We need a new CNC machinist (and a rant...sorry)

[Matt@RFR]

Alittle background: We've been through 6 CNC machine shops since we started this business, 2 1/2 years ago. At the beginning of each relationship, we were given specific prices and turn around times, which were never met. We would trust our machinists to keep to their word, and tell our customers that it would be $xxx and xxx weeks, only to have parts in our hands in twice, or even three times the time, and up to double the price.

We need a machinist that is going to be reliable, both in quotes and in turn around times, as well as outstanding quality. If you tell us that your turn around times are going to be 2 months, fine, but we need parts no later than 2 months, because that's what we've told our customers. When you're late, we look like drooling idiots on the short bus.

Or when you say that there won't be a prototype fee, then don't charge a prototype fee!! We, again, look like screaming piles of dog poo when our quote goes from $xxx with no prototype setup, to $xxx and a $200 prototype setup. WTF is that?? There is no way that we can explain that to our customers.

We are not a big spender, and likely never will be. We order runs of 1 - 100 parts, the average being a quantity of 2. We completely understand that you have big customers, and they come first when they place that $100,000 order. All we ask is that you find the time to deliver our parts when we agreed. The only way we can give you our own $100,000 order is if you first fill our $70 order. We are extremely loyal to the vendors that find the time to help us little guys out, and hope that, someday, we can repay those vendors with huge orders.

I am a manual machinist as well as a fabricator, and use SolidWorks to design all of our CNC parts. We can send you any of the popular file types, ready to import and assign tool paths.



Please, if you would like to help us out, or know of anyone who might, reply here or email us at [email protected] We're not looking for any handouts. All we need is reliability, honesty, and quality.

[todd8541]

Are you still looking for a machinist. I checked your site and it says your closed.

Todd

[Matt@RFR]

Yep. Business or no, I can't imagine life without a CNC machinist.

[Spitfire44]

You ever thought about using eMachineshop.com?
http://www.emachineshop.com/
I've heard some good things from a couple of people that have used them. They've got a few examples of pricing on their site.
http://www.emachineshop.com/faq/prices.htm
This may add a step to your process in that you have to draw the part to submit it online.

[Matt@RFR]

Spitfire, I tried them. Once. As to not get too negative, suffice it to say that they are not set up to be used by professionals.

The topic is coverd slightly in this thread.

Also, in the world of modern CNC shops, you (or someone else) has to draw the part in order to communicate with the machine, but the catch with emachineshop for someone like me is, after you get used to a professional CAD program, their software is so simple, it's difficult, if that makes any sense. Very clunky.

[JayBird]

Matt,

I sent you an email. Contact Andy at Barnes Precision Machine at 919-362-6805. http://www.barnesprecision.com/ Tell him Jay Hilliard told you to call him.

Let me know how it goes.

Jay