Lights Out Jeopardy: Additive, Automation, and Absolute Chaos, Ep #36

[0:00] Welcome to the Lights Out podcast. I am one of your hosts, Eric Nekkich, and we cover a lot on this show, especially lately, we’ve been covering a lot of things on additive, ROI for automation and monitoring. And we thought we needed an episode to kind of bring it all together and just, uh, you know, make sure that we could summarize some of the great, uh, people we’ve had on the subjects we’ve discussed. So I want to welcome all of our listeners to the first episode of Lights Out Jeopardy, Nick is here, Dave is here. And we have a surprise contestant, Mr. By the numbers himself, Mike Payne, AKA Mike Hill from Payne industrial. Welcome. The professor of pain is here. I, all I know is I