Ducati Monster Forum

Dear Alarm Clock,

I really hate you and I turned you off forever, for the most part.

That's right, I quit my job.  No more paycheck from the man.  I can go to bed when I want and get up when I want.

For now.

I've been in sales for the past 5 years selling consumables to the metal cutting industry.  For 9 years before that I was the metal cutting industry working here and there as a programmer or setup guy on CNC machines.

I've programmed and worked on my share of mills and lathes, swiss turn machines and water jet machines.

The timing is right, I'm starting my own shop.

Been wanting to do it for. . . well, since I've been in this business.

Some of my existing customers are excited to do business with me once I'm up and running.  I have a great location lined up.  2200sq ft in the back of a building my parents own.  This = way cheap rent.

I found out last week that a zoning variance I needed to set up in there went through with no problems.

The neighbors came out in force but I talked my way through each of them and prevailed :D

I have a solid business plan and the 24 month projections look F'ing awesome.

Right now I'm collecting letters of intent and am getting ready to talk to lenders.  There's a lot of small business support in my area and I'm working with the SBDC.  I've even gotten a lot of info (contacts, advice, etc) from a future customer :)

So I'm about to borrow a truck load of money to buy a CNC turning center with milling and a Y axis (for those of you that know what that's about) and some other bits and pieces to get up and running.

I'll have 5 years to pay back what most folks take 30.

Or 40 nowadays  :-\

I don't care though.  There's a lot of work out there to support it and I'm a both barrels blazin' type of guy anyhow ;D

Short term goals are:

-Not go out of business
-Make a living for myself and my employees

Long term goals are:

-Medical, aerospace and FDA certifications.
-Make a living for myself and employees

Ok, I want to make some sweet bike and firearm parts too.  I can't lie about that [laugh]

Where this forum can help me is if YOU are with a company that has a need for machined parts please shoot me a PM!  I'd love to see how I might be able to help out.

Wish me luck :)

Need a website?  Stationary?  Brochures?

Hmmmm?  Well do ya?     ;)

At some point.

I take it you're a vulture graphic artist as well?

;D

;)

Hell no I can't design a thing but I know what good stuff should look like to be effective. Have peeps to do the fancy artwork.  (Polly's Peeps.)   ;D

You are unstoppable [laugh]

Marketing then?

We'll be talking.

Perfect.

 [laugh]

Probably too small time to be of interest to you, but by the time you're up and running, I might have the need for some cnc goodness.

Oh and, congrats! Best of luck on your venture, I'm certainn you will suceed beyond your wildest dreams

God I hope so.

My mother in law is a huge doubter and there's no way im gonna let her be right on this one. ;)

Good Luck, Kev.

I'm sure you'll knock it out of the park!!

We have a few ideas that may require your services.    [thumbsup]

I can be your first customer.
I would like to purchase a metal cod piece of gigantic proportions.

You should get it diamond-encrusted.

(http://sharetv.org/images/guide/291484.jpg)

Not that you'll need it, Kev, but best of luck! There's no doubt in my mind that you can make this work.  [thumbsup]

SWEET!!  Good luck Kevin!!  It's about time someone gave Aaron (Motohooligan) some competition on some cnc ktm goodness.   [thumbsup]

with his skills, he shall imbed the tears of 1000 neglected kittens.
It will sparkle so brightly it will blind all that see it.


Actually, I'm envisioning all the fantastically absurd things I can commission you to create.  [evil]

Thanks everyone!

...off to start designing lethes cod piece.

Cnc a life size statue of ya mother inlaw n plop it in her yard...   I want a lighter trans casing for my car.. if you can make trans parts out of billet aluminum for a good price, there's a market for it in the car scene.

I need this tiny one off widget...and I need it right away...and it has to be perfect.....

and I'm not gonna pay a lot for that widget.

Cheap...quality...and fast...

pick two and get back to me. ;)

Good luck Kev.

Talk to Mel. ;)

She built my logo ;)

That sums up the entirety of my last five years.

Except for one place. They were pretty loyal to me and would pay a little more. The relationship is the only thing that let me get away with that because it was a really good one.

[thumbsup]

way to go Kevin!

btw,.... i need a claymour to go with my kilt. i would prefer it to be lite weight, yet indestructible.
and affordable.

Ill get right on it.

[laugh]

I'll get ahold of my contacts in that part of the country and see if I can roust out some purchase orders.

May the American dream come true for you [beer]

 [clap]

What part of the country are you in?  I may have machine shops needs in the future for professional and personal projects.  PM me your business contact info when you're ready to start quoting work...

Best of Luck, although it sounds as if the need for luck will not be central to your success plan.

Let me know when you are rich and bored

and ready to fabricate receivers

for all those SIG AMT rifle parts-kits from S. America lying around the country

DUDE!!!

Good for you!

I packed up and moved to Cali to start a business 7 years ago with only $2k and a dream.

I've since built up that business and sold it.  If a dork like me with absolutely no head for the ins and outs of business can do it, I have no doubt you will be a grand success!!!!!   [thumbsup] [clap]



 [bacon]

Well done Kevin!

Congratulations! 

CONGRATS Kev!!!

as a side note...a certain owner of your old DP Corsa Monster 900 special whom has sheepishly changed into an unhappy panda is a graphic artist/website builder and is still finding ways to change and upgrade that bike and might be willing to barter some milling kind of stuffs for web site building stuffs...just a thought!!

I had to laugh.  When I first read this I was thinking a claymore mine (click click boom type) and I'm thinking to myself how does that go with a kilt? 

then-

ooooohhhh

[laugh]



Now we're talking!  Thanks man!


NWPA but it really doesn't matter.  I can do work for anyone anywhere.  Once I'm almost up and running I post up contact info.


I'll keep that in mind but I don't think that was my bike. . .  I had a 2000 900ie that I powdercoated the wheels and frame black. . .

I coulda sworn that bike came from you...with the radial masters and corsa themed accesory tank and other choice bits on it...

MonsterMash maybe?

Definitely not mine.

Pretty sure redxblack has it

damn...you are right...I lunchboxed...anyway...back to the regularly scheduled launching of CNC milling business.

Your punishment shall be that you will pay for ML to make you a cool-as-shit milled lunchbox.  [thumbsup]

[laugh]

Not doing any milling at first (in the traditional sense)  Im buying a lathe that also has some milling capabilities.

I could probably still do the lunchbox on it though.

Note to self.

Ooooooooo...that sounds cooool as hell...


would be too over the top to ask for carbon fiber latches? and handle?

better idea even...to make it the new version of the old "DMF Toasty" and members take pictures with it in various places and then print them and put them in it and send it on to the next member?

The roaming lunch box?

[thumbsup]

I could do a cf handle.

You'll just be waking up to a different kind of alarm clock.  The one that says "get up, you gotta make some money and pay people back."  Good luck to you and to everyone else that has the cajones to venture out on their own.  [clap] [thumbsup] Now go make something already.

Ciao!

but fill the box full of lead to make it a pain in the ass to cart around

Good luck ML on the business venture!! [thumbsup] I hope it seriously takes off through the roof! Times are tough right now but with the right, cost effective, efficient battle plan and avoiding over extending yourself and your finances it might actually be a great time to start something like this. Especially since you have so many business contacts already. Again, best of luck to you! I have no talent or skills but I'm sure this group of hooligans would be happy to help you any way they can.

Prove that nay saying, battle axe mother in law she's wrong!!! >:( [cheeky]

Thanks Brian.

I know deep down she wants it to work. She's just nervous because this is waaaay outside her comfort zone and I have her daughter along for the ride ;)

Tell her I said it will be OK. [laugh] And sorry about the battle axe comment. [cheeky] No shit bro' good luck with this. Sounds like you've thought it out. What the hell, give it a go! [thumbsup] I'll wear my lucky zombie shirt just to make sure.

That can be my shop uniform :D

so what are you naming it? Is "We burned a friggen boat! Metal Fabrication" too obscure?

I'm gonna be the guy that talks about all the uncertainty of being in business for yourself.

I have experience...and I'm good at perspective.

There will be times you wonder/worry about making ends meet...

there will be times you wonder why you gave up that weekly paycheck...

there will be times it feels way worse than a job.

Then one day you'll say I'm going to the track...and no one says no...

and all the bullshit becomes ultimately worth it.

I've already said it Kev, but good luck.

You just became a free man. 8)

Perspective ;)

... and then some! [thumbsup] Do it. [bacon]

Well, I have no job anymore.

Gotta do something :D

Lemme know if you need any engineering done  :-*

Let me know if you need any components machined :)

I may have a need for some engineering. I have a top secret project in mind.

Next DIMBY we launch Nate's old house into orbit?

+1

[laugh]   [clap]

Don't confuse the rocket scientist...

the house has two points.

Just a quick update-

Things ate going according to plan. If all goes well with lendors I should be up and running late Marxh-early april.

