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I don't know what to do with my new CNC machine

Ray-BGKY

Plastic
Joined
Nov 21, 2019
Hi guys,
I just purchased a brand new HAAS vertical 3 axis mill and also I have access to CAD/CAM software, and have some manufacturing experiences, but honestly, I don't know how I can make money out of the machine since it is the very first time I have my own machine. I have worked for other companies as an engineer ( programming their CNCs) and now I am teaching in university ( I have a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering), and just purchased the machine to have a side job and probably make some extra money. I just decided to post this thread here to see if you could help me to find something to manufacture or teach me how to advertise and probably find potential local customers. Any ideas are appreciated.
Thanks
 
Let me get this straight.... You buy a machine BEFORE you have an order for parts? :willy_nilly:

Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?
 
Hi guys,
I just purchased a brand new HAAS vertical 3 axis mill and also I have access to CAD/CAM software, and have some manufacturing experiences, but honestly, I don't know how I can make money out of the machine since it is the very first time I have my own machine. I have worked for other companies as an engineer ( programming their CNCs) and now I am teaching in university ( I have a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering), and just purchased the machine to have a side job and probably make some extra money. I just decided to post this thread here to see if you could help me to find something to manufacture or teach me how to advertise and probably find potential local customers. Any ideas are appreciated.
Thanks

Hi Ray,

Purely random (brain farts here) ~ busy day.

Prototype work comes to mind where you can combine essentially consulting (exploiting your engineering knowledge and design engineering ability) with nascent hands on capability to physically produce stuff that you have full understanding of in terms of their function, purpose and integration into larger more complex systems.

That's an added value.

A lot of job shops don't like to do one's and two's as they can't charge enough $ that a client will accept, they'd rather have much longer runs of hundreds to thousands.

Only being 3 axis you may have to learn to be a "Fixture ninja" and pinch /steal a few approaches from the tool and die world. If you have good skills and your 3d mathematical transformations are sound then you can do a lot without 5 axis initially.

If you are almost devising components and systems iteratively (with a client) then its likely you will need other processes outside of your current equipment list . so might pay to get to know other smaller prototype shops in your area that might specialize in Wired EDM , Grinding, Anodizing , turning etc. So you build up a network you can provide business for to complete more complex projects.

You are probably gonna need other odss and sods for support equipment like a surface grinder or manual lathe or second hand cnc lathe etc. (to begin with).

Also offer design engineering services seperately.

The problem with only a 3 axis CNC mill you can only generate parts that are one link in a chain as opposed to prototyping more complete sub assemblies that use a range of techniques.

I am not formally a machinist but have had to do a LOT of hands on engineering over three decades (at least) more on the optical / aerospace front. My company has one foot in software development and one foot in specialized hardware for advanced imaging. But very small and independent.

@Ray-BGKY what are your principal strengths and knowledge base in the mechanical engineering world that you could combine with practical hands on work ?

If you trade your time to learn and give customers a break (initially) and be super super patient then you can start to build up a network of "Peeps" that use your services as they like to work with you and your engineering "Added value".

__________________

@Ray you have to devise a fairly hyper efficient learning path for yourself that also dovetails with specific projects you are working on. Very difficult to accumulate a very deep and wide breadth of knowledge quickly (like a lot of the folks here have ) but it is possible to become your own master of a few specialized techniques you need to develop given time.

Could be few years until you actually break even and start making money with all the things you need to figure out … That's up to you and a bit of luck + perseverance + "people skills" not just machining skills.
 
Mtndew
Actually it is, but it is fine since I installed the machine in my garage ( no rent) and I already paid for the machine. Hopefully, I will find some jobs for the machine. I think it is just a matter of time.
 
Hi guys, how I can make money out of the machine since it is the very first time I have my own machine

You make chips. Chips = $$$$. It really is that simple.

Let me get this straight.... You buy a machine BEFORE you have an order for parts? :willy_nilly:

Isn't that putting the cart before the horse?

I did exactly that as well. But, at least I knew what I was doing.
 
You have a day job and hopefully not making payments. If so there is no real pressure. I made a good living looking for over priced hardware and making it cheaper. Shear screws and core cables for wire line companies doing open hole well services. Now I am making parts for the electronic service industry. A lot of production quantity stuff is marked up to high and there will be room for hungry people to undercut. Sometimes the people you are competing against are paying too much for their products. I found this out after competing with Gearhart Industries for a while, the shear screws they were selling for 45 cents was because they were paying 30 cents for them. Later we ran into each other and I made a pretty good living selling to them and Halliburton when they were bought out.
 
