Tulip, Memex, and other Canadians

Regarding DNC and Machine Monitoring, our pilot project at NOV (Varco) on machine 127 is up and running. We still have a minor adjustment to make on the Z axis motion sensor, but otherwise, the wireless and mini website monitor is functioning. Hopefully, they'll buy enough for the whole facility (about 35 CNC and a few more manual machines). Please tell me or Travis of any DNC/Machine Monitor prospects.

Dilbert the Engineer - Bad as Willie Nelson's song about being a Cowboy

Couldn't resist posting this. Most of you have probably seen my Dilbert/Ham Radio cartoon on my bulletin board.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmYDgncMhXw


Also, thanks to everyone for getting their Health Net applications done so fast. By November 1, we hope to make the switch.

We're actively searching out the next retrofit - this is the first time in years that we have a gap in the schedule. For the record, we WILL still do MDSI retrofits if we are asked (we have quotes out to Accurate, Triumph Actuation, and Triumph Structures for them). We prefer to do ones by Fanuc. I just found out today how much cheaper it is to buy parts retail from GEFanuc than it is to buy a them as part of a retrofit package. The A40/4000HVis motors we used at American Metal Bearing recently cost us $1,688 each. As part of a retrofit package with our current multiplier, it would have cost $3,399. I'm not sure it has always been this bad, but it sure makes me want to look around for used, newer Fanuc CNC's to buy without motors for our retrofits.

Look for work!

Warren

Last trip of the season on Jerry's boat

Well, this is a little late, but here some of us are on Jerry's boat for the last trip of the season. It turned out to be a beautiful evening, even if it was October 9. In addition to Basem, Travis, Gilbert, Milton and Bill shown here, Jeff and Jerry were on the bridge and I took the picture. We sailed over to to Ports of Call and watched cargo get unloaded while we ate sandwiches and pie.

Thanks Jerry!

On a more current note, I'm pleased to announce the birth of George Fahmy last Thursday. There was a little mix up here at the office since at first it seemed that George wasn't ready Thursday. Congratulations to Basem and Erini.

Welcome to a new idea (for Uptime)

Welcome to our blog. I've been meaning to try something like this for quite awhile, but something Friday pushed me into it.

For several months, we've been going through the machines at GE Aviation in Duarte, adding safety switches and locks to the doors. When one showed up via UPS recently, I instructed Ryan to put it in Jeff's office since we had purchased several Euchner Safety Switches for GE and Jeff had been doing the project.

Well, as it turns out, Ron had ordered the switch for GE Aviation in Irvine and the job had accidentally been closed out. I had no idea Ron was working on safety switches. Ron had no idea we had been working on them up in the Duarte plant.

I thought, "we need to communicate better". So, here it is.