CNC Shop Tour | 5th Axis: PHENOMENAL Workholding Solutions & Embracing Social Media Community!

Let's tour the 5th Axis shop in San Diego, California!
With +GF+ Mikron, Grob, Hermle, Haas, and Fanuc machine tools, they've developed precise, high quality workholding solutions. They have also streamlined processes by integrating Fanuc and Erowa robots for automation. It's a great manufacturing success story. What's even better is how active 5th Axis is on sharing their story and others through social media!
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Links for this video
5th Axis | fifthaxis.com/
Follow 5th Axis on IG | bit.ly/35BLgOK
MORE FACTORY TOURS | bit.ly/2MO5cET
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Reach us / CNC Info:
Speeds & Feeds: provencut.com
Download Fusion 360: www.dpbolvw.ne...
Online Fusion 360 Training: bit.ly/LearnFus...
Hands-On CNC Classes: www.nyccnc.com...
SMW Products: saundersmachin...
CNC Resources: www.nyccnc.com 5 Reasons to Use a Fixture Plate on Your CNC Machine: bit.ly/3sNA4uH

[@ForgottenMan1]

Minute 23:06 "...enjoy what you do?" that ear to ear smile says it all.

[@petrich123]

It's so interesting to see the mind of a true businessman who treats money as a capability and not as a scorekeeper.

[@alexanderc5312]

2 true on this

[@davesalzer3220]

His attitude is perfect. I dig that shop.

[@alexbarnett8541]

Nice to see that in the USA. We need much more precision manufacturing like that. Awesome!

[@buddbuilt]

Chris is so cool! He really does want to help support the small guys too. gave me a tour just before John you came through and helped me out with some new process for a new part were working on. So Cool! Love there Fixturing!

[@barrythompson8813]

Unbelievable ! Thank you John and the 5th Axis team for your generosity !!!

[@nyccnc]

My pleasure!

[@7inrain]

Your shop tours are great and provide a lot of invaluable insight. Being in automation myself I always strive for gaining more experience. Usually you get that through your customers and the problems they have. With your videos I get different approaches delivered right to my desk and while sipping my morning coffee. This video with 5th Axis was especially instructive (shout-out to them). Thanks a lot.

[@nyccnc]

Thanks! Agree - being able to see other shops (and share those tour on KZbin) is something I very much enjoy.

[@senorimotor]

Just purchased my first 5th Axis package because of this video and the 5th Axis is amazing! video. Thanks for the info John!

[@mechfeeney]

These guys have made a bunch of stuff for me in the past. Great shop.

[@ipadize]

wanted to go to bed, how am i going to explain my boss that i am late again?

[@DF-zb3yk]

this is by far your best tour yet. awesome machines, awesome tools and a awesome tour guide.

[@nyccnc]

Thanks!!!

[@JohnGrimsmo]

This was amazing, thank you for sharing buddy!

[@petrich123]

Really cool to see how automation can actually be implemented. Thanks for the great video!

[@marshallfaris2755]

I love 5th axis products I use them daily on a robo drill to make extended mag-wells and rmr sight plates. They are fast accurate and rugged work holding solution. Thank you so much for doing this video your channel is awesome and now got to see where the tools I use to make the tools I make were made.

[@TimberTramp]

This will change the world and the accuracy of parts we interface with everyday. I cannot wait to see what the future brings...will we all have 5 axis machines and deal on open source info to build whatever we want?

[@Elchapo62]

we need a lot more of these shops in America and in bigger scale.

[@originalmianos]

Another great one. This took me two sittings as I didn't want to miss any detail.

[@JebJulian]

Erowa system was awesome to see. Super keen to see what you do with your robodrill. great tour as always

[@alexandermarothy5004]

FYI, I’m in the process of getting an Erowa Compact 80 to automate inspection between 2 CMMs to keep up with our massive production requirements for LTAs.

[@gearloose703]

So that is where those come from!

[@helicopterjohns]

Wonderful tour!!!! Thanks for sharing. John

[@xenonram]

I love that he touched on the buzzwords. Sorry John... I know you love the buzzwords.

[@nickvasquez85]

The buzzword bit regarding JIT was spot on in just about every machine shop/job shop environment.

