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Aspex CNC – Featured Customer

February 12, 2018/2 Comments/in Featured Customer/by Harvey Performance Company

Featured Image Courtesy of Aspex Cnc

Aspex CNC is a CNC machine shop based out of Poway, California. They offer prototype turning and milling, as well as production level machining. Their quick turnaround times and premium quality have garnered them some serious recognition in the manufacturing industry. Aspex CNC is just one of the four businesses that Gary Colle Jr. currently owns, but they are an essential part of his business ecosystem, creating parts for the other three product-based companies while also offering machining services to outside customers.

We talked to Gary about his unique experiences in the industry, his thoughts on 5 axis machining, his advice for trying High Efficiency Milling, and more!

Tell us a bit about how you got started in machining, your businesses, and how Aspex CNC was formed.

It is a bit of an interesting story. I got started in manufacturing because my father designed, developed, and manufactured one of the first lines of Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle lifts, which allow people in wheelchairs to easily get in and out of their vehicles. The company was called GoldenBoy Mobility and is still one of the four business I currently own and operate today.

At a young age, I was working in my father’s shop, answering phones and doing odd jobs as young as the age of 10. When I got to high school, I worked after school and during the summers in a more hands-on position, welding parts, cutting up cars, and helping on the shop floor. This really inspired my love for metalworking at a young age.

Photo Courtesy of: Aspex CNC

My dad used to let me mess around in the shop at night, so I started welding my own parts and trying to learn as much as I could. One day, someone came in and asked if I could create a “tuna tower” (an accessory for wakeboarding/water skiing) for their boat. I relented at first, but eventually gave in and welded all the parts together for him. After I made that one, word got around that I could create these at night. I started to advertise a little bit locally, and people started ordering more and more. That summer, I ended up making 50 of these towers and got noticed by a couple of big distributors. Scaling up like that made it necessary to outsource some of our parts to local machine shops, which is where I discovered machining. I had very little prior knowledge of machining, but once I stepped into my first machine shop, I was blown away.

As that business grew even larger (now known as DBG Concepts), I needed more parts and needed them faster. We outgrew the local shops and purchased our first machine, a Fadal 4020 CNC Mill, from a local machine salesman, who also helped teach me the ropes. I learned a lot in those first 6 months about machining.

Business kept ramping up, and my father eventually retired and I took over GoldenBoy Mobility. With all the extra parts we needed, we kept machining things in-house, and buying more mills. Eventually, machining became an even larger part of the business than either DBG Concepts or GoldenBoy Mobility, so we formed Aspex CNC to move our machining out of the product line and more into prototype work and production machining for other business. We still machine most of the parts for DBG and GoldenBoy in-house, but we are doing much more for outside sources than we used to.

What sort of machines do you use in your shop?

Right now, we are a Haas-only shop. We currently have eight Haas machines in our shop. Our lineup consists of a couple of lathes (ST10 and ST30), a Super Mini Mill, and five CNC Mills (VF2SS, VF2SSYT, VF4SS, VF5SS, and UMC750SS), with another UMC750 on the way!

Photo Courtesy of: Aspex CNC

Which materials do you most often work with in your shop?

We work with a lot of the common materials, 6061/7075 Aluminum, 1018/1045 Steel, 303/304/17-4ph Stainless, as well as plastics like Acetal, UHMW, HDPE, and PVC.

How has your experience been with 5 axis machining?

If you don’t keep up with technology, you won’t be able to keep up with business, so learning multi-axis machining was a no-brainer for us. We first started with a Haas HRT210 4^th axis rotary, and began to play with that. Over the next two years, we learned everything we could about multi-axis machining and made the decision to upgrade to a 5 axis machine. We actually went to IMTS that year to talk to manufacturers and find the perfect machine for us and ended up sticking with Haas because of their support platform and educational resources.

5 axis can be hard, but there are a lot of tools out there (HSM Works from Autodesk being one) that can help you learn. It does require a little more upfront work and discipline, but it eliminates a lot of setup time, creates new opportunities for our shop, and has been really good for us from a business standpoint. A big part of our business is machining one-off parts, so the 5 axis machine allows for a faster turnaround time for those odd shapes and sizes we come across.

Photo Courtesy of: Aspex CNC

You are very active on social media promoting your business. How has the online machinist community helped your business?

Honestly, even though it can become a bit of a distraction at times, using social media to share our work and partner up with companies like Harvey Tool and Helical has been a lot of fun. We are still young in the social media space, so we haven’t seen a massive impact yet, but the best is yet to come. We have received a few bites here and there which has led to work, but as with everything, it takes some time. We expect a lot of growth this year as we work on more really neat projects and continue to get our name out there. As we grow, the opportunities are going to come.

Photo Courtesy of: Aspex CNC

What are some of the coolest projects you have ever worked on?

Unfortunately, we can’t talk about most of the work we do, due to customer confidentiality, but we did just do a project for the State of California building a training vehicle for their driver’s education program. We designed and built a dual steering system that gave the driver’s trainer a second steering wheel on the passenger side of the car to be used during training. Another job we just finished up was some parts for the new Raiders football stadium in Las Vegas. They contacted us in a pinch and needed them in two days, and we made it happen. It is pretty cool to know you played a part in a huge project like that.

Aspex CNC also does a lot of work with racing/off-road vehicle companies, often machining parts for the chassis and suspension components. We have worked on projects for companies like Scarbo Performance, ID Designs, TSCO Racing and a whole list of others.

You can only use one machine for the rest of your life. Do you go with a CNC Milling machine or the Lathe?

I would hate to have to choose between them, but it is 100% the CNC Mill. I love ripping around with end mills and working with the 5 axis machines. It is mind blowing what these things are capable of.

Why is manufacturing products in America important to you?

Growing up in the industry which I did while working under my father (building wheelchair accessible vehicles), we had a lot of customers who were veterans coming back from Vietnam or Desert Storm who had been injured overseas and needed extra accommodations, which we could provide for them. The veterans I have worked with made me so patriotic with their stories and courage. We also get to work on a lot of projects with the US Department of Veteran’s Affairs, which is putting money back into the American economy by supporting companies like ours and contracting us to make these vehicles. It only makes sense that we employ more people here and avoid sending things overseas to support those who have supported us.

Photo Courtesy of: Aspex CNC

Do you utilize High Efficiency Milling (HEM) techniques in your shop? What advice do you have for those who are getting started with HEM?

Absolutely, all the time!

