Before going further I should add some background that until now, rereading the thread, I hadn't realized I omitted here on PM. Part of the arrangement on this was that they would get the machine on my floor so that I could attempt to make the parts without the steady rest. It takes five operations rather than the one operation it will take with the steady rest but we are making chips.
The Morris reasoning is that if I'm making parts on the machine I should release the funds to cover the machine portion of the purchase. I was on board with that until I was told that the interface the steady rest needs hasn't been designed and that they can't commit to a delivery date. Admittedly I failed to relay that change in my stance to Morris.
This morning proceeded. They got their measurements. The company that is actually going to make the hardware now has what they need to begin work on the adaption.
Then it got interesting. Short version. I refused to sign the release until I had a date for the steady rest. The sales manger took the keys out of the control and after some discussion drove off. I guess he called my bluff, I signed the release for the machine portion of the purchase and the keys were returned.
The sales manger probably thinks I'm an unreasonable raging a-hole. I personally find it unfortunate that all of my interactions with him have been heated. It really isn't how I normally conduct business. We just can't seem to see eye to eye.