[@nikolaiownz]

what an incredible shop... and a very knowledgeable boss.. i see why they are so sucessful forsure.

[@whitehedr]

Wow, what a great tour. I can’t even begin to speculate on how much that firm has invested in those machines. The owner certainly seems to enjoy what he is doing.

[@blazingfiend420]

It's definitely more than they're paying their employees, THAT'S for sure!🤣

[@SeaWolfEntertainment]

I live 30min north of their shop in Escondido. Awesome shop.

[@AkarinSylian]

If you like the old pallet changers on the GF-Machines, check out the 'Workpartner +1' by System3R. Very efficient and compact design. Userfriendly and compatible with almost all +GF+ Machine types.

[@robf4013]

Very cool dude and a very nice business he's built! I'm curious why he has so many different machine builders in his shop. We tend to settle on one as it keeps maintenance, repairs and training way simpler. It almost looks as though he just bought the best deal every time he needed a machine.

[@blazingfiend420]

They don't even communicate to their employees when they buy new machines, if you work there it's nothing but a BS surprise every day! You can't depend on anything with these guys.

[@wrighty338]

amazing shop tour thanks NYC CNC + 5th Axis, one of my favorites so far!

[@OakwoodMachineWorks]

Aaaanddd the rest of todays productivity is out the window!

[@nyccnc]

LOL

[@chucka103]

Wow great tour John One of the beat I’ve seen real grass roots engaging concepts, some good learnings 👌🏻👍🏻

[@Ujeb08]

The guy said they dont use AC being near the ocean. How do they do such precise work like to tenths outside the EDM room?

[@nelsonbrum8496]

I've got my "RUN CNC" shirt! Awesome!

[@vipergtx7]

Thank you for the awesome video

[@PatientZeroBalisong]

I just ordered a vise and rock lock! In ready!

[@sc9913]

Cool company! But such a machine tool zoo, on the other hand, experience can be gained from such a variety of machine tools ...

[@chadbro1799]

This guy has the mind set that not many high ups have in company’s nowadays. He needs to do conferences for shop management.

[@kkknotcool]

That's the wonder of capitalism. And the ugliness of corporatism. When the person making the decisions about the capital is the one benefiting from proper use of the capital, wonderful things happen. And likewise when the person making the decisions about capital isn't the one benefiting from proper use of the capital, bad things happen. It boggles my mind how many multi million dollar shops are managed by some asshole not even making six figures. And shareholders make stupid rationalizations on why their business isn't making as much money. It's not china it's you ignoring capitalism.

[@beatboxx713]

Agreed, this guy doesn't know what he's talking about. Just in time is about inventory management. Batching jobs in a way that makes sense not just 1 part.. I mean getting to one part is a dream not the reality of just in time...

[@BernieCookPilot]

Awesome vlog very educational well explained thanks for sharing great clear video

[@jkotka]

so, at 26:22 there is a clear cut on the video, demo effect perhaps ?

[@martin_3146]

How dare you not showing us the HSC 55 linear ;)

[@kjangmy]

Awesome

[@DodgyBrothersEngineering]

Just spotted the Tee shirt, RUN CNC very funny.

[@heavyweather]

8:00 Sooo...if you're familiar with wax on a surfboard. Noooo...I am from Ohio. 😂 So, do you have a machine big enough to shape some surfboards in your spare time? Guess they also run wax castings for skateboard axles.

[@bl0odsugar878]

Think you missed some blurring at 17:30.

[@bobaloo2012]

Chris kept saying "an extra decimal place". So, is he talking tenths or hundredths?

[@kchigley5309]

@Yorkiepoocharlie Nah. Normal machines keep track of 4 decimal places .0001, extra precision machines keep track of 5 so .00001

[@blazingfiend420]

@@kchigley5309 Except they don't have any machines capable of holding that tolerance, so I think it's a great question.

[@apsfirearms888]

Just in Time is a goal to work towards, not really a perfect "push button make 1 part" thing. Set up time and safety stock is in the formulas.

[@neilpuckett359]

San Diego, CA can you imagine the regulatory hoops a business like that has to jump through and then there's taxes local,state,Federal?

[@OneAdam12Adam]

It seems like you're starting to start trouble. Qualify your statements.