The biggest thing is listening to your tool manufacturer for recommendations and then cut those in half to start. From there, work your way up until you are comfortable. Just because the tool can handle it doesn’t necessarily mean your machine, work holding and or set up can, so I would advise people to walk before you run when it comes to HEM.

If you could give one piece of advice to a new machinist ready to take the #PlungeIntoMachining, what would it be?

Be conservative and establish good habits from the start. You can get more aggressive as your career starts to take off, but don’t run out and try to run the biggest and baddest machines on day one and try to cut corners. You need to learn what is behind machining; you can get easily lost in all the technology that is available, but you need to understand the core science behind it first. Take it slow, because if you go too fast, you might miss something important along the way.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the In The Loupe community?

The best thing is building relationships with companies like Haas, Harvey Tool, and Helical. Not only do they provide great service and support for you, but it quickly becomes a mutually beneficial relationship. As we give feedback to the tool and machine manufacturers, and even our metal supplier, it helps them improve their products, which in turn allows our shop to increase our production and efficiency.

Also, having a good team with good people makes all the difference. No matter how many machines you have and how automated you get, you still need good people on your side. I would put my guys up against any other machine shop out there in terms of skill, and it is a big part of what has made our business so successful.

Photo Courtesy of: Aspex CNC

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Zootility – Featured Customer

December 11, 2017/0 Comments/in Featured Customer/by Harvey Performance Company

Featured Image Courtesy of Zootility

Zootility prides themselves on designing products that blend art and function for everyday use. Everything from design to manufacturing to distribution is done at their custom shop in Portland, Maine. Utilizing laser-cutters, laser-etchers, and CNC Machines, their skilled team works 15 hours a day to carry out their mission to get their incredibly thin, extremely useful “zootilitarian” tools into pockets everywhere. Zootility was founded by Nate Barr and was launched on the back of a successful Kickstarter campaign for their first tool, the PocketMonkey. Nate has now expanded Zootility and grown into several more products and brands, including the “WildCard” Wallet (Pocket) Knife, “Open Beer Season” bottle openers, the popular “Headgehog” Wallet Comb, and their new line of “Tülry” multi-tools that disguise as fashionable jewelry.

We visited Zootility at their shop in Maine and talked to Nate and Chris, one of their CNC Machinists, about using Kickstarter campaigns to launch new products, the state of the Manufacturing Industry, machining in very tight tolerances, and more in this latest Featured Customer blog.

Thanks for having us, Nate! Tell us a little bit about your shop and how you got started with Zootility.

Nate: Zootility really started as a maker shop for our first product, PocketMonkey. The goal was always to take the idea behind the PocketMonkey and grow it from just a Kickstarter project so that I could expand the business. I also wanted to make sure that I was learning something new myself every step of the way; I wanted to understand how to make our products, so we could keep production in-house and use our knowledge to expand the business in the future. When we started, I was re-investing all of our proceeds back into the business, allowing us to buy more equipment and really build out the shop. Our shop is fairly unique, where we now have nearly total vertical integration across the board. The only thing we need to do now is buy an iron mine and get our own materials!

How did you come up with the idea for the original Pocket Monkey?

Nate: I came up with the idea for the Pocket Monkey one day while I was locked out of my apartment. I was living in Boston at the time, and I would run out every night to the stores around the corner to buy food for dinner, typically only taking my wallet with me. One night, the door locked behind me, and I was locked out, sitting on my front steps and wishing I had some sort of a shim to slip the lock. I started thinking what that would look like and how it could fit in a wallet for easy carrying and realized that I could add on more tools like bottle openers and screwdrivers while still keeping it slim enough to fit in my wallet. I had studied Mechanical Engineering in college, so I had the background to create what I was envisioning.

Photo Courtesy of: Zootility

You have used Kickstarter campaigns very successfully, not only to launch Zootility, but also to further your product line and expand the business. How was the Kickstarter experience, and would you recommend it to other entrepreneurs looking to launch a new business?

Nate: Our Kickstarter experience was great. We have raised up to $90,000 in a single campaign, and we have figured out a strategy that works for us. We found that if you set a reasonable goal that will allow you to cover start-up costs, say $25,000 rather than $100,000, people are more willing to take the time to invest. A reasonable goal gives people more confidence that the project will be funded, and that it will be successful, leading to more backers and more exposure; it is a great Marketing tool in that regard.

Kickstarter also levels the playing field for smaller companies like Zootility – I consider it to be “The Great Equalizer”. There is no longer a need to have tens of thousands of dollars for upfront costs when starting a business. You can spend a little bit of time creating the campaign and invest a small amount of money into that without taking the huge risk of throwing your life savings into an unproven idea. When I started Zootility, I was still working my day job and did not have the money to put up front, so Kickstarter was a natural fit. We have continued to use Kickstarter for new product lines because we are committed to manufacturing our products in the US, so Kickstarter campaigns allow us to validate new ideas and collect funds up front as we continue to grow the business. I do recommend it for all the entrepreneurs out there, and it has been a great tool that has contributed to our success.

You mentioned your commitment to manufacturing Zootility products in the US. What makes this ideal so important to you?

Nate: Let me start by saying that I think that Globalization is a good thing; it has pulled huge numbers of people across the world out of poverty. However, American policies have essentially allowed large corporations to gut the middle class by moving jobs overseas, especially in more rural areas. This has created unbalanced manufacturing and retail sectors. Personally, I believe things have gone too far, and standing behind our belief in American-made goods allows us to contribute to a more balanced approach to manufacturing. As with all things in life, a balanced approach is the best option. There will never be a time when 100% of goods can be feasibly made in America, so overseas manufacturing will continue, but bringing back more jobs to the middle class here in America is a good thing for the entire industry.

zootility finished pocketmonkey in packaging

Photo Courtesy of: Zootility

We have definitely made an effort to re-invest in our local community and the people who live here by manufacturing our products right here in Maine. Offshoring has resulted in a loss of knowledge and a real disconnect from the products that we use every day. Products that were previously considered to be of a high quality are now losing their shine, as less care is put into them and there is less appreciation and understanding of how these things are made. By investing in our local community and ourselves by learning something new every day, we believe we are doing our part to bring this knowledge back and instill more of a sense of pride in our employees and the products that they help to create.

You are originally from the Boston area. What made you decide to move the company and shop to Maine?

