Are the “Stock Spindles” made in China?
IF not… then this is just a rant over my experience and the experiences of a good friend who is the QC manager a major US company - with factories in China. He and I worked extensively together before they moved their manufacturing to China. He and I remained friends and he was one of the few who kept his job when they moved the plant. We currently DO NOT do any business together.
If they are made in China, I KNOW EXACTLY what your problem is - it’s a “cultural” difference… The first batch you got was AWESOME! Probably the 2nd batch, too (with a few “bad apples”)… now, we’re in the 3rd batch, right?
The Chinese REALLY want to supply you with the best product and they go to GREAT detail at the beginning of the process to ensure that… the problems come in on the 3rd order or the 4th order… and by the 6th order, you are looking for a new vendor/manufacturer.
The Chinese are renowned for their LACK of Quality Control after the initial order - this is how they beat the Japanese, who are MUCH more concerned with QC during production and on subsequent orders.
The chief difference between Japanese and Chinese Manufacturers is that the Japanese will offer you a higher quality product the 2nd time - for a higher price… the Chinese will start “cutting corners” using “cheaper” materials and components on every subsequent order to maximize THEIR profits - they may be communists, but they understand “wealth!” They are going to “test” you to see how low their quality can get before you scream or leave - and there’s another guy standing in line to hire them after YOU leave (because he just left to supplier you are switching to - it’s a revolving door!)
The Chinese will tell you they are providing you the same products, and “technically” they are! But I KNOW FOR A FACT there are many different types of “bearing manufacturers” in China, SO IT DOESN’T SURPRISE ME YOU HAD A "BEARING PROBLEM." They range from Top-end NTN, Timken and SKF plants (that are “expensive” by Chinese standards) all the way down to no-name plants that literally have dirt floors, use slave/prison/child labor and use machinery that was discarded from a higher-quality plant. All three are NOT conducive to “quality manufacturing.” All you need is one batch of bearings that was contaminated (by the blood/feces/urine of the final assembly guy who was bludgeoned to death for not appreciating his weekly bowl of rice) and you have 1,000 spindles that ain’t worth crap!
The Chinese are also extremely poor at making steel and copper - which is odd because they have been doing it for millennia! One of their favorite tricks it to swap a material that has a broad or undefined quality… as you know the word “Steel” can mean anything from “pot-metal” to “Tungston-carbide.” Unless you specify 4140 Steel, YOU AIN’T gonna get it on the 2nd order! And, remember, EVEN IF YOU DO SPECIFY IT, you are getting a 4140-grade of steel that has been “certified” by a bureaucrat that got the job because his mother’s lover is in the Ministry of Arts and he used a “favor” with his buddy at Shanghai Steel Corp to get a “favor” from said mistress… this is how business works in “command and control” economies – sorry, not my fault!
LARGE Corporations like BOSCH and DEWALT are able to hold their Chinese Manufacturing plants to much higher standards by employing their own US-based or European-based Purchasing and QC Management. I have worked with a large US-based consumer products manufacturer (you own some of their products, I’m sure!) on projects in the past. The ONLY time I experienced anyone who was not American or European was in discussions with the actual production manager - the guy who over-sees how the various components will be assembled in China.
You are 1000 times better off to partner with one of these US-based or European-based “consumer-grade” manufacturers and have them (Dewalt, Bosch, Jardin, etc.) manufacture a product for you. Pay the extra $$ for their over-sight, knowledge and experience.
Or go “all in” and have Milwalkee manufacture it in the US!
) Sorry for the harshly worded post, I know you guys always stand behind your products (as I noted the great customer service) and that’s what made me make the purchase in the first place and not wait on the shapeoko 3. In anycase I was just really frustrated when I wrote the post, as an early adopter I understand the issues; just wanted to make sure it was being addressed for future customers as your response clears up above. Thanks for being on top of things and always replying it means more than and free product.