The Deal King fired up the Deal Generator and scored an automatic horizontal band saw for $1200 and (I think) a bridgeport mill for $1000

:D

I hope that's good news. Sounds like it is. [thumbsup]

It is. Probably saved me 5-6k

[thumbsup]

Sweetness!! [clap] [thumbsup]

A Bridgeport for a grand?   :o :o :o :o :o

Is it serial #1? :P

Nope. I don't care how old it is.  It just has to have a variable speed head, meaning you crank the handle to change speed vs move the belt to a different pulley.

This machine also has a power draw bar and glass scales. It is missing the dro box but I can source one on my own.

 I'm going to look at it today I hope.

Cross your fingers for me!

What...

you too young to read dials?

Kids.. [roll]

Good luck with it Kev.

I've read plenty of dials. It sucks. For the few hundred to step up to dro...so worth it.

yeah...

I was...you know

I know

$1000 Bridgeport confirmed!

The Deal King even got him to throw in some collets and a vise 8)

:D

nice...

3 phase motor?

They all are, or should be.

No problemo. My building has 800amp service :o

Is it 3 phase though...the building that is?

My buddy used to run his off a phase converter. Worked fine.

Yeah, the building is good.  It used to have plastic injection machines in it.

Tons of folks run a phase converter (ive even seen DIY threads on building your own.  Scary.)

what could go wrong?

Just because they're invisible doesn't mean you need to be skeert of electrons. ;D

Way to go Deal King!

For anyone interested here's a link to a video of the same machine im gunning for. Link will prompt a download.  Its pretty cool 8)

http://www.okuma.com/video/LBEX-MYW-Hobbing.wmv (http://www.okuma.com/video/LBEX-MYW-Hobbing.wmv)

FYI....... this is kinda cool


(http://www.charactermad.com/images/uploads/stig_lenticular_clock.jpg)


\jack over

That is kinda cool,

though I would feel bad when it gets swatted in the morning and flies off the night stand and hits the cat or dog.

Changed plans a little and decided on a less expensive machine.

The important part is. . .

as of today

loan approved :D

woo...

hooo.  [thumbsup]

w00t!!!1!!!  [clap] [thumbsup] [clap]

Where's TiNi and her pom poms when you really need them?

Thanks for the help in purging my nostrils with pale ale.....  ;)

Happy to be of assistance!  ;D

Awesome, ML!!!

 [wine] in your honor.

 [thumbsup]
commence the making of tools of wanton destructive fun

i'm gonna buy a 3 dimensional printer. we should go into business.
make bikes or something...



























































[not really...just wishful thinking]

I just got a killer deal on a fork lift. Found it on CL for $5k. 4800# lift capacity with side shifting forks, super clean with low hours.

For $4600 i got the lift, a pallet puller, tons of heavy duty modular shelving, a waist high galvanized shipping bench, a heavy duty all steel welding table and a portable banding cart with banding, band clamps, band tensioner and clamp pliars.

Guy is going out of business. Bad for him. Good for me.

We need a Deal King smiley.

just post your picture.

Ok. Just finishing up at mcdonalds.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/Misc/2011-02-25_12-50-48_673.jpg)

I think i did good.

I never thought id be excited about buying a fork lift.

it should be a tiny picture. ;D

Nice goatee!   ;)



It has wheels and motor.....


and you're male.   [roll]

And I can flip over cars with it ;D

 And about the goatee, Its long been a dream of mine to have an epic one :D

(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pMiO1965kR0/SjXOy_wDqVI/AAAAAAAAAJM/AyINLSS9zTA/s400/ghoul001.jpg)

That's what I was thinking!!!

JM

Ill be able to make open clutch covers.

Just sayin'

;D

using a forklift to make them is just a touch overkill

Don't tell me what's overkill

That's a decision only i can make.

Everything on the truck is mine. I had my car full as well.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-03-04_10-37-04_798.jpg)

 [thumbsup] [thumbsup] [thumbsup]
 ;D ;D ;D







 [bacon]

what about employees? i need a new job!

heavy metal dude!

I think it would be a hell of a commute

i never said i wouldnt relocate ;D

In the middle of my floor project.

Rented a floor buffer with a drive wheel that accepts 16 grit sanding discs.

Honestly, i wish they were like 5 grit. 16 works but i could handle a more aggressive cut.

The areas with old paint are really not too much of a problem. Its the spot that has had water leak through the roof on and off over the years that's getting me.

The paint there is softer and likes to load up the paper :(

They say its all in the prep so im going to do the best i can.

After the sanding ill sweep up and spray the floor with a solution of water and muratic acid (bad stuff) to further etch the floor and eat up any concrete dust that's leftover.

Got the top coat rolled on Saturday and let it dry for two days.

It came out GREAT!!

Very happy with the result :)

Before:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-03-16_15-51-30_368.jpg)

After:

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-03-28_17-49-51_527.jpg)

thought the shop was bigger..

I'm not made of money.

I have two 800 sqft sections. One got prettied up.  Its enough space to do a lot of damage [evil]

aw 2 spaces.. thats enough lol..  na i just thought with all them big machines and since its in what PA?, everythings cheaper in pa lol..

[laugh]

Making steady progress. My lathe is in town and will be on site on Tuesday. Yesterday I drove to Cleveland to pick up an LNS Hydrobar I scored on eBay for like 95% off a new one :D It will take a whole 12' bar of material up to 2.5" in diameter and feed it into the lathe.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-04-22_17-29-42_74.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-04-22_18-47-14_770.jpg)

Love the porn!   [thumbsup]

Just wait till there's video.

Ill mount the gopro HD right in there :)

I think I'll need to take a "vacation" for a week at some point to come out, be an unpaid intern and make some fun stuff with you.  [thumbsup]

You're welcome to.

Machine day tomorrow :D

[bacon]

Do you need a Pratt and Whitney Super Micrometer?  All hundred some lbs of it are sitting on my bench collecting dust.  I haven't had to measure to the 0.00001 lately. 

Picture?

Sent them to your e-mail

Mazak day today :D

The flat bed it came in on is a tilt deck (how the got the fork lift off.)

The little fork lift you see inside the building can pick up 12,000 pounds :o

My machine was 11,330.

Some incorrect information given to me lead to the destruction of my doorway to fit the machine through it  [bang]

The riggers had to wait around, on the clock, for that to happen.  Actually, the helped a little so it was a fairly easy project.

They set it on these big "skates" and just pushed it into place slowly.

They were there 3 hours and it cost me $1700. . .

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-04-26_10-51-01_457.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-04-26_10-54-25_364.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-04-26_11-02-30_781.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-04-26_11-10-27_805.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-04-26_11-10-35_32.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-04-26_11-57-56_459.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-04-26_11-59-30_64.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-04-26_12-16-12_385.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-04-26_12-19-07_291.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-04-26_13-08-14_709.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-04-26_13-45-48_282.jpg)

Complete with stereo.

Ready to rock.  [thumbsup]

actually.. .

we blew up the stereo :(

we (my electrician friends) moved a few breakers and all the sudden some things went pop.  Radio was one of the casualties.

Turns out someone wired one leg in the box with 220 instead of 110.  And every third breaker had 220 rockin through it [laugh]

neither of those guys could figure out why someone would wire up a box like that.

Once I visited a machine shop in Midland, Texas and the guy had the guards off the Mazak and was wearing boots and a raincoat, standing in the ways spraying a coolant hose on the part as it was being turned.  Amazing!

Oh boy. I bet osha would love that ;D

Nice piece of equipment   [thumbsup]

When do you get to push the button?

whatcha making first?
lifesize metal sculpture of Nate's 'stache?
new indestructible Toasty out of a solid block of titanium?

Magnesium would burn better   ;D

so you secretly want to burn the hair off his face?

No, it would be in the burn pile at Dimby

I pushed the button today :D

The bar feeder is not up and running yet but ill get it.

First project will be the diamond encrusted cod piece.

As promised. 

Brutal.  [thumbsup]

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-05-08_15-39-08_922.jpg)

Ooh! Ooh! Make me one next!

The yellow OSHA line is awesome.... ;D

Lol that's the border on my floor mat

Well, I am up and running. I delivered some parts yesterday.

Long week of 12+ hr days. Seems like everything I had to do became a huge, hours long project.

The upside is this is not work ill have to repeat. I've learned a lot about what this machine can't or shouldn't do [evil]

Still need to finish the installation of the high pressure coolant unit and bar feeder but it'll get done.

Every day is a little easier.  Soon ill be able to eat dinner at home before 930 pm :D

I've also lost close to 10 pounds in the last 7 days....

Is that a fancy beltbuckle for fishermen?

May I please have a one?! (But I'd like mine to be a diamond encrusted <buttered> pony.)

Congrats! 

 ;D

So you want me to take a pony, lather with butter and bread with diamonds?

Sounds like an expensive pony.

;D

Break anything yet?