Nate: I had originally looked at a few places in the Boston-area, but it just didn’t make sense financially. There is a lot of great technology being developed in Boston by the innovative companies in the area, but to set up a manufacturing business in Boston was cost-prohibitive. By moving our shop to Portland, Maine we were able to save a lot on the space, which helped us in the early stages of the business.

The other thing was the lifestyle change. Portland has a great downtown area with lots of small businesses. There are restaurants, breweries, coffee shops, and plenty of locally-owned shops. It is also easy to get around, either by car or bike, and there is very little traffic throughout the city. I also wanted to locate our shop so that it felt like part of a community. We were able to find a great spot in downtown Portland surrounded by other manufacturers and small businesses. It makes for a great place to come to work every day.

What does the future hold for Zootility?

Nate: Right now, we do as much business in Q4 around the holidays as we do the entire rest of the year, so we have been exploring ways to make better use of the machines during the slower months. As we have completed installing and setting up our new machines, we have begun to do contract manufacturing to fill out the rest of the year. We have the unique ability to create small parts with extremely tight tolerances, and we are willing to do small volume, small batch manufacturing that other shops may turn down. We have been getting business from companies in Boston, who are looking for the “just in time” manufacturing which we can provide. The extra revenue from these projects will allow us to take off the Kickstarter training wheels and expand the business faster on our own.

Photo Courtesy of: Zootility

From a product standpoint, we are looking to launch more “serious” tools for the outdoor enthusiast. Right now we are in the process of launching our new RNGR brand, which will be a line of minimalist every day carry products, without the whimsical nature of the Zootility Tools products. We also are on the verge of shipping our new TÜLRY brand, which is a series of jewelry infused with every day carry tools.

Chris, you create a lot of very thin products. How does that affect your workholding when working in materials that thin?

Chris: Our workholding has been built entirely custom for our CNC machine, due to the nature of the products. For example, we are currently working on our WildCard knives, which are only .040″ thick. There really isn’t much on the workholding market that will work well for something that small, so our team actually machined our own metal strips on the CNC, held the knives down with small bolts, added some rubber bumpers so we do not have metal on metal contact, and it has worked really well for us so far. We also created custom workholding for the new TÜLRY line tools, which are also extremely thin.

Photo Courtesy of: Zootility

The biggest challenge with our custom workholding is the additional time it adds to each job. Right now, we can run batches of 72 knives per cycle, with a cycle time of 28 minutes. Then, we need 20-25 minutes to unscrew each of the bolts, remove the finished knives, and then insert the new knives and screw the bolts back in. However, it is the only way we can machine products this thin with our tight tolerances, and we can still finish around 600 knives per day.

You mentioned your tight tolerances. What are some of the tolerances you are working in every day?

Chris: Right now, all of our tolerances are in the thousandths. For example, the WildCard knives have a tolerance of just +/- .003″, and the screwdriver tools on the TÜLRY necklace, while one of our highest tolerances, stick to just +/- .005″. The tightest tolerance we are currently working in is on the hex wrench tools for the TÜLRY necklace. The hex wrench tools have to be spot on, or they will be too loose when they go to be used on a hex nut. Right now, we like to keep those tools to a tolerance of +/- .001″.

How has your experience been using Harvey and Helical tools on these projects?

Chris: The Harvey and Helical tools have been great for us. When I started, we had another brand of end mills in stock, and they simply weren’t cutting it (no pun intended) in the types of heat-treated stainless steel which we were working in. We switched over to the Helical 7 flute end mills for roughing and finishing of the knives. Each knife has a very small shelf on it, which allows it to be a removable piece of the WildCard tool. We use a 3/8″ 7 flute Helical end mill with a .020″ corner radius for this cut, with a 3/8″ 7 flute square end mill for finishing. One interesting part of this job is that it requires a very low ADOC because the tools are already so thin, that the roughing we do removes only a very small amount of material.

assortment of end mills with pocketmonkey tools

Photo Courtesy of: Zootility

We also use both Harvey and Helical chamfer mills to create all of the box cutter and hex wrench TÜLRY tools. With the hex wrenches, we have found that the 60° tipped off chamfer mill has been great for creating those intricate cuts. With the box cutters, we needed an edge sharp enough to cut through tape and cardboard, but not sharp enough to cut through the skin. We have found that the 2 flute 120° chamfer mills work best for those cuts.

What is the biggest challenge you face at the CNC machine?

Chris: Right now, we laser cut all of the outlines for the knives from a thin sheet of steel. Then the knives come to us right off the laser cutter for machining. The laser cutting does create a rough finish on some of the knives, which can make them hard to lock down when machining. This can result in some movement, which can lead to the occasional scrapped part. The laser cutter can also leave burrs at the start and stop points, or leave a scorch mark or some slag on the knives, which can make them tougher to machine.

The Zootility shop uses a lot of different equipment. How has the CNC machine in particular impacted the shop as a whole?

Chris: Our CNC machine comes in handy for a lot of different things around the shop. As I previously mentioned, we used it to create our own custom workholding, which has worked very well for us. We also used the CNC machine to create all of our forming dies, which are used to create all of our tools from scratch. As we move into more contract manufacturing for other companies, these machines will get even more use when we are working on the small batch jobs we will (hopefully) be getting.

Photo Courtesy of: Zootility

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Anderson Prototypes – Featured Customer

November 6, 2017/0 Comments/in Featured Customer/by Harvey Performance Company

Featured Image Courtesy of Anderson Prototypes

Anderson Prototypes is a custom machine shop in Port Moody, British Columbia. Working with everything from Titanium to Bamboo, they create mechanical mechanisms and working prototypes of new technology. By applying 25 years of experience with manual and CNC machinery, they craft amazing parts, some even bordering on impossible. The team at Anderson Prototypes works in a variety of industries, ranging from large-scale prototype work to small batch production, machine repair, and even movie and TV props.

Jim Anderson, a 30 year veteran of the manufacturing industry, is the Founder and Owner of Anderson Prototypes. We caught up with Jim and talked to him about some of the “impossible” projects his team likes to take, his experiences in the film industry, and his advice for the aspiring machinist.

Tell us a bit about your shop, how you got started, and what sort of products you manufacture.

I started in machining in 1985, as a full-time student in a machining class at a local community college. I spent years working in jobbing shops, plastic mold injection shops, and specialized start-up companies, scratch building a range of things from high-speed water “pouch” filling machines to hydrogen fuel-cells. Today I work with a wide range of clients including 3 submarine companies, a military contractor, companies that use custom built or modified ROVs and drones, food packaging companies, production companies needing film and TV props, and more.

