New machine is born! THANKS!!!

Tom Gardner · 2006-09-16T04:54:32+00:00

Thanks everybody for all the pieces-parts advice! Carbide grades, DC motor controls, linear bearings, Bridgeport sympathy, shaft timing, 1-way clutches, air cylinder spring, tool steel properties, machining tricks, roller chain knowledge, and about twenty other situations that I got great wisdom from you people! Nine months of metalworking.The machine is producing: new machine supplements the machine I built two years ago that we are running 4 hours a day overtime. Both machines can make the above brush and this smaller one: now, each machine will be dedicated to one style. The new machine addresses all the little things we didn't like about the first machine, although it only has a 2% down time. I wonder what NEW PIAs I've created??? So, we made the first six good parts in a row before the first failure. A DC gearmotor took a dump! What do you expect, it was BLUE!!! Rather than even opening it up, it took a quick ride to the motor shop. I suspect the brushes aren't great and the commutator looks scored-up, it doesn't smell bad. If I didn't have a goof, I'd be scared!I found out from a friend at a German machine company that they were approached to quote a machine to make these products. quoted at $280,000 and stated they didn't want to do it! Flat wire is a BITCH!!!The customer passed on the deal...THANK GOD!!! The entry fee into this little niche market is high. I'm already planning the next version that will be CNC with a bunch more improvements it whatever annoys me in this version. Solidworks, baby! I've already shut one manufacturer down and they now buy from us; two more to go! I had to hire three more people, gave across the board raises and posted the best month ever in 127 years! (We think) Wait 'till this machine kicks in! The bank might actually start to see some of their cash back now. If you owe the bank enough, they are actually nice.Thanks again for all the help! ...and donated parts!!!

Sep 16, 2006 21 Replies

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batw 19 years ago

I wanna work for someone like Ross Perot now there's an employer that looks out for his people batw

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kfvorwerk 19 years ago

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