants to speak too soon but there's been a sigh of relief that smaller manufacturing businesses haven't felt the same pain as the larger, often over-leveraged, companies. Seeing a "company consolidation" flyer in the mail for an aerospace company feels....weird.
BUYER'S REMORSE?
Does Grimsmo regret the large financial risk he took with the KERN given how 2020 has panned out thus far?
TOTALLY REDEEMED AFTER BEING REAMED.
A few episodes ago, Saunders called Grimsmo out for committing two cardinal sins of grinding. In order to make progress on the Rask, he decided to forego dressing and balancing the wheel before grinding the knife blade.
Maybe Grimsmo's method of madness was intentional all along or maybe it was pure luck that resulted in the perfect recipe. EITHER WAY, IT'S FANTASTIC!
Surface Finish Factors
You hear about tool deflection, speeds & feeds, material type, and machine kinematics but what about presenting an even chipload/tool pressure to the cutting tool? Devon Dupuis from Autodesk and Saunders are collaborating on an OUT OF THIS WORLD part that relies on getting that chef's kiss finish.
Random Ceratizit Clickbait
Sometimes the algorithm provides....
Check out this video showing a new facemill with a vacuum/suction feature.
ERP: Permanent Product and Material Location
A big part of implementing ERP is deciding where things will be stored. It might sound easy to have a permanent location for parts and material but Amazon outright rejects that logic. The key is to make sure the item can be located anywhere at anytime.
The Johns wrap up this 190th episode with probing, tool break detection, and what's on tap for the day!
The year 2020 has not been exactly how we have imagined it. But it is in full swing for both Saunders' and Grimsmo, especially in the ERP department. Saunders' is cooking with LEX and Grimsmo is full GERP ahead.
Both John's and their teams have worked hard to make it happen this year. It is a great teaching lesson for anyone to make the best of what you have. Focus on the things you actually have control over and take a step back.
Grimsmo on the other hand is not happy with their Qualichen 450 and will be switching back to 251 for the time being. Also grinding rask blades on the Kern has been amazing! Saunders also touches on adding Shapeoko fixture plates to his lineup.
NYCCNC has a great article on advice for buying a machine tool HERE:
This podcast is GOOD VENTING and BAD VENTING all things manufacturing and entrepreneurship.
Blade to the Grindstone
After taking Saunders's advice (perhaps a bit too literally) Grimsmo takes a Zedaro Miltera Endmill to a knife blade and ends up with an incredible surface finish but the grinding wheel was another story...
Throughout the talk of grit, mesh, and desired results, Grimsmo casually drops a bombshell---and Saunders calls him out immediately.
PSA CHAMFER OR CORNER ROUND YOUR DANG PARTS
A prospective hire for SMW finds it surprising to see how much deburring is done inside the machine! The guys highlight the benefits of chamfers and creative ways they've used different types of endmills to get that beloved edge break.
Plus, Saunders shares his process for the SMW Diamond Dowel Pins, which come off the lathe a fully finished product.
BUT, BUT....I WANTED IT TO BE COOL!
Grimsmo laments the fact that he's using something a lot more simple than a Swarf toolpath but he knows the more simple, less exciting one still gets the job done.
FRICKIN' FREIGHT
Without rhyme or reason, a national freight company adds limited access fees or lift gate fees that really aren't sustainable for SMW long term. Obviously, it's a problem that will need solving but how much action does it require? Saunders decided to take action based on an interesting strategy.
THE BIG GOOD VENT
Saunders shares his thoughts on things he's learned about hiring people and buying machines.
HACK IN FUSION
Selecting multiple chains of a sketch or contour can be a hassle, especially if you want to use that same geometry for multiple operations. VIDEO COMING SOON!
Grimsmo's been learning better workflows, component structures, how to organize and lay out sketches all while keeping in mind future Grimsmo Knives employees.
Fixturing & Tooling Standardization
Grimsmo gives an update on the Norseman and while they're still able to make 6 knives daily, he's thinking about redesigning the fixture. The 2 long dovetail clamps on at each end causes the fixture to bow. The Johns discuss possible solutions and luckily, this is what SMW is all about!
Standardizing tooling doesn't sound exciting but once you've implemented it, it's like seeing something you can't unsee!
MINDS THEY ARE A CHANGIN'--and that's a good thing!
RoboDrill replacement was going to be a Haas DT-2 but another consideration is MUCH more important to SMW than the fast rigid tapping.
Overcoming obstacles is the foundation of life. But also one of the most important parts of running any type of business is being able to see an obstacle as a challenge and not a failure. This week on the business of machining podcast the John's talk all about making progress and continuing on moving forward. This includes getting the old machines running again and constantly finding new and improved ways on how to run the business and also create things!
MANUFACTURING ENTREPRENEURS--THIS IS FOR YOU!
This podcast has 186 episodes about the experience of two entrepreneurs improving their skills in their trade and learning how to create successful businesses.
"The day I stop learning is the day I fall asleep and never wake up." - Grimsmo
DELUSION & HONESTY
Entrepreneurship is a constant battle between delusion and self honesty. Justifying decisions is easy. Playing Devil's advocate is not. Knowing when to ride the wave of delusion and when to snap out of it? Now, that takes real skill.
Looking For A Few Good Employees...
Both Saunders and Grimsmo are ready to bulk up their respective teams again!
