Hello Everyone,
I live in the Vancouver area and would love to get in touch with other CNC Machinists taking it to the next level. I would like to connect share ideas and build our local manufacturing scene. I know there was an open group in my area. I need to re connect, if they see this reach out, I’m coming for you 
Go get them @WarrenSchmidt welcome to the group.
Hi Warren,
I’ve got a maker shop out in Coquitlam. I do quite a bit of CNC’ing, 3D printing, etc. out here. Always good to know other people in the area. www.iotdesignshop.com is my site if you want to see what I’m up to.
Hi Warren,
My name is Donald, I own a small machine shop in Burnaby. I have registered our company to be an learning centre, we have been a private group for now, because I want to run the learning series once in our shop, so I can have time to prepare the presentation, the machine with the proper tooling and materials.
I have setup my inspection room so it can double as a small classroom with a large screen TV and computer, there is room for 6 people at a time (max 8).
I have 5 machining centres and 4 turning centres and 1 CNC lathe. Most machines are Haas, with a Toyoda Horizontal twin pallet, a Deckel Hi-Dyn, and a Gildermeister turning center for small parts. In addtion I have manual lathes, manual mills, drills, presses and other sto support the CNC.
We use the Haas TM-1 & TL-1 for training, since this is the slowest and least aggressive machine we have.
I have to say that since I registered the company as a training centre we have been flooded with work and had to put this on hold until I can find additional people and free time to structure the training. If you and others are interested in joining me and come up with a plan to take it to the next level, I am willing to supply machine time and space, materials and tooling would be students responsibility.
Regards,
Donald St-Louis P.Eng.
Universal Machining & Engineering Ltd.
604-438-3394
Hello Donald,
Thanks for the introduction, Nice to meet you.I work at Hayden Diamond Bit Industries, we have 3 VF-2’s and 9 CNC Lathes, running 24/7. I work in Product Develop and R & D, its a bloated title :). I have been in the CNC Machining/Programming business for 18 years still having fun.
I was about to get out of the game when I was introduced to Titan by a local tooling rep back in 2015. I share the vision teaching others to push machining to the limit (I’ve always put more parts on the floor per shift then the next guy), obviously with respect to machine condition and shop budgets and of course current skill level.
It sounds like you have a great set-up. I am jealous your an owner, but I’m sure you get that a lot.
Busier since registering ,Is that a coincidence or a connection if I may ask?, which leads into another question. Is getting work hard. as its something Ive never done I have only quoted and produced.
A Plan not yet, but I’m sure something can be assembled. I can ask our local kennametal guy to help for a bit of advertising :). I’m pretty sure he mentioned the kit are around 1k for milling and a little more for the lathe kit
It would depend on time, haste we would need to buy in, if we have time I think we can get some industry support unless you would rather keep it private. I am not trying to hijack your group by any means :).
I’ve run 350 IPM feeds on a TM 1P back when GibbsCAM just came out with Volumill. my radial depth was only .018" and Axial was 1.0" on a 3/8" end mill. I was able to get 90-120 minutes of roughing from cheap carbide cutters.
I used Titans tutorials to teach me Fusion 360, I was a Solidworks and GibbsCAM user before. What ever works :).
I am the kind of guy who loves it enough to buy a 5 axis machine when I get the courage to go find the work. I’ve been using a Haas VF-2 with a trunnion lately, and it makes life so much easier. why people fear 5 axis is beyond me!, it only cost money when you stand still and watch others do it.
Sorry to ramble on… I never put this stuff down.
I offer Time, knowledge and Energy and what ever support I can find. I would like to offer space but my shop is a no go for visitors, pisees me off but I understand. I also don’t have employer support and no employee interest.
People I work around are only interested if they are paid to learn and then having a pay increase to use these new skill, no interest in doing for themselves to benefit the company so we all succeed. Its a personal mission. poor culture. I am trying hard.
I am a family man, but I work 24/7. my family knows I am very passionate about my Career. Anything I can do to improve machining for others and myself
Warm Regards,
Warren Schmidt
Wow @WarrenSchmidt you rock keep up the good work!
Hi Warren,
I think we should find time to meet and discuss possibilities? It is my hope that more like minded people can join the conversation and share how they made it happen…
Regards,
Donald St-Louis P.Eng.
Universal Machining & Engineering Ltd.
604-438-3394
This is a really cool thread. I haven’t had the chance to meet a lot of people locally pushing both the manufacturing and education side. Seems like once folks get busy in the shop, the education component kind of falls by the wayside. But, it’s hard to find great people - have always believed that home grown talent and investment yields some of the best results. Also, have been thinking a lot about what my next machine should be - I am still in Tormach land, which has been a fantastic learning tool, but would like to get to the point where I could take on some proper contracts and be able to hit tolerances and reasonable production targets. Anyhow. Lots I would love to know more about.
I am available evenings and weekends. I don’t mind running parts while we chat too, lets keep those spindles running. :). I wil reach out soon. I am shy sometimes.
This is very interesting, Just started using Fusion switched from Bobcad, and love it…I run 2 mills and a Lathe pulse plasma… from Alberta, Vauxhall / Lethbridge area…just stepping it up with better tooling and find it a lot better to work with. I am enjoying the free advice and i am willing to pass it on…