What made you get into machining?

I have always been an actively creative person, and I enjoyed wood and machine shop in high school. I found a creative outlet for my talents to build and fix things inside the machine shop environment. I continue to study machines and items, to understand how they were made, and how it could be made better or simplified.

Photo Courtesy of: Anderson Prototypes

What is your favorite part of this profession?

I always enjoy creating something for a client that they have been dreaming of, sometimes for years. They come to me with a sketch on a napkin or a verbal idea, and I turn that dream into reality. When they come to pick it up and see it for the first time, the emotions are tremendous!

What sort of machines do you use in your shop?

I have 2 Tormach 1100 CNC mills, one 4 axis and the other 3 axis, a Sherline 2000, 4 axis CNC mill, a Frankenstein CNC lathe with a 8 station tool changer for small work, a Milltronics ML-17 CNC lathe, a Colchester Student Engine Lathe, and a smaller manual milling machine. I also have drill presses, tapping heads and tons of specialized fixturing and work holding devices, as well as a 60 ton hydraulic press and the specialized equipment that comes with it.

Photo Courtesy of: Anderson Prototypes

Which materials do you work with in your shop?

Just about everything. Lots of plastics, PEEK, Delrin and Acrylic, aluminum, steels, stainless steels, carbon fiber, different woods, laminates, and more.

What sets Anderson Prototypes apart from the competition?

We often take on jobs that other shops won’t, due to our team’s large vision. We stand behind every piece we make and have zero returned items to date. Embodying both old-school traditions and cutting-edge technology, Anderson Prototypes believes that “Impossible is just an Opinion”. We work with a project from the very beginning to the time it is up and running at the client’s facility. We work with building very small detailed machines to unique and weird items that someone dreamed up and could not find anyone able to make. We also love to give back to the community. We have sponsored local high school and university students in competitions, and we have played a part in the Maker Community since Day One. We also made and donated a doggy wheelchair to a dog in need (YouTube), and we sponsor a local softball league.

How did you get into the entertainment/prop business?

Vancouver has a huge movie industry, and there are many people in my network that work in the industry. The need for various props, new equipment, and repairs can go up and down as movies are being filmed. The first job I did (I think), was for a movie called Space Buddies, the 4th or 5th entry in the Air Bud movie series. I made the Doggles (dog goggles), that the dog is wearing on the DVD cover. Most movies require a Non-Disclosure Agreements before any work is done, so I can’t talk about much, but I have made my impact on the screen, behind the scenes, and even live on stage. I also did a major prop for an Australian TV show that was apparently popular down under, so you never know where this work will take you!

Photo Courtesy of: Anderson Prototypes

Who is the most famous contact that you have worked on a project with?

I have met many directors and producers of large budget films and TV shows. Unfortunately, because of the Non-Disclosure Agreements, I cannot mention any names.

Why is high-quality tool performance important to you?

I buy all my tooling from North America. I am lucky enough to have a solid carbide tooling manufacturer 5 miles from my shop, so I get quality endmills, made to order. When I need something specialized, Harvey is the only company I go to. When a tool does more than I expect, I make more money and have less stress. I count on that and become a return customer. For example, I used a .018″ Miniature End Mill (#73018-C3) on some acrylic parts I was making. There were 40 parts in total, all around the size of a stamp, with lots of tiny details, high tolerances, and very small features. I had the machine running at 15,500 RPM for 3 weeks, and I only broke one tool in that entire run. What a great tool!

What is your favorite process to work on as a machinist?

I really enjoy making something I have never worked on before, that new challenge. Often it seems that I am designing new items now more than ever. I have to do things that are not being done commercially and I stand behind it. So I might run the manual lathe, the CNC mill and then the CNC lathe on one part. I enjoy the variety.

Photo Courtesy of: Anderson Prototypes

Why is manufacturing your products in North America important to you?

American and Canadian-made products are very important to me. I purchase North American-made products like steel and aluminum, and bearings and fasteners all of kinds. I also access services locally, such as laser cutting, anodizing and powder coating, to support these local businesses. I feel its very important to the customer making the purchase that these are products my neighbors are helping to build.

If you could give one piece of advice to a new machinist ready to take the #PlungeIntoMachining, what would it be?

Take the time to take an accredited machine shop training course, like I did. It will give you all the groundwork to understand the real world of machining. I know a few fellas with small CNCs that can’t make a living because they don’t understand the depth of set-ups or work holding, for example, because they never learned from an expert. They can’t make parts fast enough, they charge 1/2 of what I do, and it takes then 3 times as long, so they simply can’t compete with me. Just be aware that it doesn’t happen overnight; I was a Journeyman Machinist for over 30 years, and still ask for help from my mentors occasionally. Oh, and find yourself a quality machine. Find a good used HAAS, or OKK, or something made in the US, UK or Europe. Your clients will respect you more and it will work longer and more accurately.

Is there anything else you would like to share with the In The Loupe community?

I am grateful for the education I have received from the many journeyman machinists, engineers, mechanics, electricians, pilots, sea captains and more who I have worked beside in my years. I am happy to share and offer problem-solving, sometimes for free, other times at consultation rates. When a young eager person asks me a question, I do the best I can to answer it in a way that benefits them long term. Sometimes they don’t like the answer, but I tell them to come back in 6 months and tell me how it went. That’s when the rubber hits the road.

Photo Courtesy of: Anderson Prototypes

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Photos courtesy of Anderson Prototypes.

Koenig Knives – Featured Customer

October 5, 2017/3 Comments/in Featured Customer/by Harvey Performance Company

Featured Image Courtesy of Koenig Knives

Koenig Knives is a fast-growing, Idaho-based knife manufacturer, recognized by many as one of the premier knife-making companies in the market today. Bill Koenig started the company back in 2013, using his off-days in between his long shifts working the oil fields in North Dakota to build the business. After 3 years of exploring the craft, building a presence in the market, and saving money, Koenig was able to lease a work space, buy his first Haas machine, and start manufacturing his knives right here in America. The Koenig Knives team has now expanded to include four more employees: Krista, the Director of Operations, Cameron, the Lead Machinist, Doug in Assembly, and Todd, who works on finishing. Koenig Knives is quickly becoming known for their focus on quality, innovation, and consistency, backing all of their knives with a lifetime warranty.