Grimsmo Knives Careers
Saunders Machine Works Careers
Speaking of a few good employees, the latest addition to SMW is no longer a secret! @vince.fab is the new hobby machinist extrordinaire.
Click Image Below For Full Post!
Time to Buy more Pis. This is goin' down.
Grimsmo's got a case of GERP mode and Pi addiction. At least it's not a case of the Mondays...
Bar code scanning guns, charging stations, Raspberry Pi's, Linux, monitors, purchase orders, inventory, maintenance, making sure processes are anti-lazy, you name it, Grimsmo and Saunders discuss all things ERP and solutions to the new challenges they're facing.
IT'S OKAY TO TAKE OFF THE BOOTS.
Saunders shares a story about a chipped lathe insert, 23 bad parts, the bootstrapper mentality, and the struggle to challenge default thinking patterns.
CLIFF HANGER...
Grimsmo leaves us hanging with a story about the 1/8" drill. Now we're all dying to know....WHERE IS IT!?
Other Topics
- Tornos and Production
- Cogsdill Diamond Burnisher on the SAGA button
- SANDVIK QS Holder System
- Micro 100 on CNC Lathe
- New Machine To Replace RoboDrill
- Haas DT-2 VS. Haas DM-2
- Robots and Payload Problems
- Jay Pierson's Robot Video
- 5th Axis Automation Update
- RASK progress on the KERN
-
Grinding Wheels & Swarf
- Dan Pacific's Presentation on Using 3D Sketches to Drive Swarf Toolpaths
What age did you get into CNC machining? This week we talk about the value of learning machining at a young age and the impact it has on the future.
Grimsmo has gone full GERP, they have developed a wireless barcode scanner for their web base ERP system. Saunders talks all about reevaluating machine tool purchases and constantly improving.
Both shops are expanding. Grimsmo is hiring some machinists and Saunders is potentially looking at another worker for their shop as well!
The guys have been at this CNC machining thing for over a decade now and the amount of development in both shops in the past few months is surprising!
FACING
If you thought this was about face mills and decking parts, you're wrong. This is the first time the Johns have been able to video chat (reliably) during podcast recording in over a year all thanks to a sweet 220MB internet connection.
EUMACH ME SO HAPPY!
Grimsmo gets into detail about the Eumachs, while one is warming up its spindle, the other has a funky VFD issue and is about to have its spindle removed in order to reach the "tool unclamp" sensor. That being said, they're closer than ever to becoming a productive part of Grimsmo Knives!
Spoiled Rotten
When you go from the helm of a KERN to watching an old 2002 Eumach ramping up, things look...slow. Saunders is also spoiled by the lightning fast spindle and intuitive Next Control of the DATRON Neo.
Phase 3 - Implementing & Evaluating Processes
With the entire SMW team working on Phase 3 of rebuilding the shop, all eyes are focused on making processes easier, faster, and mistake proof. That, in turn, means it's time evaluate current machine tools and decide if they fit into the plan. Right now, the DATRON Neo is too much machine for what SMW needs and the FANUC RoboDrill (with its lack of probing and through-spindle coolant) just doesn't fit the shop right now, so it's time to let go and get the right machines!
3D Printed Poka-Yoke Hardware Counter Boxes
Based on Ryan Wenner's idea of counting trays, Saunders thought of a way to count mulitple pieces of hardware, minimize human error, and pour them into poly seal bags without spills. Lost Hardware 0; Saunders 1.
Check out Seneca Woodworking YouTube Channel Here!
Click Photo Below to View Post!
NEW TEAM MEMBERS
There's so much work to do and that means Grimsmo and Saunders need more hands on deck. Two interns; one from a local robotics team and the other from a machining program have massively increased the manpower since they began a few weeks ago. The third person, who shall remain a mystery for now will be zeroing in on the benchtop/hobby machines and pushing them to their limits! The goal is to add tons of new speeds and feeds data to ProvenCut!
KERN + Window Machining + Adding Additional Material To Serve As Workholding = YES.
Grimsmo was able to window machine the fixture for the Rask lockbar inserts and it's just--beautiful! The guys discuss fixturing, probing, updating tool wear offsets, custom tombstones, capto holders, livetooling, and more!
MariTool may not make HSK 40 holders BUT they do know exactly what to send with your order of toolholders. Something that goes really well with lathes....
BTW, MariTool, when all this Covid stuff gets better, would you be open for a visit? Asking for a friend!
CAPTO Tooling: Is Through-Spindle Coolant A Good Idea?
In theory, it sounds logical to buy Capto tools that have this functionality but there's a sticking point you may want to hear before taking the plunge!
Speaking Of Coolant, That Hose Is Lookin' Real Nice!
Angelo is overjoyed when "garden hose" sprayers are added to the machines. MORI? No garden hose? #UNSUBSCRIBE. Saunders and Grimsmo share their plans for a central coolant/water delivery system.
This weeks episode is about smart business decisions. Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the race of buying new equipment. But its always a good idea to take a step back and make sure it is the right decision. Make sure you are the best tool in your shop and that the machines you purchase will be a good fit.
Saunders gives some great info on zero point fixturing and how to mange fixture offsets. While Grimsmo is on the edge of getting their Eumach machines running.
THE LOONS ARE HOOTIN' AWAY!
Grimsmo paints a beautiful picture of his family vacation thus far. A couple of spy-thriller books, canoes, campfires, and marshmallows will take the place of machine hum for now. Just make sure to stay away from "Snake Island!"
