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Today’s podcast is part 1 of a two part interview with Alec Mandis, Chief Executive of Accord Precision, the largest machined component manufacturer in New Zealand. Accord exports precision products around the world, with 30% going to the United States. Alec described to us what it’s like to run a machine shop in a country of 5 million people, more associated with rugby and sheep than manufacturing. After the interview we started scheming how we could get down there for a sales call.

Main Points

Today’s podcast is about reducing friction in our machining and our lives. Our guest is Jerry Gates, founder of Gates Engineered Lubricants, a company near Houston, Texas, which produces metal working fluids, industrial lubricants, and rust inhibitors for a variety of applications.

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Main points of the interview

Hanwha XD38 II-H

Schutte WU 305
CNC Universal Tool and Cutter Grinder

Mfd. 2006 
Type: WU305 "Trend" 
Series: 2 
Control: Siemens 840D
Axis: 5 
Power: 480V 60Hz 
Control: Sinumerik 840 D 
Software: SIGS Conversational w/ Vericut 
Schunk Workholding 
Chain Loader 
3-wheel Change Pack 
Very Low Hours, Used for Prototyping Tools 

Grinding Spindle: 15kW (20HP)
Universal Rotary Axis with Spindle Speeds: 0 to +/- 25000 rpm
Center of Grinding Wheel is close to center of rotational C-axis