http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/forum/rants-and-raves Brought to you by Todays Machining World en-US Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:23:26 +0000 http://bbpress.org/?v=1.0.2 q http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/search.php http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/rant-swarfblog#post-709 Wed, 03 Feb 2010 21:58:58 +0000 Anonymous 709@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>I'm not sure how long I can wait to hear Lloyd's insights on the new high speed rail news, it seems he always has good intel on how it affects the trade. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/the-only-reason#post-667 Wed, 02 Sep 2009 04:43:37 +0000 Anonymous 667@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>I recently read a comment where someone said 'the only reason to have a patent' is if you can afford to defend it. Most of my (and my customers) blueprints and CAD files have extensive notes claiming exclusive rights to the drawings and technical information. However, I'm wondering if the average shop can afford to protect it's intellectual property in the international marketplace anymore, and if so, what is the cost? </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/what-if-we-just-gave-the-bailout-money-to-the-people#post-649 Thu, 06 Aug 2009 17:18:40 +0000 Anonymous 649@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>Oh my G_D! That is crazy stuff. I wonder if other countries have similar or worse figures. Does China have gages that subtract debt?</p> <p>Kwazy! </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/what-if-we-just-gave-the-bailout-money-to-the-people#post-648 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 17:55:10 +0000 Anonymous 648@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>Nice answer, I say give the money Mr HPI.<br /> Especially after reading this...<br /> <a href="http://www.usdebtclock.org" rel="nofollow">http://www.usdebtclock.org</a> </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/what-if-we-just-gave-the-bailout-money-to-the-people#post-647 Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:46:28 +0000 Anonymous 647@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>Give bailout money to banks who got so greedy they paid no attention to the credit worthiness of their customers and "appraised" the value of their customers homes at levels that suited their own interests regardless of anyone's ability to actually afford the mortgage? Give bailout money to the Wall Street Boys who margin it on pie in the sky ideas and lose 5 times what they are given? Give bailout money to the automakers who sat on their thumbs while their foreign competitors kicked their butts and won't lock out the unions who are bleeding them dry? Give bailout money to the American family,sadly, many of which will drink, smoke, snort it away?<br /> No...I say give bailout money to the small mom &#38; pop shops that are the backbone of this country. The small machine shops and other little operations with 50 employees or less. We would buy new CNC machines, develop new products, put inventory on the shelf, and shed the burden of accumulated debt. All of which will create jobs. Not flash in the pan jobs. Real jobs. This would allow our small businesses to be more lean and competitive in the world market and NOT owe a bank the principle and interest on the money. Oh, and guess what...profitable businesses pay taxes and gainfully employed people do too...hence the actual potential for the money to return over time. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/what-if-we-just-gave-the-bailout-money-to-the-people#post-646 Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:20:36 +0000 Anonymous 646@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>Noah,<br /> When the stimulus bill was past and the specifics became known, you and I were of like minds which was "give the money to the people". The people will stimulate the economy from the bottom up. Instead the government gave hundreds of billions of our tax dollars to company management who ran those companies very poorly and into bankruptcy. Adding insult, these same management types rewarded themselves and their incompetent staffers with huge obscene bonuses... with our money. And they are still doing it ignoring government warnings and the governments promise to us to police how our money is being spent. </p> <p>Along comes the "Cash for Clunkers" program. By giving only one billions dollars to the consumers to buy cars, the money ran out within a week. A very successful program that actually stimulated car sales and the economy. People are happy to now drive a new car and the car dealers are happy for the windfall business. All this with only one billion dollars, not hundreds of billions. </p> <p>This is not a political statement just an observation that proved our point: "give the money to the people". If the government did that instead of what they did perhaps we would be on the road to recovery much sooner. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/save-the-us#post-637 Thu, 30 Jul 2009 16:46:39 +0000 Anonymous 637@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>My employer's 20+ computers range from 486's running DOS to Pentium 2's running W2K. Average age of these boxes is 7 years. Tiny old CRT displays. Our engineers are working with 20 and 30 year old CAD and simulation software. We all share one high speed internet line. And this is to design, manufacture, test and market real products. </p> <p>Our model shop is equipped with 40 year old manual machines that are falling apart. Our production people are doing mostly hand work, because we can't afford the automation. Despite this, we're on the top of our game in our niche market. For how long?