No but I stalled the live milling spindle a few times [evil]

;D

that must be some hard butter you're cutting

Congrats!!   [beer]

Giving tours yet?

 [Dolph]

Anytime you want to come down.

any idea on pricing? Say if I were to send you a throw out bearing fork for my car, and wanted one, or a lot for selling, in billet aluminum?

Probably not a good fit for my current capabilities.  I don't have a cnc mill, just a lathe with light milling capability. 

That said, it is possible to do but im above $100/hr.

How bad do you want it ;)

The srt neon community needs a lot of stronger trans parts... ill let you know..

Can you send me a picture?  Im intrigued.

Here it is,

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3046/5773456599_1e940518e0.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkmonster620/5773456599/)
neon_srt4oemclutchpivotforkwear1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/darkmonster620/5773456599/#)

cokey, i hope this is the one ...

those look cast...not machined.   :-\

I just looked up a photo of the part and post it ... Wanted to help, no need for such part, The car in my house is automatic and Gina is not needing anything machined yet ...

I just needed to see the shape.

Hoped the photo helped ...

when are you going to start doing lightened flywheels? ;D

I need to raise my rates.

yes...but wait just a short while longer  [cheeky]

Those I can do between jobs

[laugh]

Yea that's it..  company makes the 3/4 shift fork out of billet aluminum. (600$). No ones made the throw out bearinf fork thgh..  it wears out too fast.. company does get stck ones and treats them for harding..  they said soon they'll make a aluminum one.. shit most parts in our trans are brass..  2 company's also make a input shaft.. 

I think it wouldn't be too hard to make a functional aluminum replacement.  All the really matters is the locations of the cable pull socket, the pivot socket and the joint for the throw out bearing carrier.

That and the basic shape.  All the little contours and what not don't need to be there (unless they're cast, then it saves money using less material)

Do you have an extra fork you could send me?  I could probably do this on the bridgeport just to test it out.  I don't have tons of time these days so it won't be a few days turnaround ;)

when I get one ill let ya know..

[thumbsup]

ok,...let me just track down the pertinent stock part, and i will send it to you.

What motor?  I may have one.

ds1000 (for my s2r1k)

Mines from a 900. Not sure if they're the same?

carby or fuelie?

There's a few different styles

900ie flywheel.

Little secret Kevin's been keeping from us





























He hired Butters!

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2172/5782888576_473198a1d7.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32381491@N07/5782888576/)
butters at kevins copy (http://www.flickr.com/photos/32381491@N07/5782888576/#) by anzalone22 (http://www.flickr.com/people/32381491@N07/), on Flickr

coffee out nose. [laugh]

That's so awesome!  If I get a pic of me standing at the machine can you put butters head on my body?

[laugh]

   I'm waiting to see how you're gonna hook that bar feed up to the bike. ;D

Oh, and since you didn't return my call, play around some with K8 and see what it does. I believe that's the one we were looking for.
 I also e-mailed you a couple of pics concerning the tailstock assembly.

Get on the stick Kev... [laugh]

 Apparently one or more of the previous owners has done some tinkering with the machines parameters.
  Kevin has worked his way through a few problems already and i'm helping when and where i can. [popcorn]

Do you have that brand/model on the floor too?

new top triple for me please, i'm patient  ;D
best wishes to you on your new business

HM knows Mazaks...


Thanks Tini..  just a top triple?  No bolt on 1098 sbk setup?

Hey ML,

how bout you design a top triple that can be used with either bar or clip-ons ... without removing it from the bike ...

Just a thought ...

I'm thinkin' he has experience with lot's o machines.

i got new clipons, i still have the stock triple on there... it looks fugly, i need a new one :)

(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff194/hires_melissa_photos/mods/IMG_0684.jpg)

(http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff194/hires_melissa_photos/mods/IMG_0678.jpg)

tini,

Sorry for this, but you're right it looks very fugly ....

Now I got seconds thoughts on installing my clip-ons for this same very reason ... got no $$ for a new top triple ..

They're all pretty much the same.

The buttons are just in different places ;D

Mel- yeah. You do. Or at the least those lugs need milled off.

Send it to me. Ill mill the lugs off.

You got the idea right ... but the OEM is as tini says, fugly ... The bar support as I though is to have the 4 bolts go thru from top bar clamp to triple if you want to use the bar and have a 4 tiny bolts to cover the holes when using clip-ons ...

I might do that locally... shipping to the US and then getting it back without paying taxes is a real adventure ...

If I send my 996 can you machine it into a newer model?

I think I have 999 envy. :P

at this age you have no no no envy?

I could machine it into a pile of chips.

Trust me, that feeling of envy will go away right quick.

I have no seat time on a 996 so I can't compare.  

I gotta say though, im really starting to realize the full and awesome potential that the 999 really has.

I can see why it crushed in wsbk and im  just a hack.

  It can be a tiny bit more complicated than that. [laugh]

 Sorry kevin. Didn't mean to kill the thread. Please continue. :-[

This machine rocks.

Nothing like drilling a 1.5" hole from scratch in like 15 seconds.

I should have got that on video. . .

awesome.

You didn't kill the thread...

machine shops are 'boring'. [evil]

not really ..

Afterning all !!!

ummm



http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=198.0 (http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=198.0)

yeah, that was May 05, 2008, 17:22:03  ... it's June 2011 ...

what's the point ...

[roll]

[laugh]

figure it out yet?

I'm not sure If I did or not. Is there a point other than "afterning" is something you say on the other thread?

Nope...

I coulda said wrong thread...

but it was a test. ;D

Cool. Did he Pass the test?

Yes , mistook the thread ...

on the retake.... ;D

See other thread and sorry for 'temporary threadjack'

don't be 'sorry'.

I'm just bustin' ;D

duh!

Shameless bump. ;D

This is your favorite thread isn't it?

How'd you guess? ;D

BTW, aren't you supposed to be working???

I'm already home.

Held + /-. 001 all day with no offset adjustment whatsoever

Pretty cool :)

now that's what i call Precision, Made-to-Order.  ;)

 That is pretty impressive. For 3 parts. [laugh]
Try plus or minus .0003 for 1200 parts. Welcome to my world!! [laugh] [laugh]

I've done that before too. Not on my machine though. Not sure it would do it without a lot of babysitting

Groan...

;)

 ;D

 I know what you mean.
We have to allow for thermal displacement. Or, run the parts on the high limit so that they will be right after they cool off. It can be a real PITA.

tolerances are just a guideline.

Ain't that the truth

Sort of like he lines on the road in Italy are just a guide line. More of a suggestion really.

 Our certifications require less than 50 bad parts per million.
Anything more and we're out of business.

What fun is that?

What if you only make 40 bad parts per million, do they penalize you for not making your quota of 50?
















 :D

 Most of our parts are "just in time" to assembly plants.
Bad parts cost us "line down" fees of up to $10,000 an hour, Among other things.

I am so not getting involved in that...

 We really didn't have a choice. For many years we shipped from stock to warehouses and distribution facilities. Then our biggest customers decided to stop stocking parts. They devoted all of thier floor space to assembly and we supply on an as needed basis. We try to stock as much as we can, but it's easy to get stuck with obsolete parts that you can't sell.
 As a general rule we only have 24 hrs notice as to what has to go out.

When I worked at the fab shop it was similar...except the 'parts' were machines 26' long and several tons of steel.

Made for interesting life schedules.

The time I never worked at a Machine shop, I tied a piece of orange flagging to the fence behind me to use a s a backsight. When I walked down the hill and across the gulch to set up the Total station, I looked back for the backsight, only to discover that the Goats had eaten it right off the fence.

True story....

I think we took a plumbob shot on that one. The angle closed within 15 seconds...

I've been analyzing Texas Metes and Bounds property descriptions for the last several years.  I've seen errors of closure of half a mile.  The Egyptians did a better job of surveying.  I'd say on average, about 70% of the official surveys have gross errors of closure.  Unbelieveable - 15 seconds closure - I wish!  Good Job!

Well that's 15 seconds per shot. It was probably better than that but anything over 15 seconds is no good and gets done over.

Ahhhh, surveyor talk. I once did a survey, hanging off one State Survey Mark (SSM, I'm in Australia) and an azimuth from star observations, and closed on another SSM 4 km away inside 7mm 3D, and that's with 2km of trig heighting too.

Ps. this was when I was working in a machine shop, don't ban me.

 Oh yeah.
Well i once wrote a program in the nude! ;D
While working as a surveyor. LMAO

A couple pics of goodies that came in recently...

Starrett 0-12 Mic set, carbide faced, .0001 graduations and a ratchet thimble.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-06-17_13-12-19_120.jpg)

Royal Filtermist.  It sucks the smoke/coolant mist out of the machine, filters the droplets out and spits out clean air.  The coolant coalesces back into a liquid and drains back into the machine.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-06-17_13-12-34_85.jpg)

Simple Mitutoyo double column height gage and granite surface plate.
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-06-17_13-12-56_23.jpg)

Starrett 0-12" depth mic set.  Nothing special but I think it's cool :)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-06-17_13-13-15_501.jpg)

that's porn ML .. that's heavy porn ...

