Inside a Chinese CNC Factory

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We're visiting JLC's CNC service in Zhuhai, China, to see how a Chinese CNC factory operates. We see them start from cutting raw stock and go through the full machining process, all the way to the final hand polishing and packing process.
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Credits:
Ed Rhee - Director of Photography
Creator Engine - Editors
Billy Shapiro - Editor

[@StrangeParts]

Use code 50STRANGEPARTS to get 50% OFF plus free shipping on your first Factor box at bit.ly/4fLjdA6! I had to reupload this because the music and sound effects were muted the first time around 🤦

[@penguiin12]

ive been a subscriber for years man but i gotta say please man please dont make the pog face in the thumbnails it makes me feel stupid even clicking on them. thanksssssssss

[@thinkmonkeyman]

What year was this filmed?

[@chuckvanderbildt]

Given how many different designs these people are presented with on a daily basis, each time requiring them to quickly and creatively come up with the best strategy for manufacturing them, they must really be culturing some of the most skilled and nimble machinists out there.

[@innominatum9906]

One of the more modern and large CNC shops in my area of Scandinavia uses some of these skilled CAM programmers. They have their own in-house programmers who are really skilled and awesome at their jobs - but for extremely complicated machining they have a team located in Vietnam they can call for help. They even flew one of them over here to help with a job! Housed him and his family for 3 weeks while he was on the job. The skill gap is insane. Its like they know every tiny bit of information, parameters and all the shortcuts - literal experts of lets say MasterCam or Fusion 360.

[@sarhan.]

Real ones know this is reuploaded lol

[@roganfrazer256]

The question is why 😂

[@thenijni3018]

Based

[@scarr3ll]

​@@roganfrazer256 because the first one had dead air where the music is in this one

[@far9832]

@@roganfrazer256 Because he gets double the sponsor money

[@BeefIngot]

From how long ago?

[@lilisomething]

Excellent to see a new vid, and wow, Scotty was nearby. I live in Zhuhai.

[@Mannedavid]

It's insane how they're able to do this level of quality for such a low price. The company I'm working at uses JLC's CNC service from time to time when the waiting time for our internal machine shop is too long 😅

[@sarhan.]

Brother the vid was uploaded two minutes ago

[@AhammedShaheedhudheen]

@@sarhan. this video is a reupload

[@cristibaluta]

I don't find it low price at all, especially for China. It is at least double than buying the same thing as a product from a store. For example i cnc a camera bottom bracket and paid more than 40$ with shipping and tax. On aliexpress i paid less than half for the same thing but different camera and worse design.

[@asddsa-dy4ne]

@@AhammedShaheedhudheen Is it? I don't remember this one.

[@josslaypeg3884]

@@cristibalutaYou mean that having a bespoke design specially machined for you is more expensive than something mass-produced? Thanks for the sparkling insight into the economics of manufacturing, do you have any more expertise you can share with us while you’re here?

[@Daphoid]

And this video is a great example of the skill the Chinese manufacturing industry has and why I always try to tell people that yes there are things that are really cheaply made, made after hours, made with illegitimate companies on the side type thing to sell rapidly on amazon. BUT to blindly assume that everything from China is cheap garbage just shows the ignorance of their skill; and what components in your favourite products came from there. Even if it says "Made in (Different Country)" that can still include components from China. Yes they have political, human, labour, cost, and worlds of other problems, as do lots of countries. But manufacturing is their wheelhouse; and moreover, a global thing. Raw mining, raw materials, processed materials, it all happens in so many different countries, and so many humans are involved to get that thing on the shelf of your local store, it's crazy. Cool video!

[@thegreenpickel]

Neat to see, I use JLC for PCBs. I did a safety squint while watching the video.

[@Benzerm]

There are sooooo many OSHA violations throughout that whole video. I haven't seen one pair of safety googles.

[@doctorbuga4302]

this isnt the usa with over regulation and clip board warriors working for osha

[@knightsljx]

this is not U$A

[@Uncaged_Rage]

Cool to see you back in China again.

[@Mellow_labs]

Strange question, could I use any of the B-roll footage (With credit) for a JLC sponsored segment in one of my videos? Great video as always, Glad to see you making them more regularly again!

[@RobWVideo]

I remember 15 years ago when Apple announced the unibody MacBook Pro and the shock at realizing that they were going to CNC-machine each laptop top case out of a slab of solid aluminium.

