Business of Machining

Word of the day: 5-axis In other words, Saunders has his 5-axis Haas machine, and he’s spending some time lately getting to know it and CAMplete. He talks about his 5-axis starter kit, and moving up to technology that seemed almost unreachable before. AND it’s helping Grimsmo thaw to the idea of learning more about 5-axis machines himself. Becoming Swissish ROUND 2! Grimsmo talks about his trip to...

A Stone's Throw Away The parallels in the lives of Grimsmo and Saunders are uncanny to say the least. Both get the chance to clear their heads--one on Lake Ontario and the other on Lake Erie. Full Steam Ahead During one of the most emotional weeks of his life, Saunders watches on Instagram as the UMC-750 and TM3 are delivered in his absence--and that's a beautiful thing. With a team he can rely on...

When high production is vital to your business, planning ahead for down time when employees are down for the count could make or break. Although Skye thought he escaped the illness that overpowered his co-workers...he spoke too soon.  Angelo steps up to the plate. NUANCE + PROCESS SHEETS? After Saunders tours Superb Industries, Inc., the Moore Jig Grinder poses a challenging question.  H...

Maximizing use of the Mill Grimsmo’s mill was STILL running when he came in this morning! That is one. Great. First. On top of that, last week was the highest week ever for production at the Grimsmo shop. “You keep saying that!” - Saunders Apparently record breaking is the new norm, and Grimsmo is still trying to produce even more. Saunders’ reminder Reminders can increase production! Sometimes it...

Proud Machining Moments Hit Home Sometimes you only need an upward glance to find comfort and strength.  Click Image Below to See the IG Post:   #Throwback #NeverForget An epic Lakeshore order is a testament to how far you've come but the past is never too distant. The Taig ER-16 spindle and some cheap double-sided end mills  conjure up fond memories of the early days.   Saunde...

The Pen and Knife Balance With limited machines, Grimsmo is always trying to balance knife and pen production. Sometimes he has to get creative. Saunders and Grimsmo talk tools, and creative solutions to achieve Grimsmo’s high standards. “That would work, but it wouldn’t be the finish I want” - Grimsmo Sometimes the solutions are simple. “We both figured out at the same time that the live tool nee...

It's cold. It's winter. Who cares? Moving on. This episode is a hodgepodge of entrepreneurial and philosophical gold nuggets. From Maslow's Hierarchy to epoxy floors, the Johns cover it all. Even IF we are in a simulation...it doesn't matter! Machinist's Philosophies After watching the Joe Rogan podcast episode featuring David Goggins, Saunders is particularly fired up! Joe Rogan + David Goggins P...

Getting Social In 2019, and sharing reality! Grimsmo starts to post Instagram stories daily. Bonus: We get more info on the upcoming Saga Pen! BUT Saunders and Grimsmo agree that they don’t need to stay up-to-date on everything all the time. “Use Instagram the way that works for you...we’re not just going for clicks and views, we’re trying to build a community of people who care, and want to see w...

Spoke Too Soon.  Last week's episode featured Great Mood Grimsmo. He was in high spirits only to find Norseman fixture alignment issues that would plague the team for the remainder of the week. He and Angelo wade through the GD&T lake to find the variance and formulate a possible solution that involves changing the probe tip from 6mm to 2mm.  Click the Photo to View Post!   For...

This episode is a good mix of strategic philosophy and technical discussions. Stay tuned for talks about how to stay motivated AND motivate your team at the same time! Such is the life of an entrepreneur. The Johns will also talk troubleshooting, and favorite tools. Pass it on Grimsmo fixed the pass link on the Maker’s Choice “Congrats” e-mail, and now people can pass the purchase link along quick...

Happy 2019! The guys elaborate on the first time they met in person at the 2015 Tormach Open House. Did Grimsmo inadvertently set a precedent when he purchased his first vertical machining center before having a shop to fit it? The guys get caught up in festivities, family, and friends. This time of year reminds us to cherish time with our loved ones, to reflect, and to ring in the new year with a...

Last podcast episode of the year! BUT how important is the calendar year anyway when you’re constantly trying to achieve your goals? “I’m already living in 2019” - Saunders 2018 THEME OF THE YEAR: STRESS (and how to cope) Saunders went through some of the older episodes, and apparently the Johns talked about this a lot. “I’m okay stressing about the future. I’m not okay stressing about the present...