BREAK ME OFF A PIECE OF THAT...FOOTBALL CREAM?
Does taking breaks decrease productivity? According to Forbes and many other studies, it has the opposite effect. Working for long stretches without breaks leads to exhaustion and burn out. If that's you, it's time to Kit Kat!
Parenting & Entrepreneurship
Kids grow up in the blink of an eye and if you don't want to miss it, don't! Balancing time between being an entrepreneur and a parent can be tricky. Is it more about quality time rather than quantity? Elon Musk, what do you have to say about this?
Admiration for childhood energy, imagination, and carefree attitude stems a tangential but relevant debate topic: Is it better to follow dreams and passions or find a line of work that produces income?
The Depths
Grimsmo declares an insightful statement about life and expectations. Are you the person who needs to be away from the computer and phone to recharge or are you the one who would rather not? However you relate, keep Grimsmo's point in mind.
LEX & GERP
3 weeks have passed. LEX (the newest name for the custom-built ERP system thanks to Jonathan George) was born. Saunders shares the progress SMW has made in this short period of time. Bar codes, inventory, emergency inventory, job scheduling, purchase orders, and receiving are all necessary components of a high functioning manufacturing business. GERP, which stands for Grimsmo ERP may have started as a joke but this acronym has staying power! GERP's come a long way in the last few weeks in terms of development with a heavy emphasis on inventory and job scheduling.
New Face and New 5th Axis Project
By the time you read or hear this 182th podcast episode, a new intern will have started at SMW!
Saunders details an upcoming project that coincides perfectly with phases 3 & 4 of rebuilding the shop.
Lockwood AU Class on NYCCNC
MetalQuest's INDEX MS40-8
If you haven't heard of MetalQuest, you can watch the tour here.
If you're into reducing your machining time by 7/8ths, rigidity, thermal stability, and impeccable surface finishes, this is for you! Scott Harms, President of MetalQuest, and Saunders are working on a remote video collaboration to show this incredible machine and its capabilities.
It is so easy to overlook the aspect of marketing your business. The fact of that matter is that if you can bring the consumer as close as you can to the business, than they have a special attachment. Look at what Saunders' & Grimsmo are both doing on YouTube as an example. They are breaking down that barrier and creating a consumer attachment like no other. That is valuable no matter what type of business you run. This episode is all about the strategies of marketing yourself and business.
IT'S JUST A PHASE.
While Saunders and his team are busy implementing external phases of re-structuring SMW, Grimsmo's recognizing internal phases of intense creativity that eventually give way to productivity. Grimsmo and Saunders discuss their respective phases in comparison to shops that are further along in development.
Visit These Pivotal Shops Via Video Tour:
S&H Tour
Grimsmo Knives Miltera Tour
SMW Miltera Tour
MetalQuest Tour
Do the hustle! (thoughtfully)
While the word "hustle" sounds like hell on wheels, Mike from Miltera has a different type. He puts ample consideration into resource allocation--and it's not just about material, tools, or machines.
Totally Unexpected Benefits of ERP
You might think ERP is a numbers and organization game but Saunders sees something much bigger and abstract happening to the SMW team.
Grimsmo's EUMACHS---D.O.A.?
The Heidenhain control tech has come! When he opened the panel, it was WAY more than Deja Vu. Grimsmo talks plans for the twins and a plan if the plan doesn't go to plan. Next, maintenance techs are scheduled to perform the 100-point inspection.
A Touchy Subject
Saunders highlights a major drawback for hobby-grade benchtop machines like the SmartCarb, Pocket NC, and Tormach xsTech. He proposes a great way to stop touching tools off constantly.
Rasking for a Friend
Rasks are progressing slowly but they're still progressing. After feeling some burnout from the self-imposed July 1 deadline, Grimsmo's ready to outsource fixture components!
SOURCING MATERIAL #REJECT
During the phase 1 purge, Saunders finds a special blank that reminds him about how he used to source material back in the New York suburb days. Grimsmo discloses a sourcing material story you won't believe. Having up front, explicit delivery, care, and spec instructions are of utmost importance. Accepting material that doesn't meet your standards is hurting your business!
How to Source Material
SMW Pallet Jack FAIL
While googling and watching videos to find solutions is wonderful and can work, other times, it's about physically trying it out.
GK's Getting SHIFTY in here.
One of Grimsmo's employees has move on--to another department. Find out who and why on this episode of Business of Machining!
This podcast has always shown both sides of the business of machining. This week is no different. Saunders' & Grimsmo are both building out sweet central coolant systems. Saunders' is building out A.L.E.X which is their in house ERP system. Saunder's may have had a little bump with his swiss lathe, very veeeerrrrry slowly but everything is all good!
TOPICS:
- Shop Operations
- Shop Organization
- Quality Control & AQL (Acceptable Quantity Limit)
- ALEX ERP
- Rask Progress
- Zero-Point Fixturing
- Machine Probing (Eumachs, Fanuc Robodrill, DATRON Neo)
Refining Shop Operations & Organization
No longer is the conversation about product and process respectively. The Johns are now at a point where both are inextricably linked. Saunders talks shop revamp, QC, SMW custom ERP (ALEX), and DOITS (Days Off In The Shop).
It's not enough to just make parts. Having refined and dialed in processes that are simple and effective are key to long-term success.