[@Vancidium]

Bro really walked into a CNC factory and unlocked the DLC where machines have machines making machines. Next update: robots arguing over union rights.

[@reeseyme9613]

21:23 actually that is known as a digital or digimatic indicator and usually with an accuracy of under 10 micro meter or micron usually refer in metrology industry. the granite granite surface table will have even tighter tolerance because all of which contributes to the uncertainties of the measurements result.

[@joemacleod-iredale2888]

16:14 those of us who watched your iPhone chassis making video can hear how much easier the vending machine would have made your life for a year!

[@neppuneptunia]

the thing you were unsure of at 21:10 is called a height gauge and they're very common in engineer and machine shops

[@doctorbuga4302]

its an ind8cator not a gauge, genius

[@cqpzg]

@@doctorbuga4302 "its an ind8cator not a gauge, genius" Types this and has the nerve to call someone a genius. LOL

[@SandyCrack69]

Vending machines for commodities are quite common “back of house” here in Australia. I’ve seen in varied places such as large mining sites , casinos Maitenance & av departments to manage consumables. I’ve even seen them in exhibition centres servicing their clients filled with tape , power boards, safety vests & computer cables . Also interesting that robot they were testing loading parts was made in Denmark ( by Universal Robotics ) rather than a locally manufactured clone … I guess with the work they want to do, spending money on industry standard out ways more than makes up for any saving using a sub standard local one …

[@tb0ne315]

It's amazing we're now describing subtractive manufacturing in terms of the opposite of additive manufacturing when the latter is so much newer.

[@GrandePunto8V]

Young generations are dumb like that.

[@AndrasBuzas1908]

@@GrandePunto8V people are born knowing everything yep. Back in my day even yokels in the mountains knew advanced physics.

[@Koushakur]

Being opposite does not imply being older or newer

[@porroapp]

Love how you stare at the 5 axis without safety glasses. Nice.

[@bkohatl]

It is great to have our pal back doing what he does so well. You were missed, pal.

[@BeefIngot]

I often use JLC for their PCB and Assembly because the assembly is much easier with the ability to pick parts and not need to go back and forth. It also allows you to, if you're on a budget, pick the parts they have commonly available very easily so its interesting to see they seem to have gone full force into CNC too. Hopefully the process for that is just as easy/good as the PCB side of things although obviously they aren't particularly huge on the cnc side of things yet.

[@DaveChurchill]

In the 90s I visited a CNC Music Factory

[@Akshun82]

There it is!

[@AdamsWorlds]

Can never get enough CNC, mesmerising.

[@miskaknapek]

how cool - new material from Strange Parts - what a gift, just in time for the holidays :D thank you very much Scott!

[@DragonKingGaav]

Water jet cutting factory tour next!

[@nicholasnarcowich9163]

I programmed those types of machines in the '80's, '90's & 2000's... thank you for the look back, & what is modern, & for your fun videos :-) This reminds me of a PCB shop my friend had in Hong Hong in the '90's, so much hand touch up work. But, that takes the part from maybe okay, to good - no question. So, with most business, it is The People that make The Difference. Treat your people well, & your business will do well. & thinking that, you could expand that from business to just about anything run by people... treat your people well, everything will work well. Godspeed.

[@sushionroad4859]

Its really great to see you uploading again 👍

[@iFilipis]

How incredibly sad this is that JLC manages to provide 10x less price than the US. I quoted the parts with them. Exactly 10x less with shorter lead time. It's about time the US would start to learn things from China

[@nukenuked5749]

sweet mate thanks for the tour and thank you for posting another amazing video mate

[@mikeselectricstuff]

Surprised they're not using renishaw or similar tools for probing - doing it manually must be a lot slower and less accurate

[@2000vitaly]

Reupload?

[@MrJermbob]

REMIXXX

[@saccadecom]

Both JLC and PCBWay offer similar custom fabrication services (CNC, 3DP, PCB/A, etc.) Are there dozens (hundreds?) of full-service fabrication shops like these in China, or just a few?

[@nsglcck]

There is so much room to further automate!

[@anthonyhart7878]

a lathe spins the part, a mill spins the tool?

[@patteahan8704]

Cool to see Scotty back in a China factory

[@StefanReich]

Nice to see a positive report about China for a change 😄

[@Boediprasetya]

The equipment used is extraordinary

[@aaaaa-yv1zr]

Most machines are low-end made in china machines.