What? 


What?


What?


What?

Not so sure what to say here ;D

You actually want answers?

 ;D

I have an answer for him.  ;D

 I like that, A LOT.
  I bought the 0 to 6 set about 15 years ago.
 Not cheap, but it's been well worth every penny.
Just placed an order for a coaxial test indicator set yesterday.  [thumbsup]
 (thank god for payroll deduction) [laugh]

They're awesome.

They better be. That box was three thousand dollars...

That coax...Blake?

 Not sure of the brand. MSC listed it as MADE IN USA.
 $340.00 versus the import at $149.00.
If you haven't already, look into a guage pin and guage (jo) block set. Literally a thousand and one uses for those in a shop.

It's probably the Blake (US made)

I did buy a gage pin *library* from Vermont Gage.  .006"-1.000" every thou in Black Guard.  It's a lot of pins :o

Got a 81pc gage block set as well. . .

 What about angle plates and 1-2-3, 4-5-6 blocks?

Nada

Just a set of 1-2-3 blocks I made a long time ago. Never used them for much.

 Don't think i'm being "pushy".
I realize that it's going to take a while to stock a new shop with all the checking and measuring instruments it will eventually need.
 Thread gages, both pin and ring, will turn into a huge investment over time.
  If i run across any good deals, i'll let ya know.

Well, all my live milling holders are shot.  Rode hard and put away wet too many times.

I sent the worst one out for rebuild.  $800.  I have one more at that price to go and 2 at $900ea :o

I ordered a TPO floating rotor button so I can measure it up and make a bunch of my own.  Their website says they fit pretty much all Ducati's so that's nice that one part fits everything.

I am also quoting helicopter parts :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

I think TPO sends a shim for the thinner rotors.  I measure roughly 5.5mm on snowflake carriers and 4.0 on the stockers.

Seems like it includes the clip and shim.

I take it the shim is in the 1-1.5mm range on it's thickness?

I would guess so, I don't have any yet until you make some    ;D

gotcha :)

I need 20 of each size please.

I'm on it.

Shot some footage of chips flying.

These are 8620 steel shafts that just needed faced to length and the OD roughed and finished.

I would call the rough pass a fairly aggressive cut.  And really, the insert lasted too long, so if I ever get these again, I'm going faster next time :D

8620 Shafts.MP4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kAnaY1xxIhA#normal)

Never get tired of watching the mills, lathes, and water jet working in the Metals Tech shop on base.  They can really do some cool stuff.

*oops. wrong thread.   :-[

musta been too much  [wine]

Holy God...

We hooked up my high pressure coolant tonight.

Its like going from a super soaker to a fire hose.

It puts out 1000psi but I'm only at 500 right now.

What a difference!!

Does it basically pressure wash the chips away from the tooling?

Well, it serves two purposes.

When cutting metal you're limited by 2 things (mainly)  Generated heat and chip evacuation.

I had an insert drill running (1.5" diameter drill) at like 1300 rpm and the chips were starting to discolor (straw color)

With HP coolant I was able to almost double that rpm and the chips show no discoloration at all.  Speed = good :D

Additionally, since this unit flows 8gpm it washes chips away like crazy :)

I should take video even though it's hard to see (bad lighting and reflection on the window)

Stick ya hand inside with the cam, but have an extra video camera ready

My gopro is waterproof, but my machine defaults to setup mode when the door opens.

That means I have to hit go like 10 million times.

Not happenin'

;D

first time I've seen this thread...  me likey   [thumbsup]

1000 psi on the coolant pump  that-is-insane!!   

Well, I hired my first employee.  Full time.

One of my old customers, actually.  He ended up leaving his job and a few days later I hired him here.

This will really free me up to do a lot of other things.  Might be able to drop down to a 8-10 hour day soon :D

My largest customer is shifting more work my way.  Probably an additional 40 hours a week of work for the next six months.

I'm also planning for the next machine already.  There's a long run job (think 20 years here) that I could take over, but I'd need another lathe to put it on.

Things are happening.

:)

Congrats on all accounts ..

Keep the work coming !!!

;D

 [clap] [clap] [clap]

Nice going Kev!   [thumbsup]





[bacon]

Outstanding!! Way to go ML!! Business growing, hiring employees, etc. Hell, you might be the guy who turns the whole damn economy around. [thumbsup] [clap] I can push a broom, let me know when you need to hire another employee! [laugh] Seriously, congrats. I love this thread. [popcorn] [bow_down]

If I ever get big enough to move to a big building I'm putting in my own indoor range :D

You'd be welcome to visit.

then, I'll go visit the range after the shop's tour ... ;D

[thumbsup]

I'll go anyways, once I get a bit more $$ in my account so that the wife can travel with me to a DIMBY!!!

Kev...

Make...

Suppressors...

;D

 [laugh]

I am, right now at this moment, reading about suppressor construction.

I have a modular idea in my head, and I can't seem to find a similar design on the net.

I'll have to make one and someone will have to tell me how it works. . .

Legally speaking, you'll probably have to be the one to test it.  Or at least be present, at time of testing and then take the item back into your possession immediately there after. 

I get the impression I should probably have my FFL in place before I even build it.

I also don't own anything that would accept a suppressor.

So I guess I'll have to get something

:D

Congrats Kev!!!

Thanks!

Get a longer, threaded barrel for your .45 and go from there.

Of course, I'd rather see you focus on a nice tidy 5.56mm application though. 

 [evil]

10-4

Seems like all the designs out there are just trial and error setups.

I can play that game.

and I was thinking of a spark suppresor ... me dumb

Hope to be sitting on my back patio silently taking shots at the turkey vultures in the next few months. 

 [evil]

When you do... get something with a bull barrel, then machine your own threads to the barrel.  Suppressors must be lined up dead nuts to be effective and accurate.  Your best bet would be a bull barrel turned down to standard barrel diameter for the last 5 inches or so with a taper on the muzzle, smooth, then threads and a taper between diameters.  Make sure you cut super accurate threads.  Then, when / if you built a suppressor for it, you can have most of your expansion chamber behind the muzzle, and the heaver baffle section not slung quite so far out in front.  Tapers on the very rear and where the muzzle sits keep the device centered accurately.  It goes without saying you'd be single-pointing the threads... but with a CNC that shouldn't matter at all.

[thumbsup]

Kev, if you want to copy learn from a design, try to get a look at either the Knight's Armament or Surefire pieces. Both of those are top notch designs, with the Surefire alleged to be the most accurate.

September has been the best month yet at the shop. Probably double the best previous month.  And with 3 days to go there is a good chance I can increase this by another 25 percent.

I got a packet to quote for a customer that I had always hoped to do some business with.  I thought it was going to b 1 part, but it turned out to be 3.

Good potential for a 1 year blanket order on all 3.

 My machine has turned out to be pretty much awesome.  It seems to hold diameters within tenths part to part.

 The high pressure coolant is ridiculous.  I'll never have another machine without it.

 This thing is like a 12,000 pound metal eating god.

:D

Great to hear Kev !!!

Nice work.  [thumbsup]

I think you belong in this club now:

judas priest-metal gods (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jac80JB04NQ#)

So I spoke too soon :(

Mechanical failure knocked the turret out by like 1/2" :o

Service guy should be here tomorrow morning.  We'll take good notes so I don't have to call him again.

2 hours to 2 days they say [bang]

Google how to fix it...

I did. Steep learning curve and I have parts to deliver.

This is one of those situations where cheap is expensive...

and expensive is cheap.

he understands. ;D

;D

We're going to watch, ask questions and take good notes.

Well, things are mostly back in order.

However, we discovered a bent shaft that drives the live tooling motor (really a gear box) and possible damage to the motor itself.

New parts will be here monday.

My wallet will be $4500 lighter :(

Sorry to read bout it ...

Life goes on. The upside is that it should run well long after the machines paid for.

The other upside is that I may be able to recover some or all of this from the seller as it was somewhat misrepresented.

Both upsides are good ...

[popcorn]

but I'm a realist...

I bet it still costs you. ;)

Unless you retain services...

and that will cost someone...

probly you. ;D

Could go either way.

With what I've already put in combined with my upcoming parts and labor bill ill be at five figures.

Ill retain council to try and recover that.

That's pretty significant.

I'd do the same.

Wish me luck.

good luck !

You got it.

(http://www.fourleafclover.com/vshop/images/big/5_leaf_clover.jpg)

Didn't you learn after last time you jinxed yourself?

Which time?