We talked with both Bill and Cameron for this latest Featured Customer profile, exploring the world of CNC knifemaking, how they use High Efficiency Milling (HEM) to improve their machining efficiency, and the effect that the machining community on social media has had on their business.

Photo Courtesy of: Koenig Knives

Tell us about your business and how you got started.

Bill: Koenig Knives was started in 2013. I have always been passionate about knives, starting when I was in the Boy Scouts as a young boy. This passion turned to obsession and I went from a collector/enthusiast to a knife manufacturer in December of 2013 when we released our first batch of knives.

Originally we used an off-site manufacturer, who we worked closely with from 2013 until mid-2016. We continued to grow rapidly, and that is when I made the decision to start handling all manufacturing ourselves. We took delivery of our first machine, a Haas VF2SS, at the end of 2016. The rest is history.

What made you get into machining?

Cameron: I started as a CNC operator at an assault rifle manufacturer. After seeing raw material being machined into a beautiful, functioning gun, I decided to make machining my career and I have never looked back.

What sort of machines do you use in your shop?

Cameron: We currently have two Haas VF2SS machines and an Okamoto.

Which materials do you work with in your shop?

Cameron: We work with wide range of materials, including Grade 5 Titanium, Timascus, Damascus, Carbon Fiber, Micarta, Tool Steel , 6061 Aluminum , CTS-XHP, CTS-204P, and 416 Stainless Steel.

Photo Courtesy of: Koenig Knives

What sets Koenig Knives apart from the competition?

Bill: We are often asked what category we would place ourselves in, whether it be production, custom etc. I always hesitate when answering because I can’t think of a way to categorize Koenig Knives besides “high end production with custom offerings.” We have a high end production line, but we also offer the ability to order your own customized version of one of our knives. This is something that is not too common in the industry. Quality, customer service and innovation are our main goals as a company, and we feel we have done a great job hitting on all three.

What is the most challenging part of the knife-making machining process?

Cameron: I think what makes the machining process unique with our product is the fact that we use some of the most cutting edge steel alloys for our blades. It becomes more challenging because these steel alloys are constantly advancing. Finding the perfect harmony of machining parameters for some of the relatively newer steels can be a challenge at times.

Why is high quality tool performance important to you?

Cameron: When part finishes are extremely crucial and there’s a high quantity of parts needed, having high quality tooling like Helical is essential. Helical tools help us maintain a much higher machining efficiency because of the outstanding tool life, while also achieving more aggressive run times. In addition, we are able to consistently keep high tolerances, resulting in a better final product.

Photo Courtesy of: Koenig Knives

What is your favorite process to work on as a machinist?

Cameron: I love everything about this career, except cleaning the coolant tank. I could do without that…

Koenig Knives has a great Instagram following. Tell us more about how the machinist social media community has helped grow your business.

Cameron: The machinist social media community has helped us connect with various knife makers all over the world. We learn from each other by sharing techniques and helpful tips, and we inspire each other by sharing our creations online. The machinist community on Instagram has been great – we would recommend any business, even the smallest job shops, to take a look at starting their own accounts.

Why is manufacturing your products in America important to you?

Bill: Buying American has always been very important to me for many reasons. The sense of supporting fellow American workers was instilled in me at a young age. When I started Koenig Knives, I wanted to make sure everything from the screws to the boxes was made in the US.

Photo Courtesy of: Koenig Knives

Tell us about your favorite project that Helical helped to create.

Cameron: Machining the Arius blades (pictured above) has been my favorite on-going project. Once we switched to all Helical tools, it drastically improved our run times and blade finish, and created an incredible final product.

Have you used High Efficiency Milling techniques in your shop?

Cameron: Absolutely! We couldn’t do without HEM!

What advice do you have for other machinists who want to try High Efficiency Milling?

Cameron: Machining Advisor Pro is an absolute game changer when it comes to HEM, as well as for general machining solutions. The technical milling strategies and information that Helical makes available give machinists everything they need to be successful. When a machinist has a full understanding of what is taking place and what is needed to efficiently and correctly cut material, the sky is the limit.

If you could give one piece of advice to a new machinist ready to take the #PlungeIntoMachining, what would it be?

Cameron: With machining technology advancing at the amazing rate that it is, there is no better time to become a machinist. It is a trade that is constantly improving, and offers so many opportunities for young people.

Photo Courtesy of: Koenig Knives

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Photos courtesy of Koenig Knives.

Weiss Watches – Featured Customer

September 4, 2017/2 Comments/in Featured Customer/by Harvey Performance Company

Featured Image Courtesy of Weiss Watch Company

Weiss Watch Company is restoring prestige to American watchmaking. They design and build timepieces with mechanical movements by hand in Los Angeles, California. Each timepiece is individually assembled in America. Their practices merge historical techniques and modern technological advances, with every process perfected by a Swiss-trained and certified American watchmaker. Weiss Watch Company strives to increase the percentage of domestic sourcing with each edition, and is the only company resurrecting industry practices that have not been active in the United States for decades.

Grant Hughson is a Manufacturing Engineer at Weiss Watch Company. Grant “lives and breathes” manufacturing, currently working in his spare time as a Manufacturing Instructor at Saddleback College. We spoke to Grant for this latest featured customer blog about the watch-making process, his experiences in the industry, and his thoughts on the state of American manufacturing.

Photo Courtesy of: Weiss Watch Company

What made you get into machining?

I grew up with a love for finely machined products, like watches, guns, and fishing gear. I also loved car racing, and a lot of the modifications on the cars are machined from various materials. So, from a young age, I was obsessed with the work that went into these products, and knew I wanted to be a part of the manufacturing industry.

What is your favorite part of this profession?

I love the entire manufacturing process. It always starts with a dream, or an idea. Then you take that idea and turn it into a drawing, and soon after, you’ll be modeling it. The best part is when you go to actually machine the part, and watch your original idea turn into a tangible part or product.

Photo Courtesy of: Weiss Watch Company

What is the most challenging part of the watch-making process?

There are a few challenging parts of the watch-making process, starting with the super-tight tolerances. Surface finish is also extremely important, and can be difficult to nail. Many surface finishes in watchmaking are visual, so roughness can be deceiving. We also were forced to design all of our workholding from scratch, as nothing currently existed in the market that would work for our machining process.

You mentioned your tight tolerances. What tolerances do you typically work in?

My tolerances are in the tenths. The holes that hold the jewels (watch bearings) are +0.0002, -0.

Photo Courtesy of: Weiss Watch Company

What sort of machines do you have in your shop?

