Making The Robot Base and Foundation: Mistakes Were Made!  

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06:21 - "Fortunately being the fabricator as well as the designer, I can be like 'eh, it's all right'" - easier to forgive when you have to forgive yourself 😄!

Sharing your mistakes made you more relatable until you showed your 3 kids! It's incredible how you find time for everything! You're just amazing!

8:19 - You know you're a machinist when it's 2AM and there are Aluminium chips in your beard. Amazing work Jeremy!

Really excited to see this continue to progress. You may run into an issue with your concrete in the future because you didn't add any reenforcement. Concrete can get brittle and crack under stress and your robot will be putting a lot of stress on it. Usually you would reenforce with wire mesh or rebar so the concrete has some inner structure to hold on to.

As a former project manager / salesman for a machine shop that specialized in prototyping, your comments about being nice to your fabricator hit home. So many drawings where people seemed to think they needed +/- 0.0005" on a clearance bolt hole.. I quote em and explain that the part is 5 times what it should cost because I have to send it out for grinding to hit that dimension. Then ask, "Are you suuuuuuure you need this that tight?" :p

In my adult life, Jeremy Fielding is my inspiration. I’m now in Electrical Engineering focusing on mechatronics in part because of your videos. I just found a 6 axis arm in the storage loft at work too. So this series is gonna help me out!

Getting close to 1/2 million subs. You deserve more. Detail n accuracy is a great gift to have. I was a residential electrician for close to 40 years. Worked on high end custom homes. Some took years to build. But doing that I learned about pride in your work, like you. Your videos are great. You are great. Thanks for sharing.

Can never discount those family moments, even when it's just mixing up bags of concrete. The next video can't get here soon enough :)

I love how advanced your projects are and how they build off easier projects. The fact that you also share your mistakes really set you apart as an educator. Great work!

The looks and attitudes of the kids saying "The old man has lost it, lets humor him for now" is so priceless and reminiscent of my kids of many years ago. There may be better things to do than work and have a good time with your kids but very very few. You are very lucky ... but then again so are your kids

You deserve a dad medal. Definitely contender for dad of the year. Kudos and respect.

I love how you built that environment and make sure your kids learn from you. Keep it up 100%

A lot of channels don't admit their mistakes. You and your workshop are amazing. I wish I'd had something like that when I was younger. Guess I'll have to settle for watching you and being envious 😁👍.

I find it pretty awesome how you got your kids interested in your projects, not only does it give them time with you it also might teach them some valuable skills!

I can relate to your anxiety about the first true runs of your arm - when I was building my CNC router table, the closer I got to making first cuts, the more apprehensive I became. I started obsessing over minor things like cable clamps and shielding limit switch wiring; all subconscious delay tactics because I’m sure I had put so much effort into designing and building that I didn’t want to face failure. Eventually I ran out of excuses, and I had to turn it on and try. Surprise: some things worked and some things didn’t; but I lost my anxiety and started working on fixes. I think that’s the curse of the lone inventor - you don’t have the momentum of a team to drive you forward; but on the other hand you get all the pride when it eventually works out. Been there, brother - it’s all going to work out fine.

It's very appreciable that you showcase your mistakes. Too many diy channels keep everything "neat and proper," and that's often discouraging to people who are inspired but give up from their mistakes.

Awesome build Jeremy! Also, props to your kids! Few kids nowadays want anything to do with something that includes work.

When I saw the part where your kids started helping I wished i could thumbs up the video more thane once. What a great father! Thanks for the videos.

Kudos for showing the good and the bad. Love that you have your kids working along side of you. Such a fun channel to watch.

If there's one thing I love more than maker videos, it's maker videos when the maker's kids get involved.

Future reference - WEAR A MASK when mixing concrete. Silicosis is no joke. Cement and aggregate dust is inorganic and your body can't break it down and doesn't get cleared out easily. Signed, a dude who spent a few years in a concrete lab.

Hi Jeremy. Greetings from Australia I really like your work. little tip re the engine crane... Instead of pumping it up try lifting the jib arm gently with the stop tap open until it is past the load height, then when it eases down shut the tap with the hook positioned. If you seals are good it will not let in air and save a lot of time. Regards... John

Thank you so much for making these videos. I'm a mechanical designer and fabricator at a start-up tech. Your experiences making these parts really relate to me when I first started prototyping my robots. These mistakes and bad experiences enhance our ability to grow and become experts in our field. It's the hand on experience that separates an amateur from a pro.

Jeremy on the edge right before the sponsor segment. I felt that.

It's so cool to see your kids taking an interest in what you're building and having them help out! As someone who's mixed what feels like thousands of bags of concrete by hand I would suggest using a garden hoe next time. You can get it done with a spade shovel but a garden hoe is really much easier to push and pull the mix around with. I'm sure you can imagine how the force being applied on a blade at 90 degrees to the handle would differ from that being applied to a shovel blade which is almost parallel to the handle.