There are so many :)

[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

good luck ML

can i get a belt buckle made from TI?  ;D

Sure thing. Its do able.

sweet. how much is a block of titanium that size anyways?

also, how cool would it be to have a buckle made on the cnc

prohibitively expensive


pretty cool [thumbsup]

tut, that's why some call it 'unobtanium'

so i should start grabbing all the TI scrap I can and figure out how to melt it into a block eh?


maybe AL would work better. lol
something light and not overly shiny is what i'm thinking

Aluminum. . . .

make a mold and cast your own buckle.  It's easier than you think.

ML

Ics trabajo on the text para Ubersetzen fuer deine employee !!!

lol,

this will go over well :)

On another note, repair tech is back and on the attack

Should be back online later today :D

thanks

and hope you get asap online !!!

umm, that would require skills in the drawing area.
i can melt the metal, i can pour it, i can clean it up and figure out hwo to make it fit.
i can even make the mold, i just need someone to make me the positive.

i can't haz art skillz

They're still working on this thing. . .

reassembling, but still.

. . . and now I hear hammering. . .

off to investigate.

<edit> Just seating the drive shaft into the bearing block.  Tight fit. . . I got out the big hammer :D

Deal King has reawakened!

Found another machine on Craigslist and am going to look at it on friday :D

It's old, but its my brand, it seems to have been taken care of (they bought it when it was new) and the price is right.

I could use it to make billet triple clamps [evil]

I like the possible purpose of it !!!

like for Monsters ....

<edit> Just seating the drive shaft into the bearing block.  Tight fit. . . I got out the big hammer 
 
« Last Edit: October 04, 2011, 02:09:26 PM by Monsterlover 
 

 When all else fails, get a bigger hammer. lol
BTW,  the mill looks to be in good shape.

I'm pretty stoked to get this thing.

I'm going to have it inspected by a pro (the guys that installed my lathe and did the service work on it)

I think they'll give the [thumbsup]

 Good deal Kev.
As always, i'm just a text away if you need me. [thumbsup]

These past couple week have been riddled with mechanical problems. We've gotten through most of them. It just takes cash.

Lots of trouble with a 5 cent o-ring failing. It allows coolant and hydraulic oil to mix which really sucks. Not to mention its a make the beast with two backsing oil mess to drain and refill things.

I swear I've had more hydraulic oil on the floor this past two weeks than anywhere else, like in the machine.

On the upside I think I have a real shot at a 12 month blanket order on some fairly easy parts. Monthly releases and about 40 hrs to machine everything.

New to me mill is coming to the shop 11/9

Lots to do between now and then.

Remove a wall, studs and insulate the remaining exterior walls, epoxy the floor, run electric for machine and outlets. 

No problem 8)

Gimme a shout if you need a hand man!

I can swing a sledgehammer and lift heavy shit...

You hiring?  ;)






[bacon]

Will do. Might be there doing some construction type work this weekend. 


Sooner or later.  We have snow and a 6 month riding season here. You know that, right?

but you get lake effect snow right?!

I grew up in New England... [thumbsup]

I'm familiar with Northeast weather...   :-\




[bacon]

Loads of it.

:
You're welcome back anytime ;D

get in line, I'm cheaper labor plus illegal !!!   [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

Ill work if you let me build my own parts

You can build your own parts when the machines are open ;)

The winds of change are blowing for me...

It might be sooner, rather than later...  :-\


 ;D



 [bacon]

Why you laugh at me? I only need little money [for the US] and a place to sleep, local watering, I can find on my own ...

Some shots I thought were cool.  There's a hole in the one wall for the sprinkler system inspection pipe which we had to remove to do some things.  The sun lined up just right and dust in the air made for a neat beam effect.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-10-24_17-09-11_171.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-10-24_17-10-02_674.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-10-24_17-10-27_996.jpg)

Getting ready new machine means more floor epoxy.

I started at 10am today with the sander and 16 grit paper.  It's now 830 and I'm finally almost done.  Got it all roughed up, etched with muriatic acid, rinsed and half way through mopping it all up.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-11-04_13-48-41_359.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-11-04_14-44-08_173.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-11-04_14-43-58_759.jpg)

Not much else to see just yet.

cool pictures ...

shop looks nice ...

Some shots of the floor and insulation going up

 (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-11-07_15-43-03_200.jpg)

 (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-11-07_15-43-10_570.jpg)

 (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-11-07_15-43-23_168.jpg)

16 grit? Good GOD.

Looks really, really good Kev!  [thumbsup]

Pretty much got it done. What a difference s bunch of insulation makes!

 (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-11-10_16-56-27_314.jpg)

 (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2011-11-10_16-56-32_858.jpg)

Got everything put back into place yesterday and marked the floor for the location of the mill. It will be here Monday at 730am :)

Is the guy in the pic your slave?

The term I like to use is "minion" :D

That works...

until he rebels.

good looking shop Kev ...

Thanks!

(http://ts1.mm.bing.net/images/thumbnail.aspx?q=1326726061328&id=75270b4372191ceee9bd298b291ed73d)

Rigging Day.avi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8BcHvzcL80&feature=youtu.be#)

 [thumbsup]

why does the red forklift have a face of evil on the back of it?

Its the debil's forklift?

Looks like Frylock to me.

i was most impressed by the amt of speed you carry when walking and how slow the red fork truck moves  [cheeky]

I don't waste time and I think that thing is geared low ;D

Well, the new mill works.

I've heard horror stores of old machines that are great until they are moved and then have board or drive failures when repowered.

No issues [thumbsup]

Although. . .

When I was leveling the thing it walked off the jack screw pad :o

Using the little forklift that could, I got it back into place. . .

and it happened again [bang]

I may have a career ramming dumpsters for the Waste Mgmt [laugh]

Turns out the pads have a hole through them, but the jack screws have nothing to fit the hole (and keep the machine in place when the screws are turned)

I milled pits for the screws to sit in and it worked great.  Machine is damn near perfectly level.  1 graduation on the level is .0005" over 12" :o  I'm not off more than 1 in any direction.

I spent almost $800 on a vise for the thing this morning, and have put together a tooling package for the tools I'll still need.  That will probably be $1500ish.  After that the spending is done and hope fully I can make some money with it.

nice

 [thumbsup] [beer]







[bacon]

good thing ML ...

Really cool seeing this all come together. [thumbsup] [beer] [bow_down]

So I made a brake caliper piston for Pip's ancient Honda he's restoring.

I decided it would be fun to engrave his name on the back of it.  The lighting is kinda sucky here, but it actually says "PIP" on the face of that piston [laugh]

Writing Pip's name.MP4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gz4xWcLOb3Y#)

[clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap] [clap]

;D

can you mill me a cane that has space for a flask or vials of liquor?
 ;D

at the rate you're going you better get a walker. :P

sorry...couldn't help it.

i already have the walker though! lol

So now you just need to epoxy some plugs in the legs and drill a hole for the straw.

This is like the most awesome thing I've read this month [laugh]

flask:cane keg:walker

I would think an oxygen tank holder would be just about the right size for a 5 gallon corny keg.

(http://image.wisdomking.com/images/pictures/3/6/photo_32.jpg)

Home brew to go!

weaksauce... I propose the mobility scooter:

(http://www.stagweb.co.uk/img/activities/big/beerkegracing1.jpg)

The world's smallest V12 engine (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THzLjJDgMkg#)
Impressive machining skills, and way to0 much time on his hands.
Check out the cam gears (it's not a four stroke, runs on compressed air)

ML, what do you do with the left over pieces?  How big are cubes of metal?

Well the topic locked got me to check out the "MST"

Leftovers as in leftover material?  Big pieces get saved for future use as fixture parts or for whatever we happen to need. Small pieces go in the solids bucket.

When its full it gets recycled.  Solids pay more than chips. I took over three 55 gallon drums of chips and a 100lb bucket of solids recently. 980 pounds total.

I got $47 for it. That's low carbon steel though. Nicer material pays more.

What's mst?  I locked by accident. Fat thumbs on a smart phone :)

Machine Shop Thread

I'm a little disappointed that Whimsy didn't stop by for a visit to do some carnage.

Whimsey had a bit too much Yuengling...
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp231/tazios/photo-169.jpg)
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp231/tazios/photo-166.jpg)

Then broke the doorknob
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp231/tazios/photo-167.jpg)

Then passed out on ML's cat...  :-\
(http://i415.photobucket.com/albums/pp231/tazios/photo-168.jpg)


[bacon]

Looks like OSHA wouldn't have wanted him in the shop the next day.

 [thumbsup]

Probably a good thing...

Who knows what he'd do if he got ahold of the forklift...



 ;D




[bacon]

Lookin good ML!

[thumbsup]

Who's the creepy looking pervert stareing into the camera?? ;D

The lowest paid guy I have working for me.

;D

No way dude, i'm still in tennessee. [laugh]

At least you get a check every week or every other week. I haven't had one since January.

Eating aluminum fries?