Also, SCREW GOALS. Go for bite-size, actionable steps instead! Saunders outlines 3 phases full of small actionable tasks that will benefit the business and products. Both of these hosts have discussed lots of ideas and theories, but something's changed. The podcast may be all talk but outside of this hour confine, there's less talk, more doing.
Boiling Point
Both hosts find themselves boiling for different reasons. One has to do with QC and another has to do with A/C. Saunders provides the best analogy for part quality during production runs: the frog in boiling water. With a shout out to Jake Yates from Yates Precision, Saunders is now combining AQL (Acceptable Quantity Limit) and an acrylic stroke of genius from Alex (the person, not the ERP system). In these sweltering temperatures, Monday can't come soon enough for the GK team!
Deadlines Come and Go
Grimsmo may not have made the July 1st deadline for having a completed Rask but the gains made weren't in vain. The deadline simulated an external driving force to keep him focused and driven. He delights in his newfound comfort with running the KERN. Not only are the pallet changers something that make him smile, he's also demanding that zero-point fixturing be used on EVERY machine.
Cut Bait?
Eumachs sat in storage for 6 months and have been in the shop for another 6 months. Grimsmo knows it's time to get service techs to inspect and repair. If push comes to shove, he may end up having to cut his losses and move forward but he remains hopeful that these will soon be dedicated foam cutting machines.
NOTHING COMPARES TO U...
This isn't about getting into someone's personal business....or is it? Eumachs lack of probing summons Saunders' experience with the Fanuc Robodrill, which has neither a spindle or tool probe (video coming soon). The workflow incorporates a Speroni Tool Presetter and Haimer, which works well but nothing---and I mean nothing compares to DATRON's VacuCard and camera-assisted probing. NOTHING.
The Future of Hand Coding
Saunders and Grimsmo ponder about the future of manufacturing. With the advents between CAM and high speed machining, it's difficult to envision a world where hand coding remains ubiquitous.
Grimsmo Holmes
GK is perusing and investigating processes to determine the lowest hanging, high yield fruit to increase production and he's sitting on a smoking gun solution that he can do immediately!
Being in a position of leadership is a tough thing to learn. John & John go in depth about not only leading people in the proper direction but to also be a good leader to yourself. Grimsmo has been holding a super tight timeline to get Rask's back online while Saunders talks "Nuking" the shop. The boys mention an article here about "The soul of a new machine" By Tracey Kidder.
QUICK MATHS
The Johns have been Business of Machining it for 4.38 years (3.38 years recorded to be exact).
ROI Envy
Sometimes you get a machine, crank out parts, and make money right away. Sometimes you have to invest time to develop reliable processes and workflows. Grimsmo reminds himself that the KERN is not a job shop machine.
THAT HAS TO BE A KERN FILTER!
Click Image Below for Full Post
The question is, "how do you cheat the KERN and push it beyond those limitations?" Although the machine is incredibly accurate, Grimsmo still has to chase tolerances. To him, that's proof it's not just about the brand of the machine, it's about tooling, the machining strategy, and various factors that come into play when making parts. Finding out those limitations is key to getting the most out of the machine tool.
BITE-SIZE KERN?
When Saunders asked Marv if the Datron could outpace a KERN, the answer was revealed in this hilarious Instagram post. However, to Saunders, in terms of footprint, rigidity, and usability, the DATRON is pretty much a bite-size KERN.
Full Grimsmo Evolution
Grimsmo shares his story about trying to make a perfect carbide detent press with a PCD endmill. Sometimes entrepreneurs must be willing to bail on an idea or process that isn't working despite sunk time or costs. Full Grimsmo is starting to expand its meaning to more than just being in love with an idea.
Leadership Strategy and Tactics
TOOLHOLDERS
The Johns discuss REGO-FIX, shink fit, and hydraulic tool holders. Saunders adds that moving away from the bootstrap mentality is tough but it is necessary in some cases. If you buy the beat-down, cheaper version of what you need, that may create a negative perception of the process or how the equipment should be cared for--and that could cost more than buying the new item!
TruePATH + CAMplete
Grimsmo shares a "pucker moment" on the KERN. Saunders expresses his burning desire to have machine tool parameters set in CAM to avoid having to manually change them. While talking about TruePATH and CAMplete, the one thing they caution is to make sure you don't get used to ignoring the warnings!
JOHN: Cycle Start!
ST-20Y: "I'm sorry, John. I'm afraid I can't do that."
Saunders has a HAL 9000 moment where the lathe REFUSES to make a part! Let's just say it has to do with a spindle thermometer and a specific IF, THEN loop.
Scrapping Parts for Warm Ups - No Big Deal, Right?
As an entrepreneur, your attitude can push the business to unimaginable heights or it can blow up in your face. A seemingly innocuous approach to warming up a machine tool could end up translating to a major case of apathy and huge costs in wasted material for Grimsmo.
TORNOS - BARS. BEATS. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA.
What do you do when the machine's been making great parts all day long? You stay at the shop until 4am and feed it! Fraser confirms that the Tornos didn't stop running from Friday morning until Saturday afternoon.
