Topic: Posting from Inuyana Japan

[Markcb750]

Only about 60km from where my 750 & 900 where made.

Wish I had time to go to Hamamatsu to see the factory.

Maybe on the trip in November.

[dhall57]

Business trip or pleasure Mark. Bringing a CB back to the states with you

[Markcb750]

Business,  for  vacation I prefer Mexico!

[Markcb750]

What is it with this country and vending machines?  can't spit without hitting one!

Ate what must have been a 200 dollar meal in a traditional Japanese restaurant last night.

Sushi is ok, but I do not care much for raw squid, creamy texture I just did not care for. 

Soups were served cold, vodka in boiling water...strange.

Beer is great.

Fried fish head,which must be picked apart to find bits of tasty meat is interesting, they even put in a fake eyeball after frying.

Just for reference I lead a team that designed & built a much more capable machine in the 90's;  (very similar price) if American companies behaved like this Japanese company...I would still be making that much superior machine.  American corporate philosophy sucks for everyone but the Wall Street and CEO's.

[Stev-o]

I love Japanese beer, bikes, cars and women, but not all of the food. 

What was the superior machine you designed? Vending??

[Markcb750]

Funny, there are huge numbers of vending machines in Japan,  kind of surreal to see one on a corner in a residential neighborhood.

I designed Machining centers, good ones; Outlive a Haas 3 to 1 unless you are doing parts at power levels that were available on a Bridgeport in the 60's. My two years managing a manufacturing plant that uses Haas VMCs also proved that a Haas will break down, and you can pound salt for 2 to 3 weeks waiting for the local dealer to help or provide a part.

Several Japanese machines are damn good machines, Mori Seiki being the best I know of, Okuma can be very good if you stay away from their low end machines.

The last machine I designed was called a PMC V750.  3, 4 or 5 axis machining center.

Still a little on Google even though the last one was made almost 20 years ago.

But did you really want to discuss this, or did you just want to bust my balls a little?

[Stev-o]

Not busting balls, just wondered if you designed vending machines.

[Markcb750]

Not busting balls, just wondered if you designed vending machines.

Sorry...feeling a little defensive after a week of meetings with Japanese engineers who's boss required me to travel there and they proceeded to evade my questions and dodge every discussion about where they could improve a weak design.

Strange culture we have built for ourselves in the USA, However it does look like manufacturing is making a comeback here because of the problems in China.  Butthoonose.