[@blazingfiend420]

@@OneAdam12Adam No, he's got a great point. They don't even own the shop, it's all rented. Just imagine how much money they waste on rent every month!🤣

[@денисворошило]

just a cool video

[@RaptorMachineToolCo]

Amazing.....

[@leoblazer74]

What are the wax parts for?

[@multiHappyHacker]

casting molds perhaps?

[@mannycalavera121]

I like this guy.

[@heavyweather]

Couldn't you keep the wax away from the machine with some kind of air curtain maybe?

[@kchigley5309]

I was thinking something like Makino's Graphite series (designed for cutting Ram EDM tooling) that has seals and air pressure differential systems built in for keeping graphite particles from getting into the mechanisms.

[@peterbowman1783]

Great shop and great products!

[@beachboardfan9544]

I hope they sell those shirts!

[@nelsonbrum8496]

They do, I have one. Go to their website.

[@sakubashiba3610]

This an automated message its just for testing purpose you can remove the comment if you want.

[@ljtv784]

I wesh i can apply to your company

[@blazingfiend420]

Well you've definitely got the amount of literacy they appreciate!

[@renatomartinez3183]

When...you are get used to push your own business, with thoughts of machines that take action? you need to hire people with more capability than you(in terms of thinking),so your efforts would slow a bit. If else got to keep putting an eye overthere always!!!!

[@fabianpienaar366]

If you close your eyes and listen you would swear it’s Jordan Peterson speaking.

[@j.frankparnell6195]

Please learn to pronounce Hermle appropriately. It is not Hermla or Hermlee it is Hermlay. It's like pronouncing Porsche as Porsh.

[@jakp8777]

Get any other robot but Fanuc. I used to program these robots for General Motors, who only lets this make of robots in their plant. The user interface looks 20 years old, clunky to programming and some of the English questionable. There are a lot better boots from Kuka or ABB.

[@bailey2829]

FIRST!

[@moonryder203]

What I love is how the owner is really into innovating his shop to get the best results unlike some other shop owners who complain about buying anything thinking everything lasts forever. You can't expect to stay in business if you don't think and plan for the future. Much respect! 5th Axis vises are amazing to use and a great bang for your buck!

[@blazingfiend420]

He's not the only owner, there are 3 owners and they actually don't ever plan anything at all. They hire anything with a heartbeat and just throw people at the wall and see what sticks. 🤷‍♂ (If you actually work there instead of just watching one video on youtube you'll know they do in fact "complain about anything thinking everything lasts forever.")

[@bcbloc02]

12:46 if they would buy that kid a height check he could verify those blanks were the right size a lot faster and more accurate. :-) Very cool shop and the fact they use their stuff to develop and test it in real world applications makes sure you are getting something that will perform as you expect.

[@kchigley5309]

Yeah, just a simple Go Nogo would free up alot of time.

[@bernardwill7196]

If I was a young man ( Student ) I work on a lathe. To earn money for the study. I'm familiar with a lathe since then , but what I see here it's amazing. Greetings from Germany

[@Simulator51]

Noticed some NDA/confidential parts being blurred out around 17:00.

[@chiquinhoreydelas]

congrats

[@Simulator51]

Francisco Thank you.

[@bjorn5209]

@@John-ik2eg anti-facists are not anti work dingus lol

[@ActiveAtom]

Well what a nice visit and share for all of us to see learn and be along with you in our neck of the woods, wow we read Mikron (favorite from this video) in the description. Thank you John. Lance & Patrick.

[@Sicktrickintuner]

Wicked tour. Love the setup capabilities there

[@twwt7004]

Heremly

[@tubbytimmy8287]

34:11 - Dr.Disrespect on the wall? Ehhh...

[@blazingfiend420]

Oh yea dude. 5th Axis is ALL ABOUT disrespect. Verbal assault, sexual harassment and CONSTANT disrespect. You can't even have an idea or ask a question without them thinking it's stupid. They'd rather listen to their favorite toothless one-eyed whiney-crybaby of a poor family circa 1956 who likes to waste other peoples' money than anyone else. 5th Axis is probably one of the worst companies I've ever worked for. Never before had I witnessed such a disgusting waste of time and money.

