Inside a Chinese Desktop CNC Mill Factory

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Today we're going to see how desktop CNC mills are made. We're going inside the Makera factory, a relatively new Chinese startup that went from a few guys who wanted to make drones in their spare time, to running a very successful kickstarter and building out a complete factory. We'll see how they make very accurate machines, starting from the raw aluminum, all the way to putting a finished product in a crate, ready to ship out.
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[@StrangeParts]

Get Nebula using my link for only $2.50 per month: go.nebula.tv/strangeparts Watch how addressable RGB leds are made: nebula.tv/videos/strangeparts-inside-the-worlds-most-famous-led-factory-in-china Watch this video without ads on Nebula: nebula.tv/videos/strangeparts-inside-a-desktop-cnc-mill-factory-in-china To learn more about the Carvera CNC mill or buy one of your own, go to makera.com/strangeparts If you'd like a Strange Parts hoodie or t-shirt, you can get them by signing up to the Patreon: patreon.com/strangeparts

[@mobiousenigma]

thanks for the videos good to see you uploading again ;]

[@mwk1]

23:36 - GO TO THAT CRATE MAKING MACHINE FACTORY NEXT! 😎👍

[@typerightseesight]

I went to school for this and sadly dropped out and it's brutal to see how advanced laptops are these days with gpus and stuff. Just incredible how awesome that career would have been known I had a t9 flipphone that couldn't splash video backgrounds. lol. well it could, if you could "hack it" hahahahaha

[@mwk1]

O-oh, looks like StrangeParts doesn't want to have anything to do with CCP or Uygur concentration camps in china :-(

[@habiks]

A CNC company drilling holes by hand.. that pretty much sums up why the thing is so overpriced..

[@amzu1252]

huge props to the owner for showing you around and talking in english!

[@lore2486]

Agreed, Josh and the team are very open and involved in the community. Excellent people to work with!

[@FeelingGolden]

Anywhere people can read some reviews? A quick google search says concerns of having to wait a long time before shipping. Is this still a problem?

[@frenchLeon]

Huge props to the CCP to let this filmed.

[@CharlieCharlie88]

@@frenchLeon Another brainwashed

[@Cyrashe]

So happy that you're feeling better enough to be posting videos again. You're one of my favorite creators and I love to learn about what you show us each video.

[@0x3333]

Same here 🎉

[@KevinRobertsT]

this 1000% so glad to be seeing scotty posting again

[@freerideshuttle]

Same here, although I love seeing this milling machines factory. It's good to see some more adequate machines for makers and passionate people, as actually are 3d printers nowdays

[@msa3dak]

Same here

[@oskar417]

same

[@pauliboo22]

I love the enthusiasm you’re showing the owner, and his English is excellent. I’m pretty sure though most of your audience (like me) are engineering based, and have huge interest in how things are made! So I’d love to see more tours like this please.

[@TooLazyToFail]

The owner is so enthusiastic and knowledgeable, too! He's living the dream for a lot of folks.

[@Sahko123]

Its all real enthusiasm these machines are so cool!

[@ChrisMasto]

Maybe it's partly because I have a Carvera and was super impressed by the build quality, but I feel like this is one of your best factory tour videos. And that's saying something, for the king of factory tour videos. And props to Makera for being so open. I know it's marketing, but it didn't feel like any kind of sanitized smoke and mirrors show.

[@gorak9000]

What kind of stuff do you make on it? It's such a small machine overall

[@ChrisMasto]

@@gorak9000 I'm not the best to answer that one, as I have tool acquisition syndrome and most of this stuff sits around unused. But probably the thing I want to make most is PCBs. I managed to get it working with my old X-Carve (kzbin.info/www/bejne/f2m5e42Oa82Unac) but with the tool changer, enclosure, and all-around tighter build on the Carvera, I think I'll get better results. But I made one board and then the ADHD kicked in, so I need to find the motivation to dial in the workflow someday.

[@vigilantcosmicpenguin8721]

Yeah, this video makes you able to see exactly what goes into the build quality.