Person watching this with me kept asking, "Why doesn't he just buy a robotic arm? Surely you could buy one for a lot less than it takes to purchase all those tools and material." I ignored it twice, but the third time I had to explain to them that buying a robot arm (or anything) isn't cool or fun. That you don't get to learn anything that way. That you don't get to have fun on the journey of exploration. Anyone can buy a robot arm. Only a boss can make a robot arm. Thanks for letting me know there's a whole group of people out there who think like I do; who want to do challenging things because they are challenging. It's nice to know that in some spheres math and science and just knowing how to do things is still cool.

Good on you for having your kids help rather than chasing them off. My Mom and Dad would let us get involved with a lot of different things and it does make a difference. I have enjoyed watching your content and learning with you. Keep going.

I live for your content. You are doing all the things I want to do. The amount I am learning is propelling me forward.

Seeing your son makes me proud, I can't begin to imagine how you must feel.

Why can’t I find friends like you. Need more people in the world that want to learn and build.

How beautiful. Thanks for showing this to us, including the hard times. What a wonder that kids can make us enjoy the most arduous tasks just with their sheer presence. All best with all my heart.

Having your kids come out after all those frustrating machining issues looked like exactly the pickup you needed 😁. If it were easy, everyone would do it. Thanks for keeping it real, I definitely empathize with the struggles in the shop sometimes. I can't believe this is the first video in this series youtube recommended to me, I'm going to have to go back and watch them all!

A concrete mixer is a great thing to use. Cheap to rent and saves time and gives a better surface finish, It's amazing how much work it takes to mix concrete by hand, especially if you don't have a bunch of kids to help. You also need a vibrator if you want a good outside finish using a mold. Great project. I really appreciate that you share your failures as well as your triumphs. I hate to say I learn more from my mistakes but somehow I think that's true.

Don't know how RU-vid algorithm work, but I watch Destin from Smarter Every Day, then I saw your face in my recommend list = instant subscribe

We all learn from our mistakes. This is such an ambitious project requiring so so many different skills. Well done buddy 👍

I'm a former prototype tooling and machine designer. I did it for 10 years. The skills your developing will quickl surpass most of mine. Design, machine and build will teach you more than an engineering degree ever will! You will be able to bill your time much higher then you've imagined very soon!! Put steel shavings into the concrete mix nest time for a huge increase in weight and strength.

That laugh when the CNC table saw knocked the wood off suggests that's happened before 😂 also love that we get to see all the errors and little mistakes! Beyond that motor breaking (felt ya pain), it's great to see all those little moments where holes are a bit big, non-critical things don't quite line up and that. So easy to beat ourselves up about every little thing, but you got the right attitude, just keep on moving and getting it done! Also your kids seem great, any kids that get involved pouring concrete so they can hang out with their dad are great in my books!

I love your contents because I get to see you making mistakes and correcting them as you progress. That is what separates your contents from other makers who only show the perfect results which may or may not be their first attempts.

The best part about this video is you teaching your kid

yep, you definitely need to have some ventilation for that concrete mix dust.

It's so nice to see you inspiring your kids along..they seems to be impressed when you said "we are mixing concrete" :)

I've loved watching this journey, but my favorite part has to be a dad doing stuff with his kids. Good for you, man.

Love a good dad with his kids. Here for the robot, subbed for the awesome person and good dad.

"Mistakes Were Made" could be the name of a whole series, tbh.

Hi Jeremy. Couple of pointers for you. Try using a shop vac to suck up the chips when you are machining. A good shop vac will take up the chips even if they are wet. You may have to pour some coolant out of the shop vac from time to time but it is a lot better then using a brush manually. Secondly, it's probably not a good idea to be mixing concrete or any other abrasive material in the shop. The dust can get into the machines and damage the ways. I hope you cleaned the machines really well after mixing the concrete and then re-lubricated everything thoroughly. Great project so far. You are an inspiration.

You the man Jeremy. How does one become as knowledgeable as you?

As far as I’m concerned,you are a genius,and a good father.

You have an awesome dad with a great attitude! Just earned a sub

The lack of a blade guard on that table saw scares me, but it's neat to see the whole process with all the mistakes. Keep it up!

A half ton of concrete, mixed by hand? You sir, are my hero.

Wow, you have come a long way from salvaging motors from old vacuum cleaners and treadmills!

Wow. What a great video. Thank you for sharing your struggles, and the missteps. I’m glad I’m no the only one who has these moments. :) Love this series!!

Very enjoyable. And lovely to see your kids involved and interested!

I really appreciate your focus on in-process lessons learned.

DUDE you most SERIOUSLY ROCK! ! Love your Deam-it-flip N JUST BUILD IT ATTITUDE!

when it rains it pours but you have to love it when you get lucky. Thanks for creating your videos

Total respect. Know how hard this is. You are a nice man Jeremy.

I remember seeing one of Jeremy’s videos 5 years ago with a relatively low subscriber count. So great to see him doing so well. He definitely deserves the success. Who else would build a 7 axis industrial robot in the or garage?

This is so awesome Jeremy - I especially love how you get your kids involved!