[@maxprocnc2515]

Awesome job shop tour! Amazing shop and the chap clearly knows his business with high knowledge of machining. We use 5th Axis vices even though these vices have some problems we do like to use them for OP1 only. It's just a pity that these can't be used for OP2 as they jaws lift up :-(. Never mind that great shop, awsome machines and great chap. Love it

[@jamesm3268]

so stinking cool

[@BrianBuonomo]

Amazing tour, lots of ideas to add to how I am setting up our new high school machine shop. One thing that we never gave much thought to in the past is end of day clean up. Obviously we are not a production shop or job shop, we are a teaching shop. Hearing about the burden that the wax has on machines was a new concept and watching the machine operators clean off between jobs brought up some new ideas on how to keep the machines cleaned between classes. The bigger you get the more stuff there is to do (maintenance wise.) Keep up the great work John.

[@lukasbitterli]

As a Swiss person it's nice to see you use so many of our machines. What do you like about them?

[@Isambardify]

Very cool. Have to disagree with the idea of just in time as a buzzword though. It might not work in a particular industry but it is a massive innovation that has unquestionably enabled the internet economy as it exists today.

[@Isambardify]

@@John-ik2eg warehouses are expensive and internet shopping, which is increasingly the main way people buy things, is driven by low cost, but still requiring fast delivery. The only way to do that is with just in time supply chains.

[@WilliamPayneNZ]

The thing is though that all that product is sitting in a warehouse somewhere. What changes is who’s warehouse.

[@Bowtie41]

21:33 "They can dream in their "little ivory towers"..........F*CKIN' AMEN BROTHER!!!!!!! I grew up working in REAL machine shops,ALL MANUAL,then we added a NC,then a Hybrid or 2,then a CNC or 2,then these guys did EXACTLY as he said,they come in and said "Hey,Let's do JIT,etc.",2 shops I worked for LOST money investing in their Bullsh!t.It may work for SOME shops,but NOT all.

[@Mrgnothing1]

They really need to make their vices stronger. We have some and pretty much all of them are broken or the bolt to do them up is rounded off

[@vincentguttmann2231]

If you got problems, you should bring it up to them! I don't believe they intentionally sell crappy stuff to scam you out of your money, so it must be something they are not aware of, and if no on tells them, how should they know?

[@blazingfiend420]

@@vincentguttmann2231 I do. They're always hiring brand new below-entry-level employees who have absolutely no idea what they're doing or any experience. They might have a top-notch person who answers customer complaints, but still they're not about doing the right thing the first time. They're super greedy, dishonest, and non-transparent(opaque) about every aspect of their business. They think they can't afford to do it right the first time and cut every corner imaginable so inevitably you as the customer don't get what you pay for. They definitely value forgiveness more than permission so I'm sure they'll off you a BS apology for it.🤷‍♂🤣

[@aitorpiedrahita814]

Nice RUN CNC T-Shirt!

[@blazingfiend420]

33:50 is there any reason the programmer's explanation didn't make it into the edited video?🤣🤣🤣

[@bclare2544]

Very interesting John.

[@capnthepeafarmer]

If you want an automation system that is user friendly check out ABB robotics. Those robots are so user friendly compared to the Fanuc systems. They also will make turn key systems were as other robotic manufacturers will only sell you the robot.

[@jcurran8860]

Fantastic vid. Thank You.

[@nyccnc]

Thanks!

[@neznamkaj]

RUN CNC... hooooow theeeeee F%#?ING COOOOOOL T-SHIRT 😮😮😮😮😮😮 Where did you get that????

[@weldmachine]

Unbelievable how open minded this guy is. Yer sure take a look at that. Amazing open shop.

[@norahung588]

Really cool!

[@jimburnsjr.]

