Business of Machining - Episode 138

SHUT IT DOWN FOR CMTS!

Grimsmo and the gang are shutting down the shop and heading to CMTS to learn! Everyone has an eye out for things that could improve GK processes AND now that Grimsmo's in a 5-axis mindset, he's ready to absorb as much as possible.

TIME SUCK/DISTRACTION?

Although trade shows are fun and full of information, they can also steal time from your business. Attending a trade show can feel productive; however, it can also be a cleverly disguised distraction preventing more important, dreaded tasks from completion.

Gearing Up for a Trade Show Visit?
Click Here for some tips to make the most of your time there!

THE PURGE
Saunders gets Marie Condo Points for unloading the Bridgeport, which hasn't been used in over a year---except when Ed's using it as a Broachport. Making decisions to pare down can be difficult because we think our stuff is more valuable than it actually is. The good news is that determining ROI can help!

DOMO ARIGATO, MR. ROBOTO (If you sang this, you get 5 bonus points)
Ahhh, the FANUC Robodrill has arrived but it's lonely and J5 is sizing it up.A sub panel has to be added to feed the Robodrill and and another "evil" machine.

Is it Big Plus? There are a few clues here and there but nothing definitive. Once the wiring is finished, the SMW team will determine the automated workflow for a new mod vise product!

Ready Robotics - Possible Solution to FANUC woes?
During a fireside entrepreneurial chat with FlexArm, they bring up a company based out of Columbus, Ohio (50 minutes from SMW). Turns out, they have an OS that lives on top of FANUC to control FANCUC and other robots. Does this mean that SMW won't have to learn FANUC?

SHOP LAYOUT & RIGGERS
Having 3D printed models of your machines DOES help immensely but they are also limited. After being presented with an abnormally large moving bill for the TM3-P and the UMC-750, SMW finds it valuable to have skates to avoid being at the complete mercy of the riggers.

THE P.O. PLUNGE - Who are you and what have you done with JOHN!?
Saunders signs the P.O. for the lathe (pretty sure the real John has been swapped with a lathe-loving cloned version). He even ENJOYED making a part on the Slant Pro recently....

Since the Robodrill needs to be bolted down, he decides to wait until the lathe and bar feeder arrive before determining its semi-permanent placement.

Not only does SMW have plans for a few new products for this machine, they also plan to add turning recipes to ProvenCut!

YES OR NO?
Grimsmo finally speaks to the elusive guy he's been texting for the last 3 months about the 26,000 sq ft shop.