[@gorak9000]

@@ChrisMasto Heh, it's totally ok, I have a full sized VMC in my garage (30" x 20" x20" travels 15HP spindle, 5HP axis servos on all 3 axes - weighs 6 tons - takes up a ton of floor space) - I don't know exactly what I'm going to make on it either, but I definitely have the work envelope to make big stuff! (once I get the thing fixed and re-assembled). The thing with PCBs is they're so cheap to just order them online these days - only really makes sense to do it yourself if you need PCBs like in an hour, but that said, I want to try to do PCBs on my machine too when it's running again. Funny, I bought my huge machine for way less than a Carvera, but of course I've put a ton of time (and some money) into fixing it too. Not counting time, I'm only slightly more expensive than the carvera, but with a full sized machine, with spindle probing and toolsetter too (if you're patient, good deals do come up on that stuff on the bay)!

[@gorak9000]

@@ChrisMasto Oh, and also, kudos for being a person that actually has some videos on their channel! I have some on mine as well of my machine, if you go back a bit!

[@Sam-yu6ss]

So many custom tools and jigs, this is very cool! I love how Josh knows every part of the process and the person manning it, huge props and respect.

[@zollotech]

Great to see you back at it and feeling better. Thanks for sharing.

[@alchemistalchemist6051]

That Mituitung indicator 😁 Awesome look into this company, their transparency is great and it's a good example of mid-large scale manufacturing

[@ofcossolomon]

Yeah spotted that Muititung too lol

[@fluffyfloof9267]

18:18 That dial indicator was quite funny - "Mituitung"! 😄 I've got a no-name 10 bucks caliper at home, and stuck a label on its box that says "oyotutiM". 😅

[@rafalozan0]

😂😂😂😂

[@JasperPerri]

Its so good to see you on the factory floors again showing how things actually are inside the factories. Like you said in the episode, not everything is perfect and machine automated. People have to understand some stuff is pretty hands on customlike.

[@TheJttv]

I am a packaging engineer in the US. We outsource our cratees inside the US. It aint cheap but its so much more efficient and there is also some wood regulations

[@EgonSorensen]

Good to see some interesting factory visits again :ø)

[@bobweiram6321]

18:19 You can see the discomfort in his face when the Mitutoyo knock-off dial indicator is being filmed. 😂😂

[@oVexlz]

Super happy to see a new video! The lack of safety glasses in use in some parts of this caused me a little pain.

[@JH-uu7jl]

I wasn't expecting this to be as cool as it was. So much fun. And as usual, I'm humbled as a one language speaker. Your guide's English was so impressive!

[@jakobhalskov]

Love seeing the smile on Mr. Guo's faces while he is working on the lid of the machine! 10:55

[@Billybobble1]

I do love these tours, it's quite astonishing to see how rapidly China's manufacturing has advanced over the last couple of decades, but what I like most is seeing the people behind the manufacturing, they're just like you and I trying to earn money for food and shelter. Looking forward to the next tours, and of course it's great to see you so spritely and enthusiastic again Scotty, thank you for the content 😊

[@ErtsenPlayGames]

I'm amazed that they don't mind telling you prices , talking how whats made , showing everything everything looks like made with passion and like a hobby not just to earn as much as possible like some other companies

[@bionicca]

Ya, products with near zero allowances, really don't leave any wiggle room for time, component quality, & cost cutting ...I wouldn't fantasize much about such quality and care throughout the entirety of production being very widespread 😅

[@jjoonathan7178]

I love my Carvera! I have been hoping that a factory tour would happen at some point so this is like a dream come true!

[@bobstrade6355]

Fantastic content Scotty. I work in multiple engineering methods, & this video is really up my street. Extrusion manufacturing next please. 👍🏽

[@Robin-my2gz]

I love factory tours so much, Please keep doing them!

[@cambridgemart2075]

It is great to see a manufacturing team that are clearly skilled at the job, just seeing the build process and the care taken tells me that the end product is likely to be accurate and reliable.

