In the 143rd episode of Taps and Patience, AJ and Harrison share updates about their respective businesses, discussing recent challenges such as car accidents and machine crashes in Harrison's shop, alongside AJ's frantic quest to create a custom ring box for a friend's proposal. They also reflect on their podcast journey, the growth of their businesses, and plans for future developments, including potential hires and equipment needs. The duo emphasizes the importance of communication with customers when facing challenges and encourages their listeners to seek advice and support within their community.Get Parts Made:https://subtractmanufacturing.com
In the 142nd episode of the Taps and Patience podcast, hosts AJ, Harrison, and Ben, from Precision Ingenuity, discuss various topics including their experiences in machining, the challenges of working in a small shop, and the lessons learned from both successes and mistakes in their careers. Ben shares his background in software development and how he transitioned into machining, emphasizing the importance of hands-on experience and mentorship. The conversation also touches on the complexities of integrating new technology like bar feeders and automation into machining processes, as well as humorous anecdotes about mishaps in the shop and personal lives.Get Parts Made:https://subtractmanufacturing.com
In the 141st episode of "Taps and Patience," hosts AJ and Harrison discuss recent successes and growth at their respective businesses, with AJ noting significant sales through his venture Subtract due to effective YouTube advertising. Harrison shares an interesting story about a local company that initially ghosted him but has now returned seeking prototypes for parts after issues with their overseas production. They also delve into topics including quoting processes, the impact of automation on hiring, and personal anecdotes regarding their shop attire and holiday traditions, closing with plans for future developments and engaging with their audience.
In the 140th episode of "Taps and Patience," hosts AJ and Harrison humorously discuss their podcast's botched intro and the importance of effective introductions, mentioning their admiration for Jamie from the Lone Machinist podcast. AJ shares his upcoming plans for shop tours on the East Coast and discusses the recent influx of RFQs for his company, Subtract Manufacturing, while Harrison talks about wrapping up production for the year and the challenges he's faced with complex parts. They also touch on various topics related to their machining businesses, including equipment updates, transitioning to full-time work, and the significance of balancing family time with shop responsibilities.https://www.lmd-nc.com/products/bearing-cooling-coolant-ring-with-air-blast
In the 139th episode of the Taps and Patience podcast, AJ and Harrison discuss their current production workloads and challenges, particularly regarding tight timelines due to upcoming holidays and machine run times. They share insights on machine setup, production processes, and their experiences with automation, including Harrison's recent issues with his robot and the upgrade of his machining capabilities. Additionally, AJ provides updates on Subtract Manufacturing's transition into focusing on sales and their efforts in developing new products, such as a potential Kickstarter venture, while sharing personal projects involving his daughter and a custom knife they're making together.
In the 138th episode of Taps and Patience, AJ and Harrison discuss updates from their manufacturing shops, including AJ's experience with a mouse in his workshop and his automation efforts with a 3D printer, while Harrison shares challenges in integrating a new robot system into his own operations. They also detail their experiences with various tools and technologies in machining, emphasizing the need for good workholding, inspection tools, and effective communication systems in their businesses. Additionally, they touch on Subtract's transition into beta and emphasize the importance of improving sales processes and workflow management.
In the 137th episode of "Taps and Patients," host AJ chats with Derek from Fidget Things and Harrison from Precision Ingenuity, discussing the growth and evolution of their businesses since Derek was last on the show two years ago. They delve into the challenges and advancements in their machining operations, particularly talking about new equipment, production processes, and the impact of social media on marketing and sales. The conversation also covers various manufacturing techniques, tools, and personal anecdotes about their respective journeys in the industry, as well as brief mentions of upcoming collaborations and product ideas.
In the 136th episode of Taps and Patience, hosts AJ and Harrison, along with guest Ken from Flux Work Holding, discuss Ken's transition from Robertson Custom Creations to primarily focusing on Flux Work Holding, detailing the challenges and growth he experienced in refining his product line amidst changes in e-commerce and marketplace dynamics. Ken emphasizes the efficiency gains he achieved by adopting new machinery, specifically a Hermla five-axis machine, and shares insights on product development, marketing strategies, and his approach to maintaining a niche business model with an eye toward automation rather than expansion. The conversation also veers into technical discussions about the design and functionality of vices, culminating in a light-hearted exchange about coffee preferences and future growth strategies for Ken's business.
In the 135th episode of "Taps and Patience" hosts AJ and Harrison discuss their current work challenges and successes, with AJ sharing insights on recent jobs including complex part machining and shop improvements, while Harrison updates on the setup of a new lathe machine. They also delve into various teaching methods for work coordinate systems, revealing the struggles AJ faces in helping his students grasp the concepts involved in probing macros. The episode concludes with a blend of light banter about robots, upcoming projects, and the importance of streamlining shop operations.
In episode 134 of the "Taps and Patience" podcast, AJ and Harrison chat about their experiences with work and machinery, including updates on Harrison's new machine and its complicated electrical setup. They discuss their ongoing workload, productivity improvements, and the exciting potential for new automation technologies in their businesses. AJ shares that he's had a record month in income due to increased efficiency and successful projects, while Harrison highlights his growth and plans for the future, including exploring new machinery options.
