On Sat, 02 Nov 2013 19:14:44 -0500, Ignoramus11177
wrote:

On 2013-11-03, Jim Wilkins wrote:
"Ignoramus11177" wrote in
message ...

To add to this, a few months ago I met just that kind of guy.
(bought
some of his scrap, broken CNC machine for parts and general
surplus).

He started a CNC manufacturing operation in his garage. Kept it
going
and expanded. Right now he is renting an industrial unit, has a
bunch
of machines, people etc. He did not seem to be stupid and, I am
assuming that he is making money.

i

How do CNC job shoppers deal with customers who don't know quite what
they want and ask for engineering help? Even if you are only copying
something for a repair you don't have the original specs and
dimensions.

I am not in that business, and I find it to be generally unattractive
for myself. That particular guy I mentioned in my previous post, was
making certain engine parts for a leading lawnmower company. They know
what they want and he was making exactly what they wanted.

I would not want to have customers who want parts made and do not know
what exactly they need. I would try to gently send them elsewhere, and
if that does not help, not so gently.

i

Years ago I worked with a semi-retired guy that had a screw machine
shop in his garage. Three (I think he said) second hand B&S machines;
holes in the rear wall for the stock feeders and three Mexican girls
as operators.

He said that he did mostly small, non precision, jobs. One he
described was a brass knob drawer handle. The profit on that job was
the sale of the brass scrap :-)
--
Cheers,

John B.