Bud...your story has been awesome...recently got back into the shop myself...all manual and having a blast. Do still very much like to see your stuff on cnc and automation....would like to see ya get into high end EDM machining so we can know whats goin on in that world....and would really like to own a standard sized, dishwasher safe, durable coffee cup with your youtube logo on it. Automation is kinda like a law...it is truly only as good as the people using it to provide quality goods at an affordable rate.. If you wipe out jobs take control of an entire industry that all other industries rely on and then price your mass produced mounted rex cut deburring bobs for 8 bucks each instead of 8 for 20...you make freedom, automation, and more seem stupid...and currency abuse, media abuse, and totalitarian government seem reasonable....in which case you should lose your butt the same as your greedy spoilt butt would have for the rest of us. When the tooling is paid for the price must come down huge but stay high enough to provide maintenance and growth...all the while being potentially undercut, and or made obsolete....doing all that innocently without trapping, tricking, or forcing the community or others...is what is physically required to actually get the job done truly......like the young buck who is an awesome fast worker but who is unsafe or sloppy....the industry leader also may take or give self credit without actually earning it.... Failure to respect it has destroyed every nation and industry that ever existed...i suspect.

[@richhuntsd12]

Wow John, that was a great shop tour. Extremely fun and informative to watch.It appears that Chris and company has really done a fantastic job building up their business. I was super impressed and I really appreciate You sharing the tour with all of us!

[@consciouscool]

These CNC should are keeping American manufacturing alive. For the last 5yrs we have been ordering more robots vs being outpaced by China by a wide margin. The margin is still great but manufacturing is at least not flatlining like it was.

[@rasmillion]

I drooled over that Hardinge. Super precision manual lathe I ran a tainwanese clone and it was my favourite manual machine I ever ran. The real thing must be amazing Funny that with the Mikron and Hermle cnc machines, that was the standout machine for me

[@adisharr]

I'm betting they run that one cell with the door open all the time.

[@PinocchioHolznase]

Mh, why no coolant on the wax parts to contain the chips in the fluid? There must be a reason, can you explain it to us?

[@martineastburn3679]

Instead of wax for tests - try plastic. Some plastics are solvable. Talk to a plastic supplier.

[@grahambird1570]

Mind Blowing stuff >>> Makes me feel so damn Jurassic as an older Turner Machinist !!!

[@tacitus101010]

John you gotta nail these audio issues once and for all.

[@vgreenplant1420]

Its new experience...great

[@SeaWolfEntertainment]

I live just north of the shop.

[@blazingfiend420]

What's the rent like in that area? 5 paychecks per month?🤔🙃

[@SeaWolfEntertainment]

It’s around $3000 and also depends where and what county you live in

[@jimc4731]

Wondering why no air conditioning in the shop? JIM

[@bigshantolifting]

take a wild guess Jim....

[@trolltv1282]

I want this T-shirt RUN CNC

[@nelsonbrum8496]

Go to their website.

[@benzelrhomb]

20:44 She mad 😲

[@Eatongee]

If he had confidence in the repeatability of his tooling and skill of his machinists, he should be able to run small batches. "Ivory towers"? DUDE, J.I.T. is the selling point of your product! Quick change over, fast loading.

[@blazingfiend420]

@@Eatongee (They don't hire "skilled machinists")

[@Eatongee]

@@blazingfiend420 Oh? Do tell! Did you work there? Love to hear the gossip.

[@blazingfiend420]

@@Eatongee Yes I did, it was an awful experience. I saw them hire and fire about 200 stupid/unqualified people. Tons of verbal assault and sexual harassment, they're very irresponsible and dishonest in my opinion. They pay minimum, they're always hiring, there's never any room in the parking lot. Most people who do "well" there are content with wasting all their time and never having any money. And getting fired on their birthday by surprise, they actually did that to somebody. It's kind of entertaining for a couple weeks, but is a very bad long term career.

[@Eatongee]

@@blazingfiend420 Yikes! What a horrible experience. That owner dude at the 20:44 mark spewed the most asinine stuff about the industry. Definitely doesn't understand it. My shop is hiring. We pay well....if you are interested.

[@jonathanhornell-kennedy4521]

Why are they machining wax impellers?

[@lougrims]

probably mold making stuff for lost wax processes.

[@fuzzy1dk]

lost wax casting?

[@bcbloc02]

Likely for lost wax casting.

[@chain3519]

@@bcbloc02 why not just machine the impellers then?

[@bcbloc02]

@@chain3519 Maybe they are titanium or other super alloy castings and it satisfies the cost requirements that machined from solid would not.

[@luke1811]

Tip: Film what the person wants to show you, not the persons themselves. Makes them uncomfortable 7:09

[@FreedomSpirit108]

interviewing there tomorrow

[@blazingfiend420]

Did it go well?🤣