In the 133rd episode of the Taps and Patients podcast, hosts AJ and Harrison discuss their hectic October work schedules, including details about Harrison's new machine which is awaiting a transformer and power upgrade to become operational. AJ shares a challenging experience with part manufacturing and shipping issues that led to broken tools and costly shipping problems, emphasizing the need for efficient processes in a machine shop. They also touch on upcoming advancements in Harrison's adherence to AS9100 standards, their ERP system progress, and a new teaching methodology AJ is implementing, concluding with a call for collaboration on manufacturing projects.
n Episode 132 of the Taps and Patience podcast, AJ and Harrison discuss Harrison's new lathe, a DN Solutions Lynx 2100 LSYB, its specifications, features, and the expected learning curve associated with it. They also touch upon challenges faced in machining, such as warping of materials and improving operational efficiency, and discuss the importance of adapting workflows and systems to keep up with their growing manufacturing needs. Finally, they introduced a new tool developed for generating Kanban cards from Fusion tool libraries, emphasizing the balance between busy work in the shop and higher-level strategic thinking.Check out our Kanban Generator: https://subtractmanufacturing.com/kanban
In the 131st episode of Taps and Patience, hosts AJ and Harrison are joined by guest Ben, discussing their backgrounds in machining and the evolution of their respective businesses. Ben shares his journey from trade school to founding his shop, Prickly Pear Prototypes, which focuses primarily on ITAR work for defense startups and research labs. The conversation also touches on marketing strategies, growth challenges, and the intricacies of managing a machine shop, highlighting the importance of documentation and finding the right balance between production capabilities and business management.
In the 130th episode of "Taps and Patience," hosts AJ and Harrison discuss various topics including AJ's broken microphone, their experiences at Fabtech, and AJ's busy week preparing parts for shipment and participating in a meetup. They also delve into Harrison's recent work fabricating medical parts, challenges with quality control using CMM, and the nuances of using different measuring tools to improve accuracy. Throughout the episode, they reflect on manufacturing best practices, advertising strategies, and the dynamics of running their respective businesses while sharing insights on machining techniques and tools.
In the latest episode of Taps and Patience, AJ and Harrison discuss changes in their work environments, sharing struggles with specific machining challenges, including issues with tool setups and material warping. AJ reflects on his experiences with his recent projects, such as teaching classes and upcoming Mastercam training, while Harrison talks about the complexities of managing a young company and navigating client relationships, especially with a new medical project. They also explore the idea of creating an open-source franchise model for machining that shares best practices and standard tools to help others grow in the industry.
In the 128th episode of "Taps and Patience," AJ and Harrison discuss their recent challenges in machining, particularly AJ's struggles with warping large parts and Harrison's updates on family matters and new projects, including the use of a CMM for medical parts. They dive into details about their respective experiences with different machining tools and the importance of safety measures in their shops, such as eyewash stations and fire extinguisher placement. The conversation touches on the complexities of utilizing CAD software like Fusion in ITAR-compliant scenarios and their perspectives on various CNC machines, notably the Doosan and Haas, reflecting on performance and reliability within their operations.
In the 127th episode of Taps and Patience, hosts AJ and Harrison discuss a variety of topics, including new machinery at Harrison's shop, upcoming automation solutions, and the status of production orders. They also touch on the challenges of teaching and the evolution of AJ's teaching style to better accommodate students of varying speeds and skill levels. The conversation shifts to book recommendations, where they share a range of both business and fiction titles, emphasizing the importance of learning and self-improvement in their respective fields.
In the 126th episode of "Taps and Patience," AJ from Subtract Manufacturing and Harrison from Precision Ingenuity discuss their current work and projects. AJ shares updates about Subtract becoming an LLC and working on software improvements for better customer experience, while also detailing challenges with manufacturing acrylic cylinders. Harrison updates on a new CMM installation, their experience with machining issues, and discusses the importance of diversifying their customer base to manage risk better in the business.
The super cool lathe tool block we talked about: https://www.instagram.com/p/DNVsetTR5gM
In episode 125 of the "Taps and Patience" podcast, AJ and Harrison discuss their recent activities, including AJ's busy teaching week and Harrison's experience dealing with challenging machining jobs. They share insights about manufacturing processes, tool setup, and the learning experiences of their employees when transitioning between different CNC machine brands like Haas and FANUC. Additionally, they touch upon AJ's struggles with a used car purchase and emphasize the importance of having solid processes in place to improve efficiency and quality in machining.
In the 124th episode of Taps and Patience, AJ and Harrison discuss their recent experiences, including Harrison's travels to Canada and their absence from recording new content. They also reflect on challenges faced in manufacturing, such as tooling issues and the importance of business transformation while addressing employee training and productivity. Additionally, they delve into the nuances of programming CNC machines and the impact of using modern tools versus traditional methods for teaching and production efficiency.Tools:Torque Wrench Adapter ER40: https://amzn.to/3SOx9AfAllen Wrench Set: https://amzn.to/3KeFYg4Pliers Wrench: https://amzn.to/3G0eqKlTumbler: https://amzn.to/3tMKlsUAir Compressor: https://amzn.to/3ilQSUYBlast Cabinet: https://amzn.to/37yYlOkBlasting Grit: https://amzn.to/3iiPpi7Rapid Air System: https://amzn.to/3uatCiqCamera: https://amzn.to/3qjtSdJMicroscope: https://amzn.to/3E3PV1Y