Actually it is, but it is fine since I installed the machine in my garage ( no rent) and I already paid for the machine. Hopefully, I will find some jobs for the machine. I think it is just a matter of time.

It is. You just have to put the word out there.
You will do well to get your CAM on site as well. When you do get something in the door, time will be a factor.
Good luck.
 
Hi Ray,

Purely random (brain farts here) ~ busy day.

Prototype work comes to mind where you can combine essentially consulting (exploiting your engineering knowledge and design engineering ability) with nascent hands on capability to physically produce stuff that you have full understanding of in terms of their function, purpose and integration into larger more complex systems.

That's an added value.

A lot of job shops don't like to do one's and two's as they can't charge enough $ that a client will accept, they'd rather have much longer runs of hundreds to thousands.

Only being 3 axis you may have to learn to be a "Fixture ninja" and pinch steal a few approached from the tool and die world. If you have good skills and your 3d mathematical transformations are sound then you can do a lot without 5 axis initially.

If you are almost devising components and systems iteratively (with a client) then its likely you will need other processes outside of your current equipment list . so might pay to get to know other smaller prototype shops in your area that might specialize in Wired EDM , Grinding Anodizing , turning etc. So you build up a network you can provide business for to complete more complex projects.

You are probably gonna need other odss and sods for support equipment like a surface grinder or manual lathe or second hand cnc lathe etc. (to begin with).

Also offer design engineering services seperately.

The problem with only a 3 axis CNC mill you can only generate parts that are one link in a chain as opposed to prototyping more complete sub assemblies that use a range of techniques.

I am not formally a machinist but have had to do a LOT of hands on engineering over three decades (at least) more on the optical / aerospace front. My company has one foot in software development and one foot in specialized hardware for advanced imaging. But very small and independent.

@Ray-BGKY what are your principal strengths and knowledge base in the mechanical engineering world that you could combine with practical hands on work ?

If you trade your time to learn and give customers a break (initially) and be super super patient then you can start to build up a network of "Peeps" that sell your services as they like to work with you and your engineering "Added value".

__________________


Need a quick edit / slap round the ear hole

Hi Cameraman and thanks for your time replying my thread,
You are absolutely right. I made several prototyping projects in the past for my engineering service business and i always used job shops for those works ( that was my motivation to buy the machine). I also know other local shops for EDM, Laser cut, Lathe work,... the problem is that I don't have enough customers for prototyping jobs. Answering your question about my principal strengths, I am very good at Solidworks, Mastercam, and also I have 15 years' experience in engineering design.I am teaching industrial materials at school and i know about selecting the right material and heat treatment as well as casting and sheet metal.
 
Perhaps take a day off and go meet anyone you can think of that may need your services, talk to them face to face. If they don't need your services then do they know anyone else who may? Network. If you don't have work then you should be out there looking for it, which is work in its own way, the non-paying work you have to do to be able to do the paying work. As a shop owner you will be more in touch with that non-paying work and how much there really is.
 
and also I have access to CAD/CAM software

Tread lightly with that. The way I'm reading into this is you don't have a CAD/CAM seat, you are using someone elses version? Most EULA's don't allow for that. I was using my own seat of Featurecam programming at other factories and got a nasty-gram from Delcam explaining that what I was doing violated my EULA and voided our contract. If you can afford a VMC for your garage surely you can afford a cheap seat of software rather than risking someone else's licence.

As far as work goes, You could always try Xeometry....
 
Perhaps take a day off and go meet anyone you can think of that may need your services, talk to them face to face. If they don't need your services then do they know anyone else who may? Network. If you don't have work then you should be out there looking for it, which is work in its own way, the non-paying work you have to do to be able to do the paying work. As a shop owner you will be more in touch with that non-paying work and how much there really is.

Do this but machine some somewhat impressive parts dead on size and bring them with you. Anyone can talk about doing nice work
 
When my family owned the shop I made injection molds during the day and what ever the hell I wanted to at night....... Miss those days. Creativity is what keeps me going, so make something your proud of. It gives you levels of experimentation that a day job does not have time for.
 
Persistence is your friend here. Or as my FIL used to say "even a blind pig occasionally finds an acorn". At some point you will find something. While waiting you can look around some scrap yards for cheap metal to practice on. Or engineering plastics to play with. Stuff that can be machined with little or no tool wear.
 








 
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