Ramen noodles. :)

Restoring a classic bike is a long, expensive, and difficult progress; especially of you are trying to do it the right way, not just the easy way. My CB250G5 is one of the first Hondas with a front disc brake, which is a simple chrome plated steel piston sealed with a rubber gasket into the caliper body. After sitting idle for years in a bath of corrosive brake fluid, the old piston became pitted, rusty, and had chrome flaking off not only on the inside, but on the outside sealing area. This can cause brake fluid to leak past the seal, and make the already "soft" braking more of a 50/50 encounter with death. Kevin (Monsterlover), out of some mad sense of generosity, machined up a new caliper piston out of stainless steel... and it is a thing of absolute mechanical beauty. HE EVEN PUT MY NAME ON IT!!!!

(Better pictures on the way soon.)

(http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg694/scaled.php?server=694&filename=img20111221002282.jpg&res=medium)
Look at that! It's beautiful.

(http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg696/scaled.php?server=696&filename=img20111221002291.jpg&res=medium)

(http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg141/scaled.php?server=141&filename=img20111221002301.jpg&res=medium)

(http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg705/scaled.php?server=705&filename=img20111221002251.jpg&res=medium)

And although there was never any question about fitment, I tested it out. It could not fit any better. The measurements are spot on, and it really is a shame this gorgeous chunk of metal will be hidden under brake fluid and a caliper. I take comfort in the fact that I actually will never have to worry about the most common Vintage Honda front brake problem again. Kev, I cannot thank you enough, man. Once again, The DMF reminds us of how truely generous and kind our brothers and sisters can be to one another.

 [bow_down] Kevin

Nice..  kevin, you would be able to make brake rotors easy huh?   Would love a light version for my car..  can't wait for spring time..

I couldn't make a rotor from scratch but I could lighten up an existing one.

@ Pip- glad to help you out bro

Cool.. ill keep that in mind

Kev, nice piece .. PIP enjoy it and take pics from all angles ...

BTW, that piston [the old one] with a little 'ceboecuba' fits perfectly and wont leak ....[that's how lots of real cheap shops fix brake fluid/preasure leaks in Latin America and lots of third world countries]  [thumbsup] [Dolph]

Things have started to pick up a little.  Looks like I've landed some longish term higher volume work to keep things rolling along.

Good thing I got that mill because out of the blue I got a call from a past acquaintance to do some work for them and ill need the mill to do it.

This is low volume (couple pieces at a time) repeat work. Repeat is the key.

I also had a meeting with another potential customer yesterday. He's coming out to see the shop next week so that's cool.

2012 is going to be my year.

We're gonna crush everyone. 

very cool thread - I am glad you are keeping it going.

mitt

I don't blog or post anything to Facebook.  This thread gives me a place to do that and at the same time provides a window into a world most people know little about.

Kev pm your contact info..  if you want I can submit it to some of the mod companies I know which use machine shops.. 

www.southmorgan.com (http://)

:)

Is that a ducati clutch plate in your logo  ;D   


mitt

<takes a second look>

Lol, spose so [laugh]

Great web site, simple and tells you what you need to know [thumbsup]

Awesome!

Glad to hear everything is working out for you, Kevin!

 [thumbsup]

+11TB!!  [beer]

Thanks guys.  It's still a struggle though.

We're making gravy for sure, but sometimes there are still lumps ;D

Ok, a lot of times [laugh]

and from those lumps, you will mill out metal flamingo's and have DP paint them pretty colors for future planting!

;D

This really is an extraordinary crew here!!

Yup...

they're special. ;D

And yer the specialest of us all!

 [cheeky]

why thanks.

billet flamingos? where do I sign up?

you can make those...

no?   [laugh]

you underestimate the power of lazy  ;D

Static inertia is a bastard.

I like to see myself as one who celebrates potential energy  :D

just think of the different uses...from hood ornaments, to lawn decoration and many incarnations all over the place...

indeed...  [beer]

Oooooo...I got an idea....a kickstand...the pivot bolts in right above the Flamingo's head and the single foot of it extends down to the pavement....

(http://www.duccutters.com/johnson/DucFoot/Originals/duckickstand1.jpg)

Once you get those into production, count me in for one!   

me too

what would be appropriate for a KTM?

I'm definitely in for the Duck foot!!!!

EXACTLY, except the shaft of it midway all the way to the top be a flamingo body!

I'll need it for an st4. 

[bang]

I'm getting to be a great troubleshooter/machine maintenance tech.

The first job I go to run on my mill and I'm dead in the water because of a failed coil on a directional control valve.  It makes my tool changer mechanism move around and it's toast.

I hope I can get another one in for tomorrow.

[bang]

. . . more lumps ;D

I'd rock it this way:
(http://maddensresort.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/alice-in-wonderland-croquet-1.jpg)

Found a valve with both coils on eBay for a great price.  I'll have it tomorrow.

 I'll pull off one of the coils to replace my one bad one and then I'll have some spare parts.

 Things could be much worse :)

They always can.

Good for you.

February is now officially bonkers.

Its looking like ill have to work 2nd shift for a good part of the month to get everything done on time.

And my main customer wants to give me more

And another, quickly growing, customer wants to inventory their material at my facility so they can just send orders and we can get to it.

I need another body or machine. Possibly both.

Yee haaw!

You work with titanium?

wish I was closer, I'm sure i could learn how to operate that stuff and I'd give you a hand on the weekends

I love seeing a new business succeed and prosper...it's what makes this country awesome for the people who want to work for it.

Best of luck, and I hope the orders keep coming! [beer]

What's the salary for a novice with good ideas who can learn anything within a week?

Access to the machines and all the water you can drink ;D

Ha..   :-X

Soup, sandwich and a clean T-shirt

ML, nice to hear ...[thumbsup]

lethe, that much ?!?!?!

hey cokey, I asked first loooooong time ago ... wait in line  ;D

I have every confidence he can...and will.

He won't be cheap though... ;D

Great news Kev!!

 [thumbsup]

Yeah, ill cut titanium.  Ill work with anything but cast iron.

I don't know about cheap. I've been competitive so far but price is the last thing ill sell on.

I start with zero quality issues and deliveries that range from early to on time.

Sorry to have edited your post, but, that's how I do it too ... in my one man op of mechanical work ...

Well novice I like. I can train.

Learning anything in a week... I can't help you. It takes years.

If you were autonomous and could setup jobs, make good parts and made sound, common sense decisions probably at least $20/hr

I've been making chips for the last 8 years, and I still don't know shit

PM'd you ML, need parts made  [thumbsup]

Pm returned.

Also, I got an rfq today for 70,000 pieces.

70,000

Great googily moogily!

that's good right?

Yeah its good.

Not sure yet how id pull it off but I have a couple ideas brewing :)

goood

Muchas good :)

in that case ... best of lucks ! ! !

:)

Do any of the ideas have umpa lumpas in them?

 ;D

mitt

I think you mean Grunka Lunkas ;D

And yes :D

This is worthy of pom poms!   Go seal the deal mister!

 [thumbsup]   

Less talking, more milling

My mill sits idle...

Everyone wants round things made smaller these days.

less talky more lathey

CHIP

???

(http://cdn.babble.com/famecrawler/files/2011/01/chips-1.jpg)

Nah....

(http://edmontonmachineshop.com/wp-content/themes/inuitypes/images/chips400x296.jpg)

 [drool] [drool] [drool]

Monday is the day.  My contact's boss is the decision maker and I made sure to ask her if I could meet him on Monday.

Got the ok. . .meeting with them both at 9am [thumbsup]

This.

order.

is.

mine

Holy cow are we busy! 

My minion is working like 60hr weeks. Me too to support him.

I hired a guy part time second shift so that's good for about 15 extra hrs a week.

I am going to work 3rd shift for the next two or three weeks to help us stay ahead of the game.

I am seriously looking at adding another lathe with a magazine barfeeder (loads replacement material from the magazine all on its own)

Customers are very happy with us and are basically hurling work my way as fast as ill take it.

These days its goes like this: sweet, we got the order.....make the beast with two backs, we got the order

;D

Dude!  That's awesome!   [thumbsup] [beer]

So, you probably won't have time to make Nate a new freezer?   ;)


 ;D





 [bacon]

Or suppressors.   [thumbsdown]



Seriously though, congrats man! Great to see that your business is flourishing like this.

that's good to know man, keep it up ....  [thumbsup] [beer]

whiched I was as busy ...

so happy things are going so well for you kev  :)

Thanks everyone!

I think I've invoiced more in the past 10 days than I did over my best three months last year.

Not that ill get to keep any of that but its progress :)

I love an American success story,  [thumbsup] Kevin!

How were the excel files?


mitt

I haven't had a chance to play with them yet. As you're the excel overlord I'm taking it on faith they'll be fine :)

This thread makes me  ;D

A shop owner I know told me recently the guys that made it through 2008-2011 were the ones that did the highest quality work, and delivered on time.   You are one of those guys I assume.   Keep it up.   It looks like our industry is starting to come back.   2 shops I know here locally just bought some new equipiment, one a BIG CNC lathe, the other a new mill. 