Jeremy, I really appreciate that you shared the mistakes and struggles of this project. It's encouraging to all of us who seldom get things working the first time! The robot is coming along great!

Really interesting stuff! Great machining tips and great that you get to spend quality time with your kids

There are very few things in life as awesome as when your kids get interested in what you are doing and you get to give them some of your knowledge.

A study in perseverance! Wonderfully enjoyable to watch…from a distance!

Love your work. Showing your mistakes and roping in the kids. Wholesome!

Loved the video! So excited to see all you've done Jeremy. Thanks for taking us along on this adventure! 🤯

I’m so glad there are videos out there like this. Someday I might buy one and now I know I won’t know how to use it.

Imagine this robot loading parts onto your machines. That would be so cool!

LOL watching you make concrete without a spade to turn it & breathing the silica dust; it's nice to know we're all learning stuff.

This is so cool! Very inspiring and educational!

Concrete is great fun :) My dad and I have been remodeling a room in the basement which involved quite a lot of it. A shovel is the best tool for mixing. And an N95 mask for the dust. You can vary the water a little bit depending on whether you need it to flow or stay where you put it. Mortar sticks even better (especially on vertical surfaces) and can get into smaller spaces, but is less durable in bulk. Generally good to have both available, though obviously not needed in your case just making a heavy mass.

I've just stumbled upon your channel. Wow!!! By far you have one, if not the best channel on the internet my man. Again Wow!!! Keep your channel as is, there is sooooo much our young people can see, learn, and understand why it is soooo important to stay in school and to look into other job opportunities, as well as skills. Working not only with their hands, their minds as well. To show them if college and a desk job is not what you are filling. You enjoy working with your hands and the outdoors as well. Then there are other opportunities out there for them. Sites like yours are what is needed on the internet and people like you, who are willing to share their experiences with being creative with not only your mind, your hands as well. That a job is what you make of it. That it's not a four letter word to be looked down upon, having a job skill that involves something other than You sitting behind a computer screen all day, and inside as well, showing that the computer is and can be a useful tool for your work that has nothing to do with sitting in front of its screen all day. That it is just that, a tool, that can help with other skills that involve working with your hands as well as your mind. Again you should be one of the largest channels out here in the world of the internet. I will be turning my friends and family on to your site. May God continue to Bless you and yours.

Very cool, extra cool that your kids got involved. I'm very impressed.

You really make those mistakes your worth in showing how you overcome them. Brilliant.

You do great work. Keep sharing and teaching!

I’m really enjoying watching your journey over the last couple years. Keep it up!

Amazing. Haven't been watching your new stuff. Clearly missing out. Content, massively improved along with production.

Great work and amazing video. I learn so much from your content that helps me along as an older guy with a new (needs a lot of work) home and aspiring self taught (for all)= machinist, welder, electronics specialist (mainly Arduino), carpenter and auto mechanic. You have got to be my favorite “professor”. Thank you 🙏. Please keep it up 👍.

I just started looking into the DIY cnc world and this video is of great interest to me as I want to build something similar

Hi Love your work, one suggestion would be when making parts from stock alloy plate I have found that skimming both sides before machining the part will help with the plate staying flat as you release a certain amount of surface tension in the stock plate when machining one side and the plate can bow if you leave the opposite side unmachined, also you can not underestimate how rigid the base needs to be to help the accuracy of the robot Keep up the great work

Incredible work love this series

I love how cool you are about everything. You have a great personality and I enjoy learning from you. Keep on keeping on buddy!

I like how you mix it up with design/construction then the end work and testing. Keeps it interesting! Great job on the video as well as the 'bot!

You have to love those power outages. We had one recently while I was using my laser. I drive it from a laptop which basically has a built in UPS. The controller is powered by the USB connection to the computer. So everything was fine during the very short power outage other than the stepper motors. They had no power. The controller didn't understand that and kept on sending commands. When the power came back on, the stepper motors just picked up from where they were. Needless to day the part was ruined. It was not a great loss of material, just time invested. Keep up the great content Jeremy!!

You are theeeee most excellent individual on youtube. Praise you and your inspiring content🙏

Awesome work. A CNC table saw, wow.

Really enjoying the journey. Keep up the great work Jeremy. You're doing great.

This must be coolest project currently in RU-vid! 🤘🏻

Thanks for sharing! Stay safe!

Excellent quality work.

Just discovered this channel. Your projects are seriously fantastic!

Recently found your channel and have watched several shows, excellent content, thank you

Clicked for the cool project, subscribed cause you're such a good man. Keep on being awesome!

"It wasn't flat" that's just part of the learning process Buddy. Keep at it :-)

This is great content Jeremy, very enjoyable and informative. Envious that your kids are so interested in what you're doing, so beneficial for all of you. Your unique content combined with your presentation style give you a must-watch channel.

Amazing work in progress !

Fantastic work!

I love your enthusiasm.

That's owesome project. Love it.

In addition to being a great maker and RU-vidr,You ((more importantly)) sure are one cool dad!! Best regards