We have a 3 axis vertical milling machine and a 9 axis Swiss style lathe in the shop.

What type of materials do you work in?

We work in steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and titanium every day. It is a wide variety, but it keeps things interesting!

How have Harvey Tool products impacted your overall shop performance?

Harvey Tools have been great tools for me. I do a lot of prototype work, and constantly need odd sized tools or specialty profiles to finish a job. Thankfully, the Harvey Tool selection is HUGE. Somehow you guys always have what I need!

Tell us about your favorite project that Harvey Tools helped to create.

I love what I do everyday, so my favorite project is an ongoing one; making watches!

Photo Courtesy of: Weiss Watch Company

Why is high quality tool performance important to you?

It’s a must! Tool to tool accuracy and performance is vital in this business, especially with our extremely tight tolerances. High quality tools make sure that we get the same performance time after time without needing to scrap parts. This saves us valuable time and money.

What is your favorite process to work on as a machinist?

I really enjoy fixture design. Holding small parts for fixture design is an art! If it’s too tight, they’re smashed. If it’s too loose, see you later; your part is gone!

As a manufacturing engineer, I also enjoy the programming aspect of CNC machining. Being able to program the toolpaths and turn my programming skills into tangible parts is why I got into this business.

Photo Courtesy of: Weiss Watch Company

If you were stranded on a desert island with only one Harvey Tool or Helical tool, which would it be, and why?

It would have to be the Harvey 1/4″ 30° engraving tool. I could mount it to the end of a stick. It would make for a hell of a spear!

Why is manufacturing products in America important to you?

Manufacturing products in America is a crucial part of the success and security of our business. When someone else makes your parts, its not hard for them to make a competing product. Making everything on-site keeps our proprietary information safe.

If you could give one piece of advice to a new machinist ready to take the #PlungeIntoMachining, what would it be?

Ask a lot of questions and never stop learning. It’s not easy but it’s worth it. If you consider yourself a maker or inventor, it’s the only place to be! Manufacturing is awesome, and anyone who tells you different is on the way out. Keep up the good work, and keep manufacturing your products in America!

Photo Courtesy of: Weiss Watch Company

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Photos courtesy of Weiss Watch Company.

Harrelson Trumpets – Featured Customer

August 7, 2017/1 Comment/in Featured Customer/by Harvey Performance Company

Featured Image Courtesy of Harrelson Trumpets

Harrelson Trumpets is a custom trumpet manufacturer based out of Denver, Colorado. As the only trumpet manufacturer that produces many of their parts on a CNC machine, Harrelson Trumpets has become widely recognized as one of the top custom instrument manufacturers in the world. Harrelson Trumpets are manufactured using a technology called Standing Wave Efficiency (SWE). Put simply, SWE Mod Kits reduce energy loss in the instrument, thus increasing efficiency. This translates to playing an instrument with less effort, improved attacks, flexibility, slotting, endurance and dynamics.

Jason Harrelson is the founder and owner of Harrelson Trumpets. He has been researching and applying SWE technology since 1993, both in the lab and real world playing situations. As of 2017, Harrelson has personally built more than 800 unique trumpet designs and 1,200 individual trumpets. We spoke with Harrelson about his history as an entrepreneur, how CNC machining changed the way he worked, and more.

Photo Courtesy of: Harrelson Trumpets

Tell us about how you started Harrelson Trumpets and some of the products you manufacture.

I started out modifying my own trumpet when I discovered it didn’t play as well as my friend’s trumpet. I wondered why my friends with the same brand of trumpet could hit certain notes more easily or make a more beautiful tone. So, it started off as something I was doing for myself. Fast forward many years and I sold a trumpet I had modified that was collecting dust in a closet. I soon realized there is a huge market for custom trumpets that play easier. I bought old horns at pawn shops or music stores and modified and sold them for a few years, but that approach was a lot of work. Every trumpet manufacturer uses different bore and thread sizing. I was constantly reverse engineering each and every modification I did. So, the decision was made to come out with a line of instruments that we built from the ground up utilizing the physics principals I’d learned in my physics program in college. Many years of research, development and hard work were invested to produce the most technologically advanced trumpets available in the world. We have extended the application of our “Science Meets Sound” model into a series of accessories that improve the efficiency of other brand trumpets as well. We offer a fully modular 5MM mouthpiece, mod kits, and a variable gap receiver, just to name a few. We are launching several new products in the near future that also apply science and machining in an industry that has been unchanged for hundreds of years.

What made you get into machining?

Machining was a natural progression. Most of my designs are not possible with traditional fabrication techniques so precision machining was the logical next step. CNC machines were a necessity in allowing us to prototype and eventually put into production designs that revolutionized the industry. We are the only trumpet manufacturer in the world that produces our tuning slides, bell crooks and leadpipes (as well as most other parts) on a CNC Machine.

Photo Courtesy of: Harrelson Trumpets

As someone who was self-taught in CNC Machining, what was your biggest hurdle?

Well, I think learning so many different machining and fabrication processes is the biggest challenge. We use modified machines to achieve our end goal. Most of our processes have required specialty tooling such as spindle speeders up to 90,000 rpm to create the high detail features and artwork that looks almost like they were a coin struck by a die.

What is your favorite part of this profession?

Problem solving. Finding solutions. Helping others raise their standards musically while incorporating science-based solutions.

Photo Courtesy of: Harrelson Trumpets

You use a lot of Harvey Tool products in your shop. How have Harvey Tool products impacted your overall shop performance?

When we first started using them, Harvey Tool was the only small tool manufacturer for miniature end mills that I could find online. The wide range of tooling available from Harvey has allowed us to create fine detailed artwork in components that otherwise wouldn’t be possible. It’s a large part of our business to offer custom art and machining. I don’t think I’ve ever had to order anything custom because they’ve always had something that worked right off the shelf for my applications.

Tell us about your favorite project that Harvey Tools helped to create.

Any of our custom Summit Art Trumpets would be included in that category. We do a special Satchmo Trumpet every year and donate it to French Quarter Festivals in New Orleans. These are fun projects because they really let us flex our artistic and machining muscles. Some of the Satchmo Trumpets would not have been possible if it weren’t for Harvey Tool.

Photo Courtesy of: Harrelson Trumpets

If you were stranded on a desert island with only one Harvey Tool, which would it be, and why?

I couldn’t live with only one! I would choose the catalog so I could dream of getting off the island and back into the shop!