[@notsonominal]

16:56 ... did you just touch my calibrated machine?! Haha, thanks for the tour!

[@BeefIngot]

I love when people put human faces on Chinese factories, because while China isn't known for work safety or making their own tech, I think it's largely an unfair blanket statement and there's many cool companies like Worker (high performance nerf), Miniware (niche it equipment for hobbyists), Bambulab (super fast great user experience 3d printers) and more and these companies aren't the companies mining coal or smelting metals. They're creating some cool stuff and often using coop automation to do so (Bambulab for instance makes 3d printers like one would make desktop pc cases).

[@byubatch]

And not a pair safety glasses to be seen anywhere on the shop floor 😢

[@CollectiveSoftware]

I love all the precision quality control steps

[@luskbo]

Good to see you back!!

[@markusnicoleit8511]

Great to see you back in China again. These factory tours are so interesting!

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

An incredibly quality looking factory; I with them HUGE success.

[@KaiweraGaming]

Scotty, I'm so happy that you're well enough to do the videos you love again. I've been following since your collab with LTT making a PC out of parts from Shenzhen and love watching what you do.

[@snaggster]

Fantastic factory. Great to see so many components made in-house.

[@lesliekawiti]

Im so happy youre getting back to doing factory tours. It really shows how amazing the chinese owners and workers are which a lot of people in the west dont appreciate as much. All we get fed is the propoganda

[@AW-Services]

Wow, Scotty. You've really done these guy's and their factory massive justice. Josh was an incredible host, and his English was on point. There are far too many negative stories about Chinese made products, and people who only buy junk from Ebay don't see or appreciate the other side of the production and sales world. I dont own any of their equipment. However, I've really enjoyed this video. Unlike a TV production of "How it's Made," you know exactly what you are talking about, which adds incredible context and trust Take care. See you in the next video from Austin in the 🇬🇧

[@ShawnChristopher10101]

Few people realize that for a few parts, you can grab the piece, throw it in a drill press and tap a hole with a jig vs. waiting for a CNC machine to change axis, recenter, etc...just quicker to do it by hand.

[@rewindforwards8543]

Cnc is almost instant now though?

[@Tabbithakitten]

The nebula video is great, been a subscriber for 2 years now and have enjoyed it.

[@jassen22]

Finally New Video from Strange parts

[@NoFailer]

I wrote a term paper about how China started to become an economical powerhouse and learning from the west was a key part of it. People used to laugh at "Made in China" but thanks to their policies and deals with western companies they have acquired the same expertise and can now manufacture with the same or even better quality. Granted that doesn't apply to every single factory or manufacturer in China, but they have come a long way.

[@Shocker99]

Personal experience, part of the reason why they're cheap is because a lot cut corners. I've had the pleasure of dealing with $10-20k machines designed and manufactured in China by various companies. I'll give them credit in the companies i've dealt with didn't waste much. Eg. Mains electricity cables that run through the machine are made up of several segments of cable which were hand twisted together and electrical tape put over the connection. In the west this would never happen - single cables running from point to point and if they did have to extend a cable, then the wires would have been properly bonded together.

[@Omniverse0]

It's easy to go far on a boat someone else designed.

[@kiddy1992]

on the other hand, if you pay them they'll just as happily do it the western way. if you want cheap you get cheap. @@Shocker99

[@leonordin3052]

Wow is this video made for me, because this is what I wanted to see the most.

[@brianwaayenberg3099]

2:30, bros rocking the safty squints

[@ooooneeee]

I love those factors tours, please keep doing them. You explain stuff so well and it's cool to watch the workers make stuff.

[@hazonku]

I think the most surprising thing was that adorable tiny LiPo battery in the probe and the fact their big CNC for making side panels only cost them about $1,500. I guess that makes sense though if the thing is a kit made practically down the street.

[@enpegee]

more factory tourrrr!!!

[@kandimann69]

The safety squint of the guy working the drill press made me laugh. Poor guy.