URBAN LEGEND
Saunders shares an urban legend about a machine at IBM 30-40 years ago that, once commissioned, NEVER turned off the spindle for the entire duration of the machine tool's life. IF ANYONE HAS HEARD OF THIS, E-Mail businessofmachining@gmail.com
"Making parts and growing a business are very similar, just on different time frames." This week is all about learning the sometimes harsh reality of running a business like this. Admitting to yourself that a mistake has been made and what you can do as a person and business owner to correct that. The boys dive into Fusion 360 and all about colletizer.com
Here are the links for this weeks reference material:
https://www.colletizer.com
Leadership book: https://amzn.to/30RZ9bG
https://chiprag.com/
CNC Manufacturing, Rigging Haas VF6ss Machines, Rasks, and a HARD Question You May Have Never Thought To Ask Yourself As An Entrepreneur!
"There are no PRIORITIES, only one PRIORITY."
During this weekly conversation about manufacturing, business, life balance, obstacles, solutions, and super technical, nerdy machining stuff, a lot is going on.
The SMW shop just got a little heavier. 45,000lbs to be exact. On Monday, twin Haas VF6ss machines arrived. Saunders shares his initial impression, what it was like for him and his team to rig the machines themselves, and the next steps in the process.
Proof that Everything is a Noodle
Since the machines arrived, that also meant the VM3 (SMW's first VMC) had to move. Now, the Z-axis automatic coolant switch needs some attention. They were able to get the machine leveled in thanks to two great videos: Haas video & AT-man Unlimited.
The ONE Thing
Grimsmo's been programming on the KERN but while trying to run a part yesterday, it didn't cooperate. Today, he's digging in to figure out why.
While thinking of the barrage of parts that eventually need to be made on the KERN, it's easy to get flustered and overwhelmed; however, Grimsmo has determined the SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT thing he can do for Grimsmo Knives right now---and yer gonna love it.
The ONE Thing by Gary Keller
Living By The Modified Nike Slogan: Just Do It...NOW?
Saunders admits he's been a lot harder on himself lately when it comes to completing tasks from the infamous to-do list. For him, the list allows too much time for procrastination or some other negative emotional reaction. So, he sees it and does it immediately. The question is, is this sustainable and scalable?
WHO ARE YOU?
Some entrepreneurs never consider when starting a business, they should put themselves as the head of R&D and hire in a boss that handles the day-to-day operations & management of the company. Pocket NC did just that!
Bring Back The Million Dollar Question
Grimsmo's surprising answer to the limitless question, "What would you do if someone gave your company a million dollars?"
SYSTEMS & PROCESSES
MetalQuest left a lasting impression on Saunders. Behind the robots and machines is software and processes that culminate into one high functioning organizational system. On the same note, ALEX, the SMW custom inventory tracking, purchasing, & maintenance schedule software is evolving!
Click Image to Watch MetalQuest Tour
A very important message this week by Dale Carnegie on "How To Win Friends & Influence People". Saunders is also spending some valuable time getting ready for his two new VF6 machines. The boys talk about to do lists and being able to follow through and dealing with stress this week which is very important in not only in business but in life in general. They also dive into sales techniques and being in a leadership role. Grimsmo has been diving head first into learning tabbing on 5 axis parts.
"You're in the business of being in the business of a business!"
TOPICS:
- Leadership & Internalizing Advice
- Self-Reflection & The Last Dance
- Grimsmo's Delegating & the Tornos
- Lean Manufacturing
- ERP systems
- Credit reference tips
Leadership & Advice Making the plans, the decisions, and having to steer the ship without a detailed map has its own set of unique struggles. The Johns mull over the abstract concepts of feedback, advice, and how timing and experiences affect their ability to receive and process it. Conviction behind the advice turns out to be a key concept.
A Flowery Moment of Truth Fresh as a peach on the couch watching The Last Dance (a documentary about Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls), Saunders finds himself doubting Michael's empty gas tank. While digging up a rose bush, Saunders gets hit with some serious self-awareness. Click here for NYC CNC's Movie Recommendation List.
Hardcore Machining Stuff...Well, Sort Of. The Johns usually get into nitty gritty machining detail but today, they find themselves inevitably back on the subject of business. The deeper they get, these topics seem less and less mutually exclusive!
Delegating, Teaching, & Administering Responsibility Last week, Skye took the reigns of the Tornos; Grimsmo's definitive proof that he's growing as the leader of Grimsmo Knives. While he admits that handing responsibility over is difficult, he's very happy and excited about what this means for the future. Not to mention, Skye is crushing it!
Click Image To See Full Post
Lean Manufacturing Has Nuance (just like everything else)
After a night of lights out machining, Grimsmo arrives to find an oil spill and that brings forth discourse about chip conveyors and possible solutions. Lean manufacturing can be tricky to pinpoint. Being proactive about potential problems is certainly a part of it but going overboard is easy.
The old adage, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," certainly applies here.
Even more, the solutions MUST be simple, scalable, and sustainable. In other words, "the juice must be worth the squeeze."
The Scope of Inventory Tracking Part of entrepreneurship is defining the scope of problems your business can handle versus the problems it should handle. Conflicted about investing time to develop custom inventory and PO tracking software, Saunders reaches out to the lean master, Jay Pierson, and gets a surprising response. Kanban cards, bar codes, and simple PO generation are tossed around this theoretical ERP skull session.
Fusion 360 & Dr. Phil Experience (the awesome machinist, not talk-show host) Stay tuned for in-depth adaptive CAM troubleshooting videos from NYC CNC. Speaking of Fusion 360, how the heck does Dr. Phil do that!?