Down for the Count An illness drags Grimsmo home to recuperate for a few days. Did it have a negative effect on GK production? Urban Survival Gear: The Chapstick of Pens Apparently, this pen has magical features not listed in the description. It vanishes but only reappears once replaced! Check Out Tactile Turn Pens HERE Deep Cuts Grimsmo gets his FIRST custom knife from Brad Southard, complete wit...

Starts off on a SUPER positive note: “We’ve got the recipe down!” The team is taking initiative, and making projects their own. “You need the best guy to come up with the process. Then it’s trainable, it’s a recipe.” - Grimsmo Healthy shops, happy team Do your machines need filters? Where are we at in the SAGA of the Saga Pen? “Priorities, man” - Grimsmo Knives are the first priority, and the lath...

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE...where you might get a little misty-eyed. The cycle has ended; the coolant is off so WHY is the foam still growing!? With no through-spindle coolant and small ER collets, Grimsmo's got no explanation for the extreme coolant atomization--annoying problem but fun to say!   Saunders notices an off-white tinge occurs sooner than it should but instead of replacing it and shr...

It feels like winter in Canada (brrr), but America just had their thanksgiving weekend! Just remember, big data collection never takes a vacation. Directed Marketing is WEIRD Big box stores, like Target, have to stay ahead of the competition and now (in the digital age), that involves marketing to individuals. But even stores that collect big data can fail if they don’t use it properly; Target fai...

THAT STINGS. Verbal agreements feel warm and fuzzy at first but have nasty side effects. While it feels awkward to request a written agreement from a friend or a service provider you've worked with before, be assured; there are far worse consequences. "Free is the most expensive price you could ever pay for something." Offering "blem" products at a discount to the public initially sounded like the...

  Welcome to Autodesk University With a focus on Fusion and Manufacturing Special guest for this episode: Rob Awesome Lockwood! Here is the link of the event Grimsmo, Saunders, and Rob Lockwood were at.  It's time for Grimsmo and Saunders to head to class for four days straight of learning, inspiration, and a little bit of teaching.   In this episode, we catch Saunders, Grimsmo...

Anodizing Paintball Guns, a Brochure, and a Parking Lot Jay Pierson's story of past failure in his MHub speech conjures entrepreneurship jitters of 2010 for Grimsmo. Failure is almost a pre-requisite for success and as a major industry player points out on the NYC CNC forum, "You first have to exist [in other people's minds]." Click HERE to Watch Jay's Speech Don't forget: the successful people yo...

Happy Halloween! Dry Ice anyone? It’s super cool! (pun intended) Check out this project another machinist did with dry ice.   Grimsmo talks about the benefits of quenching your blades in dry ice after heat treat, and is working on a palette that will also improve the process. Saunders is also working with dry ice to blast parts. Before you become a mad machinist for Halloween, maybe...

Shootin' the Breeze Grimsmo and his son, Leif, pay Saunders a quick visit. TURNS out, machining isn't the only thing he's precise about . Saunders digs into his quality engineering obsession. How to Win Friends & Influence People is a life-changing read. Do yourself a favor and get a copy by clicking HERE! Family Heirlooms Everyone says they look AND act like brothers, so when Grimsmo bec...

Grimsmo is putting pens write back into the game! He and Angelo had a nice long meeting where they made A TON of changes to the internal workings of the pens. Curious about what changed? Watch out for new Saga Saturday videos coming again soon on Grimsmo’s YouTube channel ! Learning is great, and it’s even better if knowledge can be used right away! Saunders learns what a “living hinge” is (keep l...

:: Solving a toolpath mystery :: :: The John Saunders Turkey Machine :: :: Don't judge a fish by how it climbs trees :: DEFINING BUSINESS OBJECTIVES Saunders asks himself, "What the heck ARE we?" Does having multiple areas of specialty dilute the business? After some revelatory conversations , he's "zeroing" in on what it means to be SMW. "Daddy, I'm trying to find John Saunders Turkey Machine Sho...

What processes work best for your shop? Sometimes it’s as simple as wrapping green tape around material you’re not using or using google sheets more often, and other times it’s necessary to get creative with a new tool! BTW the Grimsmo shop has a band saw now. “It all depends on your goals”- Grimsmo If quantity is your goal, you focus on materials that make products faster. If your goal is quality...

Get Well Soon, Grimsmo! He might be under the weather but shop life waits for no one... --BURNOUT-- When you enjoy working, you have to be more conscious of that sneaky little thing called burnout. You might not notice until it's too late! Pride and Humility: The Balance William breaks a toy at school. Tony Robbins Total Immersion Grimsmo and Meg attend a Tony Robbins event and return revitalized!...