</p> <p>Contrast this situation to our local high schools. All their machines are the latest, greatest hardware. High speed internet to every box. Giant sized flat panel displays. And color laser printers in every classroom. And what are they using all this hardware for? Browsing the internet, playing games, and making book reports. Despite this, Obama and Congress want to "upgrade" our schools.</p> <p>The feds gave billions to the banks that caused the problem to "free up" credit. But rather than free up credit, they have paid themselves big bonuses and tightened up the supply of money. They're also giving money to states for "infrastructure" projects for road construction, etc. When the money goes away, so do the jobs.</p> <p>Wouldn't it have been better if the government had given tax breaks or low interest loans to small and large manufacturing businesses like ours? After all, we export a product. The only jobs that bring wealth into the country (and reduce the deficit) are jobs that export a product, like manufacturing, farming, mining, and the timber industry. The Chinese don't care one whit if we have a heavily staffed motor vehicle department. Government bureaucrats don't make anything they care to buy. If they're to continue to sell us stuff they want to know that the dollars will buy something in return. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/save-the-us#post-617 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 13:05:25 +0000 Anonymous 617@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>I keep hearing more about the idea to just stop spending money, to bring the system to its knees, and get the government out of the 'tax-and-spend' business. But it sounds impossible that it could ever work. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/what-if-we-just-gave-the-bailout-money-to-the-people#post-563 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 20:06:22 +0000 Anonymous 563@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>I agree, I'd pay off debt AND invest in the business. That's my plan right now, but of course we're strapped down pretty hard. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/what-if-we-just-gave-the-bailout-money-to-the-people#post-554 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:24:20 +0000 Anonymous 554@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>Quite frankly, this entire situation is ridiculous. I agree with jeffrichlin, that work will work, to fix the economy. Unfortunately, it will have to come from the ones that aren't being bailed out, who lack top ranking connections, who will reduce their own pay, and are innovative enough to find solutions to tough problems. No question that we are faced with a tough problem, manufacturing especially. What is surprising is the lack of attention to the manufacturing sector of the economy. Manufacturing is the foundation of everything. If it can't be made, it sure can't be bought. Manufacturing has consistently created large numbers of high paying jobs, until recently. Manufacturing cannot and should not be ignored. </p> <p>Thanks to our government for making our employees liabilities instead of assets. </p> <p>By the way. My $100k would reduce my debt to zero. The remainder invested in my business. </p> <p>Good point will548....I hadn't thought about it that way either.</p> <p>Mike </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/what-if-we-just-gave-the-bailout-money-to-the-people#post-547 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:44:24 +0000 Anonymous 547@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>It seems to me as an Auctioneer that the bailout money would be well spent given to small and medium shops throughout the USA.</p> <p>I see alot of shops big and small closing and it's a shame.</p> <p>How do we save the economy if we are letting all these business close.</p> <p>Scotty </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/history-lesson#post-505 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:39:38 +0000 Anonymous 505@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>According to this website, the history of commercial machine tools in the United States will be 200 years old in 2019 based on an early patent. Does anyone have any earlier dates?<br /> <a href="http://www.kipnotes.com/MachineTools.htm" rel="nofollow">http://www.kipnotes.com/MachineTools.htm</a> </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/entrepreneurs-038-technology#post-484 Tue, 05 May 2009 19:44:37 +0000 Anonymous 484@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>The advantage of this screw machine patent <a href="http://alturl.com/2fm2" rel="nofollow">http://alturl.com/2fm2</a> was to drill the holes from the bottom to expedite chip removal. It seems like a simple idea to me. But it makes me wonder if the days of entrepreneurs turning these simple non-computer related ideas into a business are still a reality today? </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/2009-pmts-ow-or-wow#post-479 Mon, 04 May 2009 21:28:54 +0000 Anonymous 479@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>I found people unusually helpful and willing to talk, The weak crowd did not make people surly. It seemed to bring folks together. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/2009-pmts-ow-or-wow#post-473 Fri, 01 May 2009 20:47:05 +0000 Anonymous 473@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>I thought PMTS was a great Show to attend. The Tech conference was well done as usual. Deena Ebbert was an outstanding speaker as far as managerial approaches for building teamwork and morale. As a visitor to the main show I was afforded royal treatment that I never get at IMTS, Eastec, etc. As an exhibitor I sold a machine and got some viable leads. Bad attendance does not mean bad show. In this case it was the opposite. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/2009-pmts-ow-or-wow#post-470 Fri, 01 May 2009 18:53:06 +0000 Anonymous 470@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>I had a grease question and learned there are some new developments in that grease blend, and that the Mobil rep will do all the calculations for me. It's a big help. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/2009-pmts-ow-or-wow#post-469 Fri, 01 May 2009 18:45:24 +0000 Anonymous 469@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>I too went to the Mobil booth at PMTS. All I heard was doom &#38; gloom. Perhaps the "wow" guy you talked with was away eating lunch when I visited that booth.<br /> If you judge the success or failure of PMTS by the number of attendees, then it was a complete failure. If you judge it by quality attendees, then it was worth doing it. Based on my conversations with practically all of my fellow exhibiters the inquiries counts were low, very low, but new and highly qualified. Also, exhibitors feel that we have bottomed out with this recession. Now onto Eastec. Curious, does anyone know the final attendee count? </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/2009-pmts-ow-or-wow#post-468 Fri, 01 May 2009 15:38:33 +0000 Anonymous 468@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>Interesting; what was the vibe from Mobil Oil? </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/2009-pmts-ow-or-wow#post-467 Fri, 01 May 2009 13:29:15 +0000 Anonymous 467@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>I had a couple great discussions with vendors (Mobil Oil &#38; Razorform). That's the "Wow". I also had a really nice visit at the TMW booth, but overall, the small crowd made me feel like my drive down to Columbus,OH from Detroit was really to a little town in Canada somewhere. That's the "Ow". </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/westec-eastec-southcentral-gulftec-does-anybody-still-care/page/2#post-463 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 03:39:52 +0000 Anonymous 463@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>Quote: "to use his time wisely and still see all the great technology under one roof." I think this really nails it. When I was involved with design at some of the welding system companies here in south-east Michigan, I was often taking days off to go to nearby SME and IMTS shows. Many of my colleagues ridiculed the habit, jabbing that I would never find anything at the shows that I didn't find here working for the Big 3. How ironic that I'm now working for one of those little companies I drifted by in the aisles one day, and that many of those colleagues are soaking up unemployment dollars. I think the real value of the shows lies in the unexpected answers you hope to find. Whether or not people can find those unexpected answers online or in a showroom or in the trade show probably depends on how much effort the vendors invest in the project. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/westec-eastec-southcentral-gulftec-does-anybody-still-care/page/2#post-462 Tue, 28 Apr 2009 01:25:45 +0000 Anonymous 462@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>I find the problem with builder’s showrooms or Dealer open houses are that you reach too few people. It often ends up most of the time with you having just your current customers (Which is good!) but you are not reaching the masses! I always felt that at a trade show the customer gets the benefit of seeing all the Mfgs or like at the Wisconsin Show, all the dealers at the same place. This normally would give the customer the ability to use his time wisely and still see all the great technology under one roof. But maybe I am wrong now that trade shows seem to be having low attendance? As a Dealer I would love to hear what the customers really wants? With all the money we spend to put on the shows, could we be better served doing something else? Are there any fresh new ideas out there? We have the technology to help customers be more profitable but we need to find a way to reach them! </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/westec-eastec-southcentral-gulftec-does-anybody-still-care/page/2#post-459 Fri, 24 Apr 2009 20:02:20 +0000 Anonymous 459@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>Yeah my experience with builder's showrooms is you get a good demonstration but they're BSing you a little bit - overselling the technology with a whole slideshow presentation (not like we don't see a lot of that from booth jocks at trade shows though). But you're likely to get a free catered lunch (and maybe other comps, as you point out). I've never had to wait too long to talk to sales guys in booths at trade shows, and I have to imagine with attendance at shows what it is right now, no perspective customer is going to be waiting too long. