Modern Machine Shop is the leading publication and media brand in North America devoted to CNC machining. To report on the ways CNC machining technology is advancing and succeeding, our staff travels the world exploring the ways job shops, contract shops and captive operations use machining equipment, processes and strategies to become more effective and efficient. MMS combines unprecedented editorial access to manufacturing facilities with decades of experience to provide long-form content that is both insightful and impactful.
What is the dinosaur name for the antique red telephone hanging on the office wall ? What is the dinosaur name for the "safety glasses optional" policy ?
Like the shout out for the Mr. Deburr tumbler. Purchased mine 19 years ago for my shop. It's been a great addition to all the other machines. Customers are speechless sometimes when they receive parts that were tumbled. Plus, when you do before anodizing what a difference it makes on that finish also.
Very nice video I worked in the aluminum steel and stainless steel industries. Since 1978 I am still very versed in my favorite. Aluminum. Still know the alloys and applications. Miss the work but still pass on my knowledge. Thanks for memories.
Oh boy I’m the first to comment lol. Very nice video and great shop as well. Small machine shops are still the backbone of our country. My shop video just came out about a month ago. Big shout out to Modern Machine Shop. In the world of multi million dollar shops it’s nice to see smaller shops and what they do. I wish you continued success. 👍🏼👍🏼
The statement that this is the first commercial watchmaker in America in the last 50 years is untrue. RgM in Pennsylvania also has a 19th century rose engine and started manufacturing in 2008. There is also Weiss in Tennessee.
That’s so true, sadly not a whole lot of young ppl are interested. ( heck many don’t want to even work at all sadly) However there are still many who with the right guidance will realize just what a great trade it is. If you have a mechanical aptitude and a great work ethic you can make it a great career. My personal opinion is high school guidance counselors don’t do a good job of steering ppl into this industry. This was a battle I had for many years at the Vo Tech I was involved with.
That is a really cool shop. I was never a big watch guy but after seeing some of the companies like this making amazing watches I really want one now. I appreciate the craftsmanship and detail, really amazing work 👍
Hi Lee, I made a few aluminum motorcycle parts for you a long time ago. Great to see your shop doing so well, and your sons continuing and expanding the business. Next time I hear the claim that nobody makes anything in America anymore I will send them a link to this video. Imagine what manufacturers could do if the stinking government weren't constantly inflating the currency and imposing crippling regulations. All the best to you and your family!
I remember that! We were so busy we were subbing parts out for a while. Your work was excellent. Yes it’s really a shame that we don’t get the protection we need. Higher tariffs on items coming here from China especially. And it’s impossible to compete with someone having no EPA . Not to mention what they pay ppl. Hey give me a level playing field at least, PLEASE. I put my heart and soul into that business and sales have simply gone way down in the motorcycle end. Not only from the China knock offs but so many ppl coping my designs here as well. Years back when I first started there were maybe 3 options you had in the catalogs. Soon after I came up with the many different types of intakes. ( I would venture to say we made more varieties than anyone in the industry) the imitators came in like crazy. Pretty sure they looked at me and said 🤔 Hum he’s making money on this stuff why don’t we get into it. I’m bitter about that fact. Next to the several pages I had in the big distribution catalog there were the competitors with their versions. Most were simply copies of mine in some way. Easy to come up with design changes to something someone’s already invented. Still all in all I’m proud of the things I’ve created. I’d like to think I’ve left my mark in the industry. Regardless I had a blast traveling, doing trade shows, the friends I’ve made and everything that went along with the motorcycle world. In fact if not for a certain famous motorcycle club ( not Hells Angles , but one in a running wheel lol ) I’d have never met my wonderful second wife. This club is so awesome, simply the best ppl and custom bikes. I’ve been a proud member for 23 years now. I’ve had a good ride and as the masters in the industry told me from the start. Sell the heck out of your product and move on to the next. This industry will steal things so fast it makes you head spin. And that’s only half the story. The parts we’ve machined over the years are pretty darn incredible for our size. Years back we were 2nd to prime on a lot of military contracts. We made some really great parts. One was safety arming rotors for Cruze missiles. We did medical parts. We also made parts for the Jaws of Life. And more recently devices for fire fighters air packs. At least this end of the business is doing great. .Super proud of my sons and what’s been accomplished not only by me but the many great employees I’ve had over the years. Sorry for the novel lol. I’ve taken up writing in my old age lol. Just another metamorphosis in my life. Thank you for the comment on here! Hope all is good with you!