Prompted by an IG story with "automate simple tasks" plastered on it, Saunders and Grimsmo can't help but marvel at Dr. Phil's ability to rapid prototype & machine complicated parts. Grimsmo's planning a YouTube video where they sift through his Fusion file--stay tuned! In the meantime, watch this incredible, free, Autodesk University Course by Dr. Phil on 5-Axis rapid prototyping.
Click Image Below For Dr. Phil's Awesome AU Course
Touch Points of Business - Interactions ARE Messages Every interaction a client has with a business is considered a touch point. They can be anything from calling customer service to how easy it is to order products.
For instance, at the mention of ordering material for the KERN, it's abundantly clear that Grimsmo has stumbled upon a negative touch point surrounding credit reference forms. Luckily, Saunders has great tips on how to handle it!
The Bigger Picture
Negative interactions with other businesses tend to make you look more closely at your own. There is a clear difference in companies that care about customer experience and ones that don't. Each interaction, whether positive or negative sends an important message about who you are and what you value.
John & John slowly start getting back to "normal". Grimsmo knives are starting to get back to full operations again after a 7 week shut down. The boys take this time to reflect about organizing and managing their time. Saunders' also dabbles in "S tools" for organizing tools.
Here are all the instagram links as mentioned this episode!
Laurens
Ken @ zodiaceng
Amish
Rob Lockwood
Phil
Saunders Machine Works
John Grimsmo
Business of Machining: It may be simple and direct, but it's not forced or uncomfortable. BoM also happens to be a "subtle acronym" for Bill of Materials.
TOPICS:
- Naming businesses and products
- Asking For Advice: The Student Mindset
- Processes - Scalability & Sustainability
- Datron NEO - Sneeze Guards & ProvenCut
- Parting Off: CNC Lathes
- SAGA ON KERN?
Grimsmo and Saunders discuss what it's like to name products and companies. The next time you hear Bashing Strawberries, you'll know exactly what they mean.
Discord Group Chat Provokes Good Conversation & Deeper Musings We're all hardwired to find information that validates our belief system and discount anything that contradicts it.
However, when asking for advice, we must learn to put our biases aside. On that note, Saunders shares a fitting and humbling book excerpt about maintaining a student mindset.
How To Get Things Done Well - Sustainable & Scalable Are you the technician focused on specific day-to-day tasks, the slightly unhinged company visionary, or somewhere in between? Determining where you are along this spectrum can help you determine the next steps in your business.
Datron NEO - How You Doin'? Saunders discusses what it's been like the past few months with a Datron NEO. Everything from the work envelope compared to machine footprint, spindle speed, and an intuitive control, Datron NEO gets two thumbs up from SMW. Hey Marv, if you're listening, can a Datron outpace a KERN?
Should You Increase SFM Just Because? Grimsmo wants to leverage a higher SFM but there is never free lunch.
PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW... Saunders shoulda got a 5-C. Holding 1/4" thick mod vise washer between the main and subspindle for parting off doesn't leave any room. Having to take an additional finishing pass on the part isn't ideal. Although a 20 second pass seems like no big deal is it scalable and sustainable? NO.
Speaking of Sustainable... Grimsmo kicks around the idea of making the one-and done SAGA part on the KERN instead of the NAK and other ways improve production.
HELP! It's Too Simple for Technology! Saunders needs help from YOU! If you know what would work best to solve his camera + monitor woes, he's all ears.
John might have had a little hiccup on the Kern. A work piece flew out of the vise. Don't worry, everything is good! The Boys also had a great chat about managing tool inventory in a shop. With some great references and a video that can be found here. John & John also chat in length about 5 axis parts and the qwerks of Fusion 360!
CNC Lathes, Mills, Manufacturing & Small Business
TOPICS
- CNC Lathe & Mill Trials and Errors
- Subspindle Stabilization Solutions
- 5-Axis Window Machining, Tabs, and Hot Glue
- A Different Workholding Solution You Might Not Have Tried
- Will the KERN make the Linda Wheel obsolete?
- Dovetail Workholding Instills Confidence
- Technician Time
- Shedding The Bootstrap Mindset
RAISING A BURR? DISH. Saunders aims to avoid a post-machining deburr process for the square, tapered mod vise washers. He discusses the results of chamfering with the Harvey double-sided, double-angle cutter, using the subspindle and a 3D printed mandrel to stabilize the washer during part off, and a new idea that involves a 1" square collet.
Solutions Should Not Cause More Problems When trying to improve machining strategies and workflow processes, make sure you're considering reliability, scalability, and poka-yoke. If the solution is clunky and prone to error, don't settle!
5-Axis Window Machining, Tabs, and Hot Glue While touring Stewart-Haas Racing (video coming soon), the decal crew asked the V.P. of Operations, Tony Frazier, if their machine shop could fashion an aluminum decal squeegee and Saunders offered to help! He gears up to record voice over for the entire process. Although it's not a technique that lends itself to automation, Grimsmo still wants to have that trick in his back pocket!
A Workholding Solution You Might Have Never Tried Saunders shares an awesome workholding technique when it comes to machining parts that are difficult to hold AND it can also provide reliable machining datum for Op 2.
Technician Time Covid-19 lockdown might have some silver lining after all. Without distractions, Grimsmo finds himself getting very comfortable with the KERN in terms of probing, measuring, pallet changing, mounting vises to pallets, and making incredible progress on the rask knife tombstone fixture. Perhaps when the lockdown is lifted, there will be a new rask in the offering!
