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Business of Machining

John Grimsmo of Grimsmo Knives and John Saunders of NYC CNC discuss their success, struggles, goals and more as machinists, business owners and entrepreneurs.
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Now displaying: April, 2020
Apr 24, 2020

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!

Apr 17, 2020

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!

Apr 10, 2020

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 :(

Apr 3, 2020

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

 

 

 

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