[@dazer123]

Its a good job he was squinting whilst drilling

[@Shocker99]

That's his safety squints.

[@YumiFaeldo]

That’s how we do it in Asia. Protective goggles fog, squinting makes you focus. Laser focused. 😂

[@simonstroud2555]

Wow that's a lot of granite tables, perhaps local "knock-off" brand rather than proper Mitutoyo ones, to go with the similarly branded dial gauge. We have just one Mitutoyo one at my workplace, used for measuring things. I was surprised how long it took the guy to calibrate it before we could use it ... About most of a day, with his special flatness-measuring gadgetry. When you get one of these tables you need to make sure it's in its final resting place as it can't be moved once calibrated.

[@crypton1782]

@18:20 gotta love the good 'ol Mituitung dial indicator haha

[@ashystyle]

Great precision and detail work in the whole production assembly line!

[@BethePandaGames]

Its amazing how this guy knows every little thing about every process of the build. Amazing

[@nathansmith5229]

love the factory tours.

[@siddhantsingh74]

Please do a factory tour of a foldable crate factory. We would love to see more ingenious and innovative packing material.

[@Backhoebb]

Wow. We never think about Chinese factories like this. Clean, safe, and a nice work environment!

[@ChongMcBong]

thanks scotty :) and thanks to the owner for showing us around

[@JeynickRuns]

Amazing video! Always amazed by the creativity and custom-built machines of factories like these.

[@Tgspartnership]

great product, nice factory!

[@thejudgemeister]

I'm happy to see that you're posting content again. I hope you're doing much better. You sure seem to be. I love seeing how things are made.

[@BHSAHFAD]

It's so refreshing being able to understand what is going on from someone who works there

[@Deja117]

It always gets me how you're never hesitant to just grab a part and show it. It's some admirable confidence, I'd be scared of dropping it or breaking it or something without making sure it's okay.

[@DanieleSpeziani-v9b]

Quite cool, including the "Mitutung" comparator @ time 18:20

[@sanshuma0]

This is fantastic

[@andrecharboneaudre8765]

I am new to your channel. I am glad the algorithm found me. I like this kind of content and it helps me grow as an artist.

[@mvadu]

Amazing tour.. Good to know that they are using Smoothieware, I hope Arthur and co (the key developers behind the project) are getting some kind of compensation from this company for their great software.

[@Silv3rDragon]

I work in a machine shop. The pressure is real when the boss brings a big wig tour or camera through.

[@chipcode5538]

Nice video, the carvera is still on my list.

[@XA--pb9ni]

I Really liked the fake Mitotoyo Dial Indicator at 18:22 xD I mean it did not say Mitotoyo but the M looked pretty simmilar..

[@elwik]

So wish i could afford one, im taking a CNC-operator education atm and whould have been awesome to have at home learning more and using what i learn at trade school.

[@williambennett9764]

I enjoyed this - it was neat to watch a CNC machine-machining CNC machine machining CNC machines.

[@Aron3DP]

Awesome machines. Fabreeko has them shipping from in the US.

[@mactech8167]

A lot of this technology I was doing back in 1990’s, routers, cnc in Australia nothing new to me here, I was quite lucky to learn and use this technology in its heyday through the “digital transition” when it was at the cutting edge at the time, now it’s what’s old is new again to most people.

[@ydoucare55]

Carvera guys are awesome. Best Kickstarter i've ever backed. Glad they are seeing success.

[@maadmaxx123]

Mituitung? I have never seen that flavor of Mitutoyo clone before.

[@ChadsCustomCreations]

I love factory tours thank you for doing these.

[@FAVAX-REX]

The guy that put usb c to iPhone and now apple is copying it

[@laetitiazichy-vanlidth5882]

😂😂 so true

[@cagmuer]

This is the perfect video, your style matches perfectly. This is an easy and enjoyable watch for me.

[@DeTrOiTXX12]

That was very cool, Josh was very smart and spoke great English.

