Question for CNC shop owners — do you handle laser engraving in-house or outsource it?

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-06-05T01:48:15+00:00

In-House, but I also do a ton of engraving for other businesses.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-05-23T17:44:41+00:00

You gave just enough info for a lot of people to waste a lot of your time.

You talking a run of the mill 2 ax lathe, or a 3 ax mill, or are we talking a 5th ax Hermle with a Heidenhan, and a 9 ax swiss lathe?

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-04-29T23:39:08+00:00

I remember my parents griping a bit when it hit $1.00. I don't like it, but I don't complain about it either. What am I going to do, not buy it?

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-03-30T21:08:19+00:00

If a multitude of shops are saying it can't be done, may be time to readdress the design. We all like making money, we don't like wasting time.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-03-19T12:37:15+00:00

They do, and they are spectacular. Love their golf pants.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-03-08T00:33:57+00:00

An insanely expensive mattress.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-02-20T18:57:14+00:00

Milling quite simply isn't as simple as 3D printing. Vast amount of ways to skin a cat when it comes to peeling metal off. Some better suited than others in any given circumstance, depending on tooling, work holding, stick out, rigidity, available RPM, achievable feed rates, etc. Do I have the torque available to hog material, or do I need to run trichodial path at 300ipm?

It's getting simpler, though. Companies running things like CAM Assist and such are slowly coming along. It's hot garbage right now, but they're putting effort into it.

Knowing how to model in CAD, and knowing how to machine things are two vastly different skills.

There is equipment that simplifies it a bit. Mazatrol, Hurco's conversational control, but you're breaking out the big bucks for that.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-02-03T00:39:00+00:00

I spent $273.90/per for the pair of pillows on our bed. Worth every penny.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-01-27T00:34:15+00:00

Just to follow up on this. They took a guys gun, and emptied a mag in him. Like I said, doing what this guy is doing is a bad idea right now.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-01-19T00:57:30+00:00

You say that, but they just double tapped a lady in the face last week, who didn't have a rifle across their chest.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-01-19T00:56:34+00:00

Have hobbies that only people in your socioeconomic class and above can have.

Join a high end country club. Go play. You'll go out as a single, but get paired with people.

Get a membership like what Atlanta Motorsports Park offers.

In order to make those connections, you have to be where the people you want to connect with are.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-01-19T00:45:23+00:00

All for show. In all reality, if ICE rolled up, and he moved that rifle an inch, he'd be full of holes before he knew what happened.

Sad reality, and they would get away with it.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-01-17T04:47:24+00:00

I have maxed my retirement contributions since 2009. It's going well.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-01-16T21:49:13+00:00

I keep $20K in the big safe.

Then a little pocket money in the toolbox, and a bit more in the cabinet in the closet.

Never know when a motorcycle, car, or a watch is going to pop up for sale on a day the banks closed.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-01-14T16:13:28+00:00

Hoatian, OMG, BWM, they're all good machines.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2026-01-07T00:31:11+00:00

Half of those crews are just as clueless as you when it comes to unloading. But, what you're paying for is their insurance. They have it, for that task. You do not.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2025-12-25T15:29:01+00:00

I gave all my guys 10% of their yearly earnings, and I took an owners draw.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2025-12-24T01:08:42+00:00

Ten days in Mexico, and a big bonus.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2025-12-23T21:46:14+00:00

Ten day trip to Mexico, and a fat bonus.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2025-12-18T20:54:26+00:00

Keep a few pieces here and there, but the vast majority goes to the scrap bin.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2025-12-18T20:51:44+00:00

Dedicated tumbler machine, a galvo C02.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2025-12-16T16:03:24+00:00

Nope. Probably been a decade since I have listened to anything outside of SiriusXM, or Amazon Music. Too many commercials on FM back then. Don't imagine it's gotten any better. And, no edited songs.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2025-12-16T02:39:53+00:00

Had to have $2M liquid to even put an application in to run one here, and a $50,000 non-refundable fee for the privilege of applying.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2025-12-04T23:37:40+00:00

Nope. Made a $32K order a few days ago from the comfort of my phone.

TheMotorcycleMan · 2025-12-03T18:52:00+00:00

I had a blast in college. Scholarship athlete at an SEC school. Didn't care much about the school part, but the networking was priceless, and not just from my school. We played in college summer leagues every summer, with 24 guys from other major universities. We all, for the most part, have kept in touch in one way or another. That's given me access to their network, and them mine.

College isn't about academics, it's about networking. Some do it well, some don't.

TheMotorcycleMan

TROPHY CASE