[@scarr3ll]

*reupload because first one had dead air where there is music in this one*

[@dankster7993]

Is this a reupload?

[@meetv7700]

Man is back in China now. Be ready for quality content.

[@drgentech4930]

If it would ever be possible, I would LOVE to see a factory where they make CNC machines (or other kinds of complex manufacturing equipment). Those are some of the coolest machines!

[@damianfitzpatrick3465]

Titans of cnc, nyc cnc, have done tours of many places

[@drgentech4930]

@damianfitzpatrick3465 could you link to a video where they tour a factory that makes CNC machines?

[@DogDog173]

Scotty does it, I like it.

[@mohgujai]

Still using Mitutoyo for the final measurement, they know what their limitations are at.

[@gaming53wishmaster71]

i was watching then it wint away so sad but happy its back

[@REVIEWSONTHERUN]

Thanks for sharing it. ✌️

[@WayfairingSam]

On cruise control - Mind Server Unlimited 2:35

[@Lackari]

We got such vending machine for our PPE in some of our maintenance facility

[@zachfox7771]

imagine a world where it makes sense to describe a cnc machine as the opposite of a 3d printer hahaha

[@cristibaluta]

I just ordered my second part and i'm curious how they are gonna hold it cause it's like half an oval with thin walls, it's the front side of a camera. I find it strange they don't do titan, i was interested in having some titan parts. I thought they are US based, so the parts are made in China actually?

[@visiondoctor2020]

love manufacturing vids

[@wolfie778]

ty for the video

[@MELL09494]

I was like what the. What happens to the video?!

[@arthur1670]

0:09 the shame when you have to explain what a CNC machine is using 3-D printing logic

[@MasterJuan-os3os]

It feels like you're in Santa's toy factory!

[@DimasFajar-ns4vb]

google map is amazing good job sir and zamzam water

[@ZaxMan3D]

haha here i was hoping for a discount code for the CNC stuff and then he drops a food discount :D

[@Sykado]

my actual job, and i love it

[@samphire]

Could you ask them to get some ear protection for their workers please?

[@DjordyDonopawiro]

you should do inside a chinese bearing factory XD

[@GrandePunto8V]

Wrong explanation of how the edge-finder works. When it stops wobbling, you must go a bit further until it pops out of concentric again (then you're on the correct position). Being on certain position or size makes some drag. Concept applies to measuring too (for example micrometer has a ratchet, clutch = when you're on size, there is some pressure applied to the part you're measuring).

[@ddiva1973]

Please include a voice-over translation for the Chinese dialogue.

[@NoobieNoodle89]

很棒的影片(what a great video)👍

[@infered5365]

Not a single pair of safety glasses in the whole video.

[@ljubomirculibrk4097]

And blowing aluminium shawings...

[@AlexKidd4Fun]

Savage engineering? 🤔

[@ahmadhasan3258]

bro the thumbnail lol

[@christopherlenahan3906]

Well you're alive anyways!

[@RossD189]

🙌🙌

[@Bobothellama]

Nice

[@5btn603]

sweet

[@OctaviousSound]

Factory tour videos always interesting but this one especially shows a lot of the uncomfortable side of the Chinese manufacturing industry; very good attention to detail and levels of skill but only where it matters to output statistics, while disregarding almost every established safety and PPE practice at the expense of worker health and lengevity.

[@patinsley]

I assume this is send cut send

[@Ragawane2]

Thumbnail is having turbocharger blower wheel.

[@matmair1915]

The highly automated setup still uses US equipment, every other mill and lathe you see is Chinese. Curious why the Chinese machines are not used for this

[@cmpe43]

Did you watch the China Show before going there? Obviously no.

[@cyrex686]

My hands hurt after an hour with sandpaper. Can't imagine your hands last long if you are hand polishing parts all day long. That job must be misery.

[@humblefudge6218]

This is sooo amazing You are always so detailed Yet so easy to view for a cnc layman like me

[@jeffbarta6276]

Tim Hortons Decaf Coffee

[@kekw3688]

Have you gone back to China?

[@ChrisCromwellHP]

He was flown out to China to visit the factory; they invited him for this video.

[@davidyu8175]

😱

[@akaqal6843]

In china?