@@Lwimmermastermetalart You mean I wasn't supposed to give copies of your prints to that Chinese fellow who stopped by? Oops! 😄 "Sell the heck out of your product and move on to the next. This industry will steal things so fast it makes your head spin." That sums up why you've been so successful. You didn't whine and demand that somebody protect you from competitors, regardless of how unscrupulous they might have been. You put your head down and kept moving forward, always innovating, and unafraid to tackle the next tough job. Well done! That's the spirit that makes America great. At 71 I'm learning to fly a Boeing 737-800 in my desktop simulator. Setting up the automated systems is a bit like writing a CNC program, except that the subsequent flight nearly always requires significant manual intervention as the weather changes along the way. I would like to reach a level of proficiency that would allow me to fly on a live virtual air traffic control network like VATSIM, but I don't know if I'll get there.
@@rwalkenhorst That’s a good one LOL. Hey that’s great about leaning to fly. I had a flight simulator YEARS ago. Absolutely nothing like today. I always loved flying. If it wasn’t so expensive I think I’d get my license. I just turned 74 so I think about the bucket list more lol. Good luck with your venture. Sounds really neat👍🏼
A problem I'm facing at the moment is that a finished product, including plating/anodizing, and inclusive of freight charges, from an Asian supplier costs less than I can buy the raw material for here in the US before I even perform a single operation on it starting with the bandsaw. Raw bar stock of pretty much any material has gotten obscenely expensive here in America in the past decade. At the same time, Asian suppliers have improved in competitiveness and can do smaller batch sizes now... so it's definitely a game of survival.
Exactly! There is no protection for ppl like us. I feel your pain. Fortunately for me/us the motorcycle parts were not our primary source of income. As you said places like China have no EPA and pay so little that you’ll never be able to compete in the USA. Also they are such good imitator’s. The only way I could tell the difference on some items was the fact that machining marks were different. I wish I could give you a solution to your problem. Perhaps some viewer may have some input. Thx for watching and best of luck to you.
Thank you for the kind words. I was a bit reluctant to show the shop. The building is a bit dumpy and most machines are older. Certainly not a multi million dollar shop like so many on here. However I think it shows what can be done with some blood, sweat and tears lol.
Any advice for a nearly 40 year old with no knowledge or experience who wants to get into machining for a profession? Spent 15 years as a military spouse workin whatever I could get at the next duty station. I’m tired of bein broke. Tired of workin retail. I wanna build somethin that will last for my family.
I'm curious if he had loans when he started or if it was just pure cash for the first machine. No judgment meant by this , I'm just curious. I'm trying to get a loan for $10k to get my first machine and get 240 into my shop
I made decent money picking people up from that conference at McCormick Place that day while driving for Lyft. People from all over the world were there and then wanted to hit the town afterwards.
As a hobbyist watchmaker, I find this very fascinating. Weiss and RGM also make nearly from scratch watches in the USA as well. So I am not sure JNS is the first. Like them, I do not believe they make their jewels or springs either. I know Weiss attempted to get a "Made in the USA" classification for his 1003 movement and it was denied because they import the springs and jewels. I assume JSN is hitting the same roadblock, sadly. Great video!
Thanks for the question, both Weiss and RGM use many components from the Swiss made eta 6498. Our Jewels are US made . The FTC asks for virtually all components in a watch movement. If someone asked the FTC to investigate our movement we feel we could defend the US made label as surely as Hamilton or Waltham did. They were using Swiss made jewels fyi.
@@joshuashapiro2127 Thanks for reaching out and thanks for helping bring back American watch manufacturing. I think you should apply for a “Made in the USA” label. I would be proud on your behalf. Best of luck with your endeavor!
Thanks! Yes, we already put US made on our watch movements. Anyone could put US made on any product. The only enforcement of that label comes if someone complains to the FTC. This happened with Shinola and others.