You have been an entrepreneur for your entire life. What do you think was the major reason you were able to make Harrelson Trumpets your full-time job?

I have been inventing and trying my hand at different businesses my whole life. I think that the reason Harrelson Trumpets was and is a success is two-fold. We have put countless long and hard hours into learning and mastering our trade. Hard work really is a major factor in our success. Beyond that, I love music, science and inventing solutions for my customers. I have made it my life’s work to create a superior trumpet and this is an endless quest that keeps me motivated. It is very rewarding work. There is great satisfaction in delivering an heirloom quality instrument that is scientifically superior to all others and brings joy to the musician making music with it for generations to come.

Photo Courtesy of: Harrelson Trumpets

If you could give one piece of advice to a new machinist ready to #PlungeIntoMachining, what would it be?

Ask other professionals in your field for help. I assist other machinists daily via email, social media, phone, and in person. Seek out mentors and learn from their experiences as often as possible. Most of what I have learned was a culmination of reading, trying, failing, reading again, trying again, and eventually finding what works. But today, we have resources like YouTube, Instagram, and online or in-person classes held by private individuals rather than full fledged college courses. You can learn as fast as you want through these non-traditional avenues!

Is there anything else you would like to share with the In The Loupe community?

Loyalty to a brand IS very important and almost always results in greater productivity and success. I mention this because many people assume the cheapest tool is the right tool. In reality, knowing your tooling is worth every penny and paying a premium over cheap imports is the wise decision. Working with tooling from the same manufacturer day after day and year after year provides the end user with benefits including reliable performance expectations, accuracy, quality and availability. To this end, be loyal to the best tooling manufacturer you can afford!

Photo Courtesy of: Harrelson Trumpets

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Photos courtesy of Harrelson Trumpets

Magnuson Superchargers – Featured Customer

July 10, 2017/0 Comments/in Featured Customer/by Harvey Performance Company

Featured Image Courtesy of Magnuson Superchargers

Magnuson Superchargers is a manufacturer of aftermarket and OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) supercharger systems for the automotive industry, located in Ventura, California. Started by industry legend Jerry Magnuson, Magnuson Superchargers has quickly grown into one of the most respected brands in the automotive industry. Magnuson creates products for various brands, including GM, Mopar, Ford, AUDI, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Toyota, and Jeep. Magnuson Superchargers are most commonly found in “hot rods,” everyday vehicles, off-road vehicles, and vehicles purpose built for competitive racing, as they are used to significantly yet reliably increase horsepower.

The Magnuson Superchargers team of technicians combine modern and time-tested prototyping and fabrication techniques to construct each component to exact specifications and the highest quality. Magnuson has a complete machine shop in house for fabrication of new prototype system components. This allows them to operate efficiently with short runs and high volume production.

Photo Courtesy of: Magnuson Superchargers

Hubert Gromek, Magnuson Superchargers’ Machine Shop Manager, is a 15-year veteran of the industry. We spoke with Hubert about his experiences building a career in the manufacturing industry, his advice for young machinists, and the way he and his team use both Harvey Tool and Helical Solutions tools in their machine shop every day.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I started with Magnuson Superchargers 15-plus years ago as a young kid who didn’t know anything about machining at all. Being a major car guy and drag racer, working for a company that makes superchargers was a perfect fit for me. I started by deburring and washing parts and worked my way up to operating our Fadal Vertical Mills.

From there I started to get the concept of what it actually takes to machine things and started learning how to do all the setups; I even started making my own fixtures here and there. After a couple of years of being the setup guy for our shop, I started looking into the programming aspect of the job and that really grabbed my interest right away. It’s one thing to run and set up machines with other people’s programs and instruction, but it’s a whole new world when you have to do the entire job from scratch on your own.

magnuson superchargers supercharged dodge demon

Photo Courtesy of: Magnuson Superchargers

After a couple of years of being the Lead Setup Programmer here at our shop, I was given the opportunity to be the Machine Shop Manager. I was very honored that the owner of such a big and great company thought I had what it takes to run the whole shop. Let me tell you, when you are responsible for everything that goes on in a machine shop, it really opens your eyes to how much every little thing matters. The one thing I learned very quickly is how important it is to have the right team in your shop to support you and reach the goals that are set. It doesn’t matter how great a manager or programmer you are, if you don’t have the right team of machinists in your shop, you are setting yourself up for failure. After many years of trying, I think I have finally found that team that I’ve been looking for.

What made you get into machining?

It was when I first saw a raw piece of material (billet aluminum) become a billet bracket for a hot rod my boss was working on. I thought that was the coolest thing ever. You start with nothing and the finished product was a work of art to me. I knew right then that I wanted to do that someday.

What is your greatest challenge as a machinist?

This is a two-part answer. First, it is finding the right core team that you can trust and not have to worry about what they are doing. My current team is comprised of experienced and disciplined machinists and they know what needs to get done. I don’t have to watch over them, I just try to guide them and teach them everything that I have learned over the years.

The second part has always been fixture design. I am always learning how to make better, more user-friendly fixtures to help speed up production but still maintain very high part quality.

Photo Courtesy of: Magnuson Superchargers

What is your favorite part of this profession?

I really love the fact that I learn something new every day. It doesn’t matter how much you think you know, there is always a job that will test your ability as a machinist.

What made you decide to use Harvey Tool and Helical products?

Actually I have a great local tool supplier that I deal with all the time. His name is Mike Baldino over at PM Industrial, and he is the one who first introduced me to both of these products. We make tiny Dovetail O-Ring grooves in a lot of our parts and I couldn’t find a tool that would do the job like I wanted it to. Mike recommended the Harvey Tool .135″ Dovetail Cutter and I haven’t used anything else since. As for the Helical End Mills, since 98% of our jobs are in aluminum, Mike also recommended I try these new (at the time) Zplus coated Helical End Mills. Just like the Harvey Tool Dovetail Cutter, I haven’t used anything else since I found out how amazing these cutters worked for us.

Photo Courtesy of: Magnuson Superchargers

Why is high quality tool performance important to your team at Magnuson Superchargers?

We work with a lot of castings here at Magnuson Superchargers, and even though they are aluminum, they can be very abrasive. Because of this, tool life and part finishes are very important to us. The Helical End Mills hold up very well to cast and billet materials and the Harvey Tool Dovetail Cutters are the only thing that works for us.

Tell us about your favorite projects that Harvey Tool or Helical Solutions tools helped you create.