[@LReBe7]

Gotta love the Mituitung dial indicator 😂 From a meter away, it looks perfectly like a Mitutoyo indicator.

[@solomon0o0o0ozz]

Mituitung @18:19, same M like Mitutoyo.

[@tory6733]

Would love to see a desktop cnc with small work area 6x6x3” but with high rigidity and high torque spindle so you can machine stainless steel. All of the desktop mills I have seen barely do aluminum and usually with heavy chatter.

[@elmehdiezziar]

Wow. Amazing ❤

[@DirtyApronBoy]

Sometimes when I see the Made In China branding, its easy to think the product was just made by some facesles state machine factory. Scotty helps to personalize these businesses, showing that in fact some of these companies are just little mom and pop startups. These factory tours really help to remind me that there are people behind the manufacturing not just machines.

[@WARnTEA]

Actually, most factories in China are basically mom and pop type of operations. Maybe about 30-100 workers per manufacturer. Like Scotty explained its because of their huge network of nearby factories that they can outsource most of their components to someone that specializes in making just that component.

[@weeeeehhhhh]

@@WARnTEA That's what amazed me about manufacturing in China. Some factories could have only a few employees and a handful of equipment, but there are maybe a dozen similar operations in the same area, all making the same parts. I was expecting everything to be a single mammoth manufacturing complex.

[@kyme32]

that's pretty dope CNC, and i was searching for one, bookmarked

[@olavrask9729]

My god i want that machine even more now! :D Thank you for a nice video :)

[@MasonH24]

Always love your videos, and so happy to see you're feeling well again!

[@mikehensley78]

The title made me remember C&C Music Factory from the 1990's. LOL.

[@ZeroInDaHouse]

Hahahahah this felt so hard like that Strange Parts was probing for inside advice as maybe he wants to start his own cnc mill factory overseas. But awesome video man its awesome to have you back!❤

[@AnthonyRBlacker]

Very cool experience, I would LOVE to get a chance in real life to do a factory tour over there! I have worked in some factories when I was much younger (20s) and have some experience with this type of work, but nothing digital or electronic, mostly machining work. Thank you Scotty

[@steevesaj1]

Happy to see you back

[@QLTD]

Was waiting to see the mill in action!!!!

[@MikeHarris1984]

Is this a re-upload??? I swear I saw this a few months ago..... or last month.... Maybe I saw it on Nebula? This is such a great video, and I haven't got there yet, but when you get to the shipping dept and have that hand inkjet printer to print on labels is amazing!!! LOL. whoever got that CNC, hopefully they comment with it. BTW, I LOVE NEBULA!!!!!!!! Such an amazing platform and all my fav youtubers with TONS of extra content and specials... It is amazing... What Linus wanted Floatplane to be, lol.... Nebula's deployment plan was perfect out of the gate... Where each creator is PART OWNER of the company and have a full say in what goes on from original and bringing new creators into the fold.

[@Subie-Driver]

We just received our CNC. We are testing it to see if we will use these in our schools.

[@blakececchini1851]

The safety squints 2:30

[@cnccarving]

thank you for this video

[@nixmamd]

I love how they just tested their handheld printer on the wall

[@gorak9000]

Like he said, owning one of those would be very dangerous - I'd be tempted to test it out on EVERYTHING - the wall, the floor, outside, inside, on cats or dogs... the possibilities are endless!

[@Sahko123]

the amount of power that you can get from such a small desktop printer

[@blaster2k]

These factory videos are so interesting! Great work!

[@ChaseFabbed]

I work in one of the largest custom heavy fabrication shops in the United States, the first I noticed, where is the workers PPE. No safety glasses while drilling? Crazy! Still neat to see how they do things.

[@farbe123]

Nice to see the good old Mituitung dail test indicators. Much better than mitutoyo !

[@linusgoblin]

Excellent format!

[@Innuya]

Seeing you so excited to be touring with an excited manufacturer, is exciting :)

[@EdHayes3]

Someone get them some safety glasses!

[@MakeItHackin]

Awesome tour!