LINDA WHEEL OR SWARF!? If you're a veteran of this podcast, you already know about the "Linda Wheel." The Linda Wheel Arrives in all the way back in Episode 12. The question is, will the KERN render the Linda Wheel obsolete?
Dovetail Workholding FTW Remember that scary block of 4140? Grimsmo's now sold on dovetail workholding!
Bootstrapper Mindset Holding You Back? When you're a bootstrapper by nature, the problem is you're using limits to plan while your business is growing! While this mindset does serve a great purpose, the trick is to know when to use it and when to abandon it.
Things are going well for both Grimsmo & Saunders! Saunders relaunched their website and saw their highest sales week! While Grimsmo has been getting more comfortable on the kern! Saunders' brings up a quote from his friend, "Possession is 90% of ownership". The boys also talk about "When you're faced with a tough decision, always choose the option that gives the customer the most confidence." This is a vital aspect of running any business and they weigh in on their thoughts on it!
Buying, Running, and Building Successful Businesses Around CNC Machines.
TOPICS:
- ST-20Y is back in business
- Tolerance Creep & Squeezing the Most Out Of Your Machine
- Tornos Lovejoy coupler slips during production
- GK Quarantine Vlogs - Second Nature Machining Tips and Tricks
- Finding Center Lines On A Y-Axis Lathe
- Fusion 360 NC Program Feature
- Simplifying Lathe Workflow - Lockwood's WCS & Container Method in Fusion 360
- Dovetail Workholding
- KERN - Tooling in Groups & Fusion 360 Cloud Library
Although the world is changing, one thing remains constant: the love of CNC machining!
Saunders is ecstatic to be reunited with the ST-20Y AND he's taking notes on how to get the absolute best parts the machine can produce.
Contrary to popular belief, you can't just buy a KERN, input the code, and have amazing parts appear. According to Grimsmo, the machine brand will only get you so far and the rest depends on tweaking and improving your process, even just that tiny bit more.
While lifestyle creep is to be avoided if possible, tolerance creep is definitely something you need!
Lovejoy Coupler Slips During Production The year-old Tornos has been opened up to be serviced by Elliot Matsuura's technician. The coupler that attaches the motor to the ball screw is specifically designed to slip so nothing is ruined in the event of a crash; however, since the servo motors contain the enocders themselves, the machine is not aware of a mechanical slip, meaning it'll keep making parts out of spec until you catch it.
MAKE LATHES GREAT AGAIN Grimsmo and Saunders hash out details on finding the center line on Y-Axis lathes. Grimsmo knows the best way takes a little more work but it's perfect every time.
Saunders has a do-while loop while he runs a certain number of parts. He shares how he wants to use a variable to streamline his post processor. Other ways to streamline and improve workflow come from Rob Lockwood. By implementing Lockwood's container method for programming parts and using a repeatable WCS, G55 stays put and the lengthy NC instructions on checking and setting offsets are a thing of the past!
Click Here for a Video on Part Programming Using Lockwood's Method.
KERN - Setting Up, Tooling, & Planning Grimsmo hasn't cut anything on special K for a while. Is he allowing fear to hold him back? With a large chunk of steel that could fall and damage the machine, he's not sure if he can trust dovetail workholding. Grimsmo shares how he wants the tools and sister tools to be organized and how he's using the Fusion 360 cloud library.
Up Your Confidence Bank Each time you keep a promise to yourself, your confidence account gets a little raise. Although Saunders crashed the lathe, he didn't let shell-shock stop him from moving forward. The only way Grimsmo will get that raise is if he gets off this call and pushes cycle start!
John & John are still adjusting to working or in some cases, not working during COVID-19. Grimsmo is slowly integrating back into work but with very strict safety measures. While Saunders' continues to make PPE for the front line workers. The boys talk all about the different government loans in both Canada & USA and how to apply for them. John Grimsmo has been taking it way back in the old days of YouTube making daily vlogs. Saunders' CRASHED HIS LATHE :(
Two Small Manufacturing Business Entrepreneurs Learning to Navigate Covid-19.
With an uncertain time frame, Grimsmo and Saunders discuss the importance of looking ahead, monitoring your burn rate, and being ready to use available programs before the cushion runs out.
Grimsmo Knives made the decision to shut their shop in response to the non-essential business shut down order. That doesn't mean things aren't still progressing! Not only has he reached out to the Canadian government to offer GK's shop and skill sets, he's got time to LEARN THAT KERN--all in the name of the Rask!
Last episode, SMW had shut down the shop in response to the non-essential business shut down order BUT within the last week, he's busted his butt to figure out a way to be part of the solution.
DELVE reached out to have his shop manufacture face-shields, the Badger Shield to be exact. This well designed, open-source file gives SMW everything they need to make PPE the right way.
Click Here To Learn More About Operation #BadgerShield
Saunders shares his crazy experience with trying to secure materials to make it happen. The whole team is on board to help as many healthcare workers as possible.
If you have a machine shop, it's a good idea to see what you can provide in this great time of need. For Ohioans, go to https://repurposingproject.com/ to see how you can help.
TO THE LATHE, JENNAYYYY....
Saunders asks Grimsmo about whether or not wear comp on a static lathe tool should be updated in Fusion CAM or at the control.