We make most of our casting tooling in-house, which includes master patterns and core boxes, usually in 6061 Billet Aluminum. The Helical Zplus coated End Mills are amazing for doing these jobs. Using the dynamic toolpaths and utilizing the entire flute length is great. As for the Harvey Tool Dovetail Cutters, I haven’t used anything that works better than these. Every project has become easier with the use of both Harvey Tool and Helical Solutions tools.

magnuson superchargers supercharged chevrolet camaro

A 2016 Chevrolet Camaro loaded with the TVS2300 supercharger at the track. Photo Courtesy of: Magnuson Superchargers

One of our most exciting projects is our new TVS2300 supercharger that we built for our 2016 Chevrolet Camaro. We took a completely stock engine and transmission, and with just our supercharger and a couple of modifications it was able to run a 9 second 1/4 mile drag race. This was very impressive and has made a huge impact in the automotive industry. We are very excited about this kit and the potential it has in the market.

We have also been working on the biggest supercharger that our company has ever made, the new TVS2650. We are very proud of the all the R&D work that has gone into this kit and we are seeing some incredible horsepower numbers from these units. We displayed this at last year’s Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. We are still in the prototype stages of this project but will have production units coming very soon.

A prototype of the new TVS2650 supercharger, the largest ever built by Magnuson. Photo Courtesy of: Magnuson Superchargers

Would you recommend that young people take the #PlungeIntoMachining and start a career as a machinist?

I personally would recommend a career in machining to anyone who has an interest in how things are made. I believe it is a great career choice. There are always going to be parts that have to get made somehow, so there is no shortage of open jobs available in the industry. I have a 4 year old son and as soon as he is old enough, I will teach him everything I know about this profession. If he chooses not to go that route, that is completely okay, but at least he will know what it takes to make something from scratch.

If you could give one piece of advice to a new machinist, what would it be?

Learn the basics. Start with a manual mill or lathe and get some experience with how it feels to cut something. Lots of people start on a CNC as an operator and call themselves “machinists.” It took me 5 years before my boss officially called me a machinist! Trust me, it feels really good when your boss hands you a print or CAD model and says “make this,” and you come back with a perfect part that you were able to make yourself.

The Magnuson Superchargers machine shop team. From left: John, Jesus, Jun, Miguel, Jesse, Kenton, and Armando. Photo Courtesy of: Magnuson Superchargers

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Photos courtesy of Magnuson Superchargers

KeyBar – Featured Customer

June 7, 2017/0 Comments/in Featured Customer/by Harvey Performance Company

KeyBar® is a manufacturing company based in Savannah, Georgia that prides itself on American-made products. Mike Taylor, the CEO, Owner, and Founder of KeyBar®, first got the idea for this company while working as the chief engineer at an upscale hotel in Savannah, Georgia. As a part of this position, he carried around countless keys attached to his belt. One day he realized that there must be an easier way to carry his keys, so that they made less noise and were easier to access. Mike used a multi-tool daily, and it occurred to him that he could apply the same concept to keys to create the KeyBar®, a patented key organizer that promises to “Stop the Noise”® of jangling keys, kill the clutter of a handful of keys, and make the key ring obsolete.

In 2014, Mike and his wife, Jessica, left their full-time jobs to take a chance on their new business, and it paid off. Mike, now 34, has built a thriving online store, retailers all over the country are carrying KeyBars, and they have an entire team of employees working at their Savannah, Georgia machine shop; quite the achievement for a young entrepreneur.

KeyBar® also offers other products, including the newly released Quick-Draw, which is a revolver-inspired, rotating desktop pen holder that recently raised over $25,000 in a Kickstarter campaign.

KeyBars are made of many different materials, ranging from aluminum and copper to brass, titanium, and carbon fiber, and end mills from Harvey Tool and Helical Solutions play a crucial part in the creation of each one.

We spoke with Mike for this Featured Customer profile, and talked about his experiences starting his own shop and the way Harvey Tool and Helical products have impacted his shop’s overall performance.

What made you get into machining?

We actually started manufacturing KeyBars by outsourcing our parts to some of my machinist friends. After watching several YouTube videos, I decided that machining our own parts in-house was something I wanted to achieve. I am new to machining, so every day is a challenge. I am truly learning as I go, but I learn more every single day in the shop and every day is a huge payoff.

Would you recommend a career as a machinist to young people trying to find a career path?

Absolutely! In this day and age of smart phones and computers, young people would be great in CNC machining and manufacturing.

How did you first hear about the Harvey Tool & Helical brands?

I first heard about both Harvey Tool and Helical from your Instagram pages. KeyBar® really took off when I started posting the finished product on Instagram, so I have always been an active user and firm believer in the power of social media.

What made you decide to go with these brands for your cutting tool needs?

I was told that Harvey made the best tool for cutting carbon fiber, which we do a lot of while manufacturing KeyBars, so it was a no-brainer.

How easy was the purchase process?

With only a quick email or phone call, I usually have my tools within 1-2 days, which is important for us to keep up our production and never lose a single second of time in the shop waiting for a tool.

Did you receive any help from our customer service teams? How was that experience?

It was great. I needed some initial speeds and feeds for all my composites, and in just a few minutes they had me all squared away. Time is money, and the customer service team saved me lots of time when we first started working with composite materials.

Tell us about your favorite product that Harvey Tool or Helical products helped to create.

We are currently producing a run of custom KeyBars with inlays. The Harvey end mills for composite materials allowed us to achieve a perfect fit and made the project a success.

What is your favorite operation to work on with Helical end mills?

I really like working on 1/4″ roughing passes with a Helical chipbreaker.

What was your first impression of these brands’ tools?

“Damn! That worked pretty good!”

You use a lot of Harvey Tool miniature drills in your work. Why is high quality drill performance important to you?

We drill a lot of holes, and every second counts in production. Most importantly, being able to depend on a tool and get consistent results is worth more than anything else.

How have the Harvey Tool and Helical products impacted your overall performance?

I never have to worry about getting a less than superior finish on our composite products. Harvey Tool products do an excellent job with composite materials– like I said, this is a huge part of our manufacturing process and so it is very important to our performance.

If you were stranded on a desert island with only one Harvey Performance tool, which would it be, and why?

I would choose the Harvey Tool 933316-C6 (1/4″ Corner Radius End Mill for Hardened Steels up to 55 Rc) because you never know what you are going to run in to, and there isn’t much that a 1/4″ end mill can’t do!

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Photos courtesy of KeyBar