Update on Ted

[Mark Hockett]

A while back Ted Schorling posted here asking for some help with an invention he had been working on, http://www.homeshopmachinist.net/bbs...=ted+schorling . Some of you gave him a pretty hard time and even searched his history out on the Internet, which probably wouldn't have come up with anything because Ted is a nickname. Ted is German and I don't think I could even pronounce his real name properly.

Ted is a pretty sharp engineer who has worked for some impressive companies, one being the largest machine tool manufactures in the U.S. and another being a large aviation fastener manufacture. Anyone who has worked in the aviation industry or auto racing has probably seen or used his fasteners.

I called him and after discussing the job I ended up making his parts. He was not looking for free machine work. I think he was having a hard time finding a shop in S. California that would do the parts in a reasonable time and for a reasonable fee.

The job was fairly complex and beyond the capability of most home machine shops. It required 4 axis CNC machining, CNC turning and CAD/CAM capability. I can’t discuss any details because of a non-disclosure agreement but the parts were very well designed and a lot of fun to make. Ted has also owned a machine shop in the Los Angeles area so he is very familiar with machining processes. It was nice working with someone who knows what’s going on.

The job paid well and I received another job from him that I will start next week. That job will also pay well. He asked if I could manufacture the part that I prototyped for him as he sold the product to an aerospace company. He wanted 1000 parts. I would need a Swiss turning center for that kind of production of those parts. I could make them but I couldn't be competitive on the price so I was not able to get that job.

Ted is a good guy and I wish him much success.

Mark Hockett
Island Tech Enterprises
Clinton, WA
360-914-6026

More chip less lip

[IOWOLF]

If it took a 4 axis CNC why would he ask a HSM site for help?

No flames, Just a Question.

[Joel]

I would think that Mark just posted ample evidence.

[lynnl]

Thank you for that followup Mark.

Now we know, in the words of Paul Harvey, 'the rest of the story'. Sounds like Ted could've been a valuable contributor here, if not driven away. Maybe there's a lesson to be learned in this.

[torker]

Was he driven away...or just plain "too damn busy" to be hanging around here?
This is actually a pretty cool story.
I'm pretty interested in this type of thing as I build/buy a shop for my working retirement.
The fact that he's 70 and still inventing things is great news.
Mark, good on ya! Glad you ended up with some work out of the deal.
BTW...hope you all noticed that the sceptical board members apologized to the guy when he finally responded.
Russ

[BobWarfield]

Wow! Another happy experience for a newcomer to the board. That thread with Ted Schorling was not our finest hour. I saw one single appology from JCHannum, who had been trying to stop the rude responses since the thread began. The rest just went on justifying their rude behavior.

IOWolf, I'm amazed you are asking again why he posted to HSM if he needed 4-axis CNC. You were the first to respond to Ted's response on page 6 of the thread and seemed to agree with Ted that his response was adequate at that time.

For those who won't bother to read the thread, he posted here because the commercial shops he spoke to all said they were too busy to deal with prototyping work on any kind of schedule and because he thought they weren't going to give him a good value for his money based on how they were acting. Imagine his frustration at how we acted towards him!

We had gotten better here at this with more constructive comments and less brow bashing. Let's try to keep the old women in us under control, act like real men, and treat the newcomers with a little less disdain.

Mark, your signature sentiment, "More chip less lip," is precisely on target. Congratulations for dealing with Ted like a reasonable human being, winning yourself some business, and hopefully engaging with an interesting man.

Sincerely,

BW

[JCHannum]

It is good to hear that things worked out well for Ted and that Mark has picked up some profitable business from his generosity.

I hope that this will encourage others to persevere if they get a less than enthusiastic welcome from some of the naysayers here.

To contribute and enjoy this forum, a person needs only an interest in machining, not some approved list of tools and machines. A file, hacksaw, vise and drill are enough for simple projects, I built a muzzle loading pistol with little more. With the availability of machines today, there is no reason why an HSM cannot have a 4 or 5 axis CNC either.

[Millman]

JC, couldn't have said it any better than that. Ted reminds me of me. Us old farts never get any respect. HA!

[Mark Hockett]

IOWOLF,
The parts were very small and would have been ideal for someone with a CNC sherline lathe and mill or other small CNC machines. I have seen a few home built CNC mills with 4th axis posted on the Internet. The smallest diameter of the part was .090" and the largest was less than .5" so it would be easy stuff for a mini lathe. The part I am doing next week is only 1" OD. He already had one made by a retired machinist in L.A. but now he needs 12 more.

Russ,
Ted is a very busy guy. He works very late almost every night. He told me I could call him up to 11:00pm if I had questions. I don't know his exact age but if he is over 70 you wouldn't know it. He is very up to date on the latest machining processes and even tried to talk me in to adding a Swiss machine to my shop. I will someday when I have more room and a work load that would keep it busy 12 hours a day.


Mark Hockett
Island Tech Enterprises
Clinton, WA
360-914-6026

More chip less lip

[Rustybolt]

With all due respect to you and Ted, I have burned too many times by," I've got a great idea and I'll let you in on the ground floor.However I don't have any money right now"
Fool me once yadda yadda yadda.
I'm happy it worked out for you and Ted.