While discussing the workflow for holding tight tolerances on the lathe, thermal expansion and tool wear enter the conversation.
5-Axis, Where Have You Been!?
All the recent lathe talk has been great and all but with Grimsmo about to get knee deep in the KERN, he needs some resources to learn Steep & Shallow in Fusion 360.
Watch AutoDesk University 2019 Presentations of Laurens Wijnschenk, Rob Lockwood, and Phil Butterworth
This weeks episode is a little different than our normal conversations. John & John talk all about the effects of COVID-19 in their personal life and business life. They take a quick detour to talk about higbee threads as well! Please everyone stay safe out there. Look after yourself and loved ones.
TOPICS:
- Thoughts on Covid-19 and small business
- The SAGA
- Solutions for breaking tools during internal threading
- Why You Need a Neon Vest In Your Shop
BREATHE. Yes, they talk about Coronavirus. Yes, they are washing their hands. What you won't find are hosts hoarding toilet paper or coming up with conspiracy theories. What you will find is hope and perseverance!
If you want to know how you can help fight Covid-19, please visit https://www.nyccnc.com/covid/
EDC > Safe Queen During a hiking/shooting trip with a friend, Saunders notices a spectacularly crafted GK SAGA pen sticking out of his friend's shirt pocket. After spending some time outdoors, Saunders realizes he's lost his OWN SAGA...let's just say this pen has a SAGA of its own.
Grimsmo shares how the clips are uniquely and perfectly tensioned.
Internal Threading Problems Sub-spindle threading cycle = Butt Clench 100 Find out why Saunders uses masking tape on the lathe. Grimsmo switches to making knife thumb studs on the Tornos instead of the Nak. A very tiny threaded hole causes 5-6 tools worth of headache. He searches for the problem, only to kick himself later.
Grimsmo explains GO, NO-GO Listen to the one and only Go, No-Go explanation that actually makes sense!
SMW Fixture Plate Tops Now that all Pierson Workholding Mini Pallets are compatible with SMW Fixture plates, Saunders turns his attention to diamond dowel pins that require tight tolerances. When it comes to QC, keep it simple!
IN THE STUDIO Fraser has fashioned a sweet sound-proof audio/visual room for GK videos and products!
NEON VESTS What is it good for? Absolutely nothing---if it's not in use.
Have you ever wanted to listen to two grown men talk about a lathe like children in a candy store? Well this episode is for you. John Saunders goes in depth trying to make his first sub spindle lathe part. The boys also talk all about the mist collector situation at the Grimsmo shop and to not overlook the air quality. John Grimsmo also made a "production run" of 9 parts on the Kern!
TOPICS:
- 5-Axis Machining Generatively Designed Parts
- Tool life troubleshooting & solutions
- Steep & Shallow in Fusion 360
- McMaster Coolant Filtration Solutions
- Relieved Shank Endmills
- Shrink Fit, Set Screw, & Pull-Stud Extenders
SMW & MACHINING A GENERATIVE DESIGN PART
(Click Image to View Post)
In January, NYC CNC made trucks for a Datron longboard with a combination of 3-axis and 5-axis machining. However, they didn't stop there!
Gavin Bath from CADPRO Systems in New Zealand took the brunt of the work for modeling a generatively designed truck and now it's Saunders' turn to machine it! Today, he'll hit cycle start on his first true simultaneous steep and shallow toolpath. He also shares an important lesson about work coordinate systems.
No Rush on the Naks Grimsmo and his team settle into their new shop. Although the machines are up, the Naks still aren't making parts because of coolant line reconfiguration. Will they be forced to scramble or was it all part of the plan?
TORX KILLING TOOLS ON TORNOS The 17-4 stainless pivot screws are proving to be a challenge on the Swiss. Grimsmo's using the same process he's used for 5-6 years but the endmills are dying out after 35-60 parts! Saunders and Grimsmo troubleshoot various factors that affect tool life and possible solutions.
THE MENTAL TRAP - IS THIS YOU? When it comes to machining strategies, if you've ever found yourself saying, " But I want it to work like THIS," STOP RIGHT THERE! Saunders says, "Get the recipe working FIRST--even if you don't love it. THEN start tweaking it from there!"
REACH! When it comes to 5-Axis milling ensuring that you're able to reach occluded features is key. Grimsmo and Saunders discuss relieved shank tools, tapered endmills, and shrink fit, set screw, and pull-stud extenders.
Grimsmo + KERN = NEW Pocket Clip Supports Today, he's going to machine this part in 1 op but he's not quite sure which strategy to use for the curvy areas of the part. Saunders suggests either 3D Contour with shaft and holder detection OR Steep and Shallow.
SAUNDERS CALLS OUT ChipBLASTER When reaching out for coolant filtration solutions, he got nothing but poor customer service and people reluctant to give straight answers. With that, he sets out to find other options.
Grimsmo stands by his filter bag housing from McMaster. Click Here to See Part Number 5168K249
Adafruit Parallel While watching an interview with the CEO of Adafruit, one particular line strikes a chord with Saunders. It brings a new sense of clarity in terms of defining what SMW does.
Can you really optimize machining and happiness at the same time? This week John & John dive in to optimizing machining while staying happy and true to yourself. They also talk about hand editing lathe code and threading tips on the lathe. Saunders fuses ABS plastic together with acetone like a mad scientist and Grimsmo finally gets his swiss running after some issues.