That's awesome!

Manufacturing has been on the rebound since late 09, early 10.  My last actual "job" was outside sales selling cutting tools to shops and they've been rockin since then.

Actually, I dare say the industry has rebounded.  Everyone I know is pull their hair out busy and we're joining the ranks as well.

I agree that the shops that did well when things were slow were the shops that had good quality.  On time delivery is another realm entirely [laugh]  One of my old customers quoted 10 weeks delivery on all their work, and they were really more like 16.  They had good quality and, apparently, patient customers.  That shop added (on average) 2 new machines per year and an addition to their building every 18 months.  They continue that trend even today, a year after I stopped calling on them.

I hope we have the option of growth like that.  I wouldn't let things go that fast, but the option would be nice :D

Sounds like you're doing awesome.   [thumbsup]

When your ready to add sheet material CNC cutting, I know someone.   ;)

Funny you mention that.

Id love a water jet.

They're just cool :)

I thought this was your nap time...?  ;)


;D





[bacon]

It is.  I'll be home and in bed in an hour.

 Duty called, and kept calling.

duty is better than doodie !!!

Get home safe...  Driving when exhausted is tougher than drunk driving while trying to text and drink a latte.  :P

Hope you get enough zzz time in to be able to function tonight...  [thumbsup]



[bacon]

Ill manage.

No one to yell at me if I show up late [thumbsup]

;D





[bacon]

Break time on the graveyard shift.

I'm running out of steam and it's only 3:30 am :(

That being said, I just finished up a couple 316 stainless parts on the mill that I'm pretty proud of.  They're nothing special, just a bolt hole circle and some tapped holes but it came out great.  Locations were spot on, threads look beautiful and the thread depth is within like .002" of where I expected it.

Not bad for a tap and a 22 year old machine.

I love being able to say "I made that"

:D

Pics from tonight -

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-03-01_04-34-26_527.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-03-01_04-34-47_739.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-03-01_04-55-19_889.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-03-01_04-55-33_995.jpg)

oooo shiny!  ;D [thumbsup]

Awesome   [thumbsup]    ;D

Very nice  [thumbsup]

that's a great feeling.
parts look nice kev!

I loves me some freshly machined bits.  8)

 [thumbsup]

Awesome

Drilling.avi (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYsIHSD4v8c&feature=youtu.be#)

Mmmm CNC-y

Go man go!

Does the water get recycled?

Yes.

It's water soluble cutting oil.  It drains down to a sump pan where it's pumped back up to the spindle.

Pretty big for a Ducati part...

 ;D   ;D


Very nice work.

mitt

;D

Thanks mang!

He's making a stretch swingarm, dual rear tire kit for DSS bikes. It's gonna be Busariffic.

Kev can handle that. ;D

That's not for the swingarm project. Those are some prototype bars ends. I hear they really dampen vibrations.  [laugh]

They're for my new line of stainless knee sliders

:D

They're really expensive but they'll last damn near forever!

"For the track day warrior who is afraid to lean..."

[laugh]

Are you still employed?

How are they going to make the vibrations wet?  [popcorn]

How else do you make vibrations wet?

You see, James, when a man and a woman love each other...

[laugh]

Or they're kinda drunk, and it's almost last call...

I am still employed...but it most definitely isn't from lack of trying not to be.  [laugh]

And for you, Mr. Smarty Pants Buckethead...I give you Dictionary.com...  [cheeky]
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dampen (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/dampen)

You ever see office space?

You should start acting like that and see what happens.  :D

damn it feels good to be a gangster

And I give definitions 8-11 of damp from the same source.

8. to check or retard the energy, action, etc., of; deaden; dampen: A series of failures damped her enthusiasm.
9. to stifle or suffocate; extinguish: to damp a furnace.
10. Acoustics, Music . to check or retard the action of (a vibrating string); dull; deaden.
11. Physics . to cause a decrease in amplitude of (successive oscillations or waves).

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/damp
 (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/damp)


Indeed.  8)

Heyyy...who you callin' a retard?  [laugh]


I threaten to burn the place down at least a dozen times a week. And my red stapler better show up soon or I am going to talk to HR about my check...

Well ML, I'm now running, some of the time, a vertical CNC lathe with a 10 ft. chuck, big giant stuff.   The rest of the time, a Haas.    A load of overtime, things are going very well, I might be looking at a Multistrada 1200S, or KTM SuperDuke, or most likely, a Tuono V4.   The wifey says, save, save, save, I say, screw that, I'm not going to be able to work like this forever, I want to take advantage right now.   And I just upped my life insurance, so everything should be peachy for her if I drop dead in front of a machine, or do something stupid on a motorcycle (hey fellas, watch this!).

Sounds like fun (except for the Haas part ;)  )

Don't work yourself to death.  It's not worth it.  My part timer has worked like 45 days straight at his regular job.  It'll be years before I see (personally) the sort of income he's getting right now.  I like my weekends.  He doesn't know what those are.

10' chuck huh. . .  I always liked those machines because you could take a big cut (if the operator could stomach it)  I did some insert testing a while back on a wind turbine bearing race.  We were facing at like a .200" depth of cut at a .030 or .033 ipr feed.  It ripped metal :D

More stainless fun :D

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-03-13_01-56-45_921.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-03-13_01-56-58_147.jpg)

And the first side of the finished produce (and my size 12 for scale)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-03-13_01-55-19_771.jpg)
(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-03-13_01-56-18_226.jpg)

Here's a quick vid of that 2" drill in action (and me finding out my rough turn insert was shot towards the end)

Hole is 4" deep

2in drill 316ss.MP4 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXNjtyH2J4M&feature=youtu.be#)

Pretty cool stuff   [thumbsup]

Yer killin' me here bro. Pretty good sign when you look at future potential employment and think damn that looks like fun...  [laugh]

"oooooh boy. heh!'

Looks like a red blinking eye from a skynet robot.. 

that's one hell of a sturdy cup holder!  ;D

Built to last baby!

I thought it was for pens/pencils

it's a condom, can't be too safe

It's a deluxe holder for a medium-sized can of Bush's baked beans...

It's a Bush's Baked Beans sacrificial altar

:D

Been making some neat stuff lately.

A few pics-

A finished part sitting on top of the rest that are done on the first side, waiting on the 2nd op.

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-03-19_10-29-30_683.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-03-19_10-29-41_941.jpg)

These parts get split after machining.  I devised a simple fixture to hold them in place while the band saw does the chopping...

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-03-22_15-00-13_131.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-03-22_15-02-50_992.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-03-22_15-03-41_352.jpg)

(http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-03-22_15-05-51_687.jpg)

I know there has to be a reason, but it sucks to see that beautiful piece cut in half!

[laugh]

I said the same thing when I was cutting them.

What are they, big packing glands??
I've worked on equipment that had packing glands that big.

Couldn't say. All I know is they're called "fan hubs " 

Wide open for tolerances except the bore, +/- .001"

I assume the retain a bearing or seal on a shaft that wont allow the retainer to fit over the end.

Just a guess though.

A quick update-

Things are super busy at shop.  I have two main customers and both want to increase their level of business with me.  One of them by double.  Id guess the other to follow suit.

We signed paperwork on Wednesday to buy another lathe and 12' bar feeder.  New this time, not used.  

I have 2 parts that are repeat orders every month that will very likely last years.  My customer wants to have us do the mating part to those which would double the part volume and dollar volume as they cost the same.

We ordered another Mazak.  An 8" chuck model this time.  QTN200 and an FMB 5.65 bar loader to go behind it.  

Material comes in 12' long and we saw it into 4' lengths to fit my machine.  The new bar loader will accept the entire 12' bar (a bunch of them actually) and when the machine has made all it can from it, it will retract the remnant, eject it into a tray, load the next bar and move it into the cutting position in about 30 seconds.

The lathe will basically look this this-
(http://cfnewsads.thomasnet.com/images/large/450/450462.jpg)

and the bar feeder-

(http://mfgnewsweb.com/archives/workholding/feb06/pics/Edge-Tech-FMB-Turbo.jpg)

This thing should kick some serious ass.  I should have asked if it comes painted black with flames :D

So ive done my part to stimulate the economy and create jobs (1-2 probably) :)

 [clap]   [thumbsup]

Those look fun!

Congrats man! That thing is a beast!

Always nice to see friend's progress and prosper!

 [beer]    [thumbsup]

Thanks but I think you mean friend's bank progress and prosper ;D

Gotta spend money to make money right?

and if like me, you have no money? . . .

We're like you Carlos

I was just asking . . .

Well I just picked up a series 1 Bridgeport.

I wonder how it works  :P

Are you changing careers?

I didn't think brute force and ignorance was applicable to machining.


True to form, I have no good way to move it off the trailer.