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/westec-eastec-southcentral-gulftec-does-anybody-still-care#post-457 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:35:07 +0000 Anonymous 457@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>dhmargol: When visiting a builders showroom you get personalized attention, see your part run, immediate part quality check, questions answered quickly, visit around your schedule, and face-to-face negotiations. Drawback is the expense of going there and time away from your shop. However, depending on what company you represent and your budget some builders will pay those expenses. At a trade show you can easily compare like machines, less expense, less pressure to commit, and spot competitors. Drawback is time and frustration. Depending on your delivery needs, shows are on a set calendar and at different locations. A crowded booth means you can be waiting to see something or talk to someone. May need to return again later, if you remember. As you can see it really is a personal preference, neither is better or worse. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/westec-eastec-southcentral-gulftec-does-anybody-still-care#post-456 Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:58:32 +0000 Anonymous 456@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>broach well: photographs yes but many builders don't have naration videos to showcase their machine's speed and part process capabilities but I see that's changing. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/westec-eastec-southcentral-gulftec-does-anybody-still-care#post-455 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 20:54:53 +0000 Anonymous 455@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>4aces, what would you say the drawbacks are of seeing a machine tool under power on a builder's showroom floor, as opposed to at a trade show? Which is better or worse and why? </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/westec-eastec-southcentral-gulftec-does-anybody-still-care#post-454 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:33:38 +0000 Anonymous 454@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>Isn't most of the internet already an online show of products and services? </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/westec-eastec-southcentral-gulftec-does-anybody-still-care#post-453 Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:00:13 +0000 Anonymous 453@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>I agree that machine tool trade shows will not become passe, not in my lifetime anyway. However you can see less and less enthusiasm placed on exhibiting and attending them. It seems more companies are willing to skip a show and not worry about negative perception. Years ago the only places to see a machine under power was either on a builders showroom floor or at a show. Both places had benefits and drawbacks. Today's machine tool needs are more immediate and this is a relatively small community. Buyers can call, e-mail, and visit a builders web-site for information. I remember when Westec drew 80,000 attendees in 4 days and IMTS 150,000. Ahh, the good old days. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/westec-eastec-southcentral-gulftec-does-anybody-still-care#post-448 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 21:57:48 +0000 Anonymous 448@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>I mean clearly that is the question - is the time away from the shop worth it?</p> <p>It's funny, when the economy is down, events people will tell you "This is when you should be coming to trade shows! Because now is when you need to rebuild, innovate and stay on the cutting edge to stay on top." When the economy is strong, events people will tell you "You have to be here now because your competition is here."</p> <p>I somewhat doubt trade shows will ever become completely outmoded but the current climate is certainly forcing people to rethink their value and how they function, what they achieve and how else you can achieve the same thing remotedly, etc. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/westec-eastec-southcentral-gulftec-does-anybody-still-care#post-447 Tue, 21 Apr 2009 19:55:48 +0000 Anonymous 447@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>Do the benefits of exhibiting at Trade Shows outweigh the huge expense of doing them? Many big name companies are noticably absent from major shows. Can show attendees afford the time away from the shop to go anymore? Some say yes its worth it while others say no, not anymore. Face to face selling, exhibiting, is best but the pros &#38; cons show scale remains fairly balanced, for now. When its out of balance, then I think an on-line vitual booth tour of products and/or services is just a matter of time to appear on our PC's. </p> http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/topic/what-if-we-just-gave-the-bailout-money-to-the-people#post-441 Mon, 20 Apr 2009 16:14:56 +0000 Anonymous 441@http://www.todaysmachiningworld.com/forum/ <p>dhmargol, Thanks for being open minded, I get a little frustrated some days. We all wish there was a switch to throw to fix our economy, or any issue for that mater. The biggest problem is the size of this problem. We live in a global economy and from what I understand the globe is in trouble. Part of me thinks that our leaders have the Best Minds working on this and the outcome will be the Best for the Globe. The other part of me thinks there is too much politics woven into these decisions and that is scary. </p>