Business of Machining

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--I...

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 t...

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 entre...

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 a...

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 actuall...

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 drop...

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 impro...

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 decisio...

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 mac...

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. E...

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...

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...

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 typ...

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 Milte...

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...

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 &nbsp...

"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 referenc...

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 b...

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...

"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...

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 Saund...

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...