Now go out and buy a forklift. ;D

bring the trailer into the shop and turn it into the base for the machine

brute force and ignorance can be applied almost everywhere with varying amounts of success... ;D

what could possibly go wrong?  ;D

I was thinking gin pole for the jeep.

make sure it's all recorded for our viewing pleasure

I have a 2 ton extended reach chainfall...

you could park the trailer outside and drag it in. ;)

If you had to you could unbolted the head, get some strong friends over and move it in pieces.

Hey ML,

gonna ask a question need to fab sleeves to make the inside of the clip-ons smaller, the mirrors come with two adpaters and the largest has an OD of 19mm and still too small, should I make these sleeves out of aluminium or can I use Teflon or bronze?

Bar end mirrors?

yes . . .OK, I forgot to say what for . . . need something to drink

so for cup holders?  ;D

no, beer ! ! !

bottles. cans or keg?
very important for sizing the holder

kegs !!!!

ok, now we're getting somewhere.
So, ML, all you have to do is design and build keg holders for his bike and in such a way that balance is not adversely affected. Easy enough.

Back pack w/ straw and bar mounted pumping unit.

:D

I think you should make nice adjustable rear-sets for Sport1000s. 

Oh yea, and suppressors. 

 :D

thanks .. i usuallyuse a camelpack for it but ...

Really, what material should I use .  . Aluminium, Teflon or bronze

Id make alum tubes that snugly slip into the bar and will accept the mirror. Loctite them into the clipon bar and install the mirror as normal.

Ride it up and we can prototype some foot rests for you. ;D

Thanks

Ahem

What's the problem?

Bring guns with you.

CAN!

pun intended

 :D

[laugh]

Also I've never seen a suppressor in person or their innards (pics) so id really just be making it up as I go.

Don't worry. We'll walk you through it.

No worries.  It's just a series of baffles.  I'd be happy to test it for you.   [evil]

Oh yeah?  You probably should be onsite for that. ;D


I thought id get another barrel for my 1911 and thread it (if it wasn't already), get a decent decibel meter and start taking some readings to see what works.

You probably should come up to help ;D

PM me your address so I can start making plans.  I'd be more interested in a can for the M4 than anything else.

Of course Kev will get his class 3 license...

cool...

next. [evil]

IIRC you don't have to have a class three license to be a manufacturer. 

...but we won't discuss it...

cuz we don't do gun law.

I was just commenting. [evil]

I think the easy way is for me to get my ffl.  Then my bases are covered and I can do whatever the hell I want :)

lol 

Wasn't going to get into the law of things. 

Just want him to make me a suppressor. 

 :D

not for nuthin'...

if uncle sugar is involved...

he needs a license. [laugh]

Ffl's are cheap and I don't have any fellonies on my record.

I should be fine :D

But just think of all the fun we could have with the "Kev goes to jail thread". 

 :D

R00tchick will love that one. [laugh]

you're in trouble now mister... [laugh]

Par for the course ;D

My gun dealer from way back was a hoot. Good guy. When he wasn't not making a living selling guns, he was not making a living farming.

I bought a ridiculous .300 winmag Savage bolt action from him with a Choate stock, a bipod, a muzzle brake and a scope that made over there look a lot like right over here. He'd never shot a rifle with a muzzle brake, so he asked if he could borrow it for the weekend. As he's driving home, he turns off the paved road onto the dirt road leading to his property. Corn fields on both sides, he comes up over a rise and sees a big-ass rattle snake slithering across the road, so he stops his car (he's driving his wife's Mercury Cougar) and hops out to go get a gun out of the trunk. The only thing in the trunk he's got ammo for is my .300 winmag, cause he's got ammo at the house for everything else, so he opens the box and shoves three rounds into the mag, then jacks one home and hip-fires at this snake that's maybe 40 feet away. He hits close enough that it knocks the snake up into the air and over a few feet, and now this thing is slithering for its life, trying to make it to the other ditch. So he jacks another round home and lets fly, and it launches this snake up into the air and ONTO the corn field next to the road. But by this point, he's just shot 2 .300 winmag rounds out of a rifle with a muzzle brake with no ear protection on and his shit is RINGING. But he got the snake, so that's all that really matters. So he unloads the rifle and puts it back into the trunk and gets into the car.

His wife, who has watched all of this from the passenger seat, looks at him and says "Don. You do realize you had your Bobcat (.25ACP Beretta Bobcat) on you, right?"

To which he turns and say "WHAT?! I CAN'T HEAR YOU! THAT DAMN RIFLE IS TOO LOUD!"

 [laugh]

So in the interest of keeping the general population informed of the goings on in the cnc world I thought I'd let you know about the dark side of cnc machines.

Sometimes they break.

For no reason other than because sometimes electronics fail.

And laugh at you the whole time you're looking at them trying to diagnose the issue over the phone with Mazak, and then with Mitsubishi (who made the evil box in the first place)

These machines have "drives" that control each axis motor and the spindle.  A few days ago my spindle drive on the lathe turned evil.  The machine just shut off all of the sudden (except the screen) and displayed #15 alarm (a red alarm too, so it's more serious)

15 System Malfunction does not bring good feelings when you read it.

On your machine.

The upside is that both Mazak and Mits were spot on over the phone and really knew their shit.

My drive was obsolete and they didn't even have the parts on hand to repair it.  They had an updated drive that would work for me. 

One in stock.

I ordered it red on my credit card to speed the process up.  I would have shit if someone else bought it in the meantime.

So my machine was down for a day.

New drive showed up in the morning, we set it up and i swapped it in.  It worked, to my delight.

$3800 for that box of evil.

that will fail again someday on a day of its choosing.

The upside is that I called my insurance agent on a whim, just in case, and damned if it wasn't covered.  $1000 deductible and I'm back in business.

So the morel here is that while these machines are awesome and make cool stuff for your bikes, they have an evil side that demands money from you at random and inopportune times.

As do ALL machines . . . ;D

Least you had that brain wave on the first go and not after doing this a few times.  [thumbsup]

I don't know about ALL machines. . .

I have a few that have treated me well.

I won't name them, though, as that would just encourage them

;D

Anything to get out of footing that whole bill ;D

Now go make a new drive... lol..

I have little to no understanding of electronics.

All I know is it's a box, magic happens inside, and my machine makes parts.

;D

I'm sure that that would be light years out of my range of ability too.  :P
I'd know enough to be able to take it apart, recognize a bunch of stuff and then be able to put it back together with it still not working.

So when ya gonna get some of these machines? I would be there tomorrow if you had even more cool kit like this there!

Making of aquagrafx GTX 480 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-Yd8v2Ub9E#)

I am particularly fond of the laser engraver!

So when are we going to see ML brand KTM parts?  ;D

Ive thought about lc8 air boxes and light flywheels.

What else is there?

You obviously don't realize what I've got at my shop ;)

What time should I expect you tomorrow?

Right after I finish roofing. ;D

Sport1000 (Mono please) rear sets!

This.

OK...but I call dibs on the CNC mill and the copper parts! ;)

They're all yours.

I need to get someone trained on that mill too. I'm the only one who knows how to run it. :P

I just obliterated my thumb with a hammer

 I'm pretty sure I saw a mushroom cloud

You OK?

Ill probably be fine. 

The tip past the nail is not what id call "good"

They can take a lot of abuse    ;D

The fact you are posting indicates you'll live.

I'll cancel the 911 call. :-*

Without opposible thumbs I see no reason to exist

Should I call 911 and ask them to exterminate you? :P

Daleks at my door?

[laugh]

The Doctor.... ;D

;D

Tip past the nail, some short nails..

Just cut this morning. 

It was a hard hit.

Latest mill fun. Customer supplied these mold inserts for me to drill tapered flow holes in them. They're for a mold that shoots robber into shock absorber bushings.

.093 drill, then .067 drill through, then tapered reamer to reform the 093 hole to 5° per side taper.

 (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-04-26_17-01-52_266.jpg)

 (http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y25/900rider/SMT/2012-04-26_17-19-59_725.jpg)

Apparently, your thumb is fine. I smashed my throttle hand between a 1500# welding trailer and a concrete wall and am still riding. Buck up ya fruitcake!  [cheeky]

I worked for an injection molder my senior year of high school (working 6pm to 6am 3 days a week and going to school full time might not have been my best decision ever...) and saw lots of those tapered ports in molds but we had a machine shop in house that made all of them.

Where to being...

There's NO competition for 690 Enduro/SMC shift levers - Hammer head has nice designs, but nothing for stuff bigger than the 530s. No one makes anything in the after market. Various protector gizmos... Sliders.. all manner of toys.

What's so cool about the hammer head shifters?

I might have need for some bracket wizardry to adapt the small 2 piston caliper I have to my forks so I can swap back and forth from my 17" to 21" front rim (the big 4 piston doesn't clear the spokes on a 21" )

I could use a top handlebar clamp for the Multi that incorporates a GPS mount...  ;D