[@daniel-pablo]

Just want to point out that there are safe exposure levels for radiation but no ammount of lead exposure is deemed safe. Careful with the danger foil

[@doctorbuga4302]

you have no clue what youre talking about

[@reiny038]

Ill consider them once they stop delivering horrendous cnc results to me. Other than cnc , their pcb and 3d printing services are ok.

[@AlphaNTT]

You mean most of their cnc manufactured products are out of spec?

[@goldmanjoe]

And just like that 12,731 viewers (at the time I posted this) don't know how to properly use an edge finder.

[@RangersTown]

Hi

[@boraoku]

No safety googles or ear protection! Be careful next time mate.

[@sspetnazz]

i wish the world was with out politics and humans work together to advance the planet. china is making cool stuff

[@mrinaldutta1812]

Make your own Lamborghini engine here and build your own super car from scratch

[@Dwaynefreeman]

Absolutely hate the thumbnail

[@jackwt7340]

You could run for Secretary of industry of the United States

[@stefanegger]

Half of your video is just an ad. You have no shame? Upload your ad to KZbin servers, wasting power, wasting time of your viewers, just for your own benefit. Disgusting.

[@txd]

Cringe thumbnail.

[@stevenwijay]

Thats Insane how china make everysingle parts. nothing impossible for them. Thanks @strange Parts always share how china works.

[@kiwizz]

Alumululmu

[@Maelthorn1337]

CHINESE PARTS POGFACE

[@sinisnak]

the drones explained am i right fellas

[@catzzzvb]

Not to sound like a conspiracy, but why on earth did a Chinese shop fly out an American youtuber to show pretty standard CNC manufacturing lines? Like nice for him to get the job, but this seems like such a weird (and low value for the company) partnership

[@Kyrox2]

It's JLC. Most of their business is from the US and EU. They do a ton of youtube sponsored bits with tech and modding channels. If someone in the US is getting PCBs or clear 3D prints, they do it through JLC. He's done sponsors for them for years.

[@AhammedShaheedhudheen]

thats how companies advertise their products

[@jcugnoni]

I guess JLC knows better how to do modern marketing than many US or EU companies.. From a user's perspective, I am really impressed by what JLC is offering in terms of cost-quality-lead time. Really cool.

[@Kyrox2]

@@jcugnoni I don't think it's really marketing that keeps them ahead of western vendors. They market to compete with places like PCBWay and other online fabs located in shenzhen. Western companies can't really compete with them. Heck, I don't think anyone in any other place in china could compete with them. Shenzhen is far to unique and designed to consolidate manufacturing expertise. Half of JLC's staff probably spent a decade machining parts for Apple and every other tech company. There's plenty of experienced people who work for less there. All the modern CNC mills are manufactured around that area, so sourcing machines and replacement parts is cheap and quick. It's far too expensive to set up a comprehensive shop in the west and your prospective employee pool is relatively small and inexperienced. I haven't checked them specifically, but China tends to heavily subsidize shipping costs to help maintain it's market dominance over other countries. Their only struggle would be the language barrier, but the shift toward digitalizing and standardizing part diagram formats in the last two decades has minimized that barrier.

[@tekvax01]

Scotty, please understand I'm not being critical of your content. I realise this video looks and sounds like this for a very good reason, but constructively the audio sounds thin, with very low headroom, and fidelity. You appear to not be wearing a lav radio microphone and transmitter. Also, what happened to the colour balance and exposure of the camera? Everything looks really blown out and yellow, with some strange filter applied to the footage. I have been a long-time viewer, and I really enjoy your content. Please continue the excellent work, sir.

[@ciano5475]

I suspect he used some AI to filter out the background noise of the factory

[@TestTubeRabbit]

Thumbnail is so cringe Scottie. I know you’re trying to play the algorithm, but it’s also makes people not want to watch.

[@mooncult88]

noe even a REAL CHINA 😒

[@alexam694]

8 minuted ago

[@ContraryToPopularBelief]

What's wild is he could've done this in the U.S. With far more advance machinists & skill levels, but instead decides to go to China, and Advertises foreign machinists. Lost a sub for that one big boy, because it seems like you have a lot of pro-china content under the guise of a creation channel.

[@hammerth1421]

Scotty used to live in China, so he probably still has contacts there that he doesn't have in the US. It's not like you can just rock up to 3M.

[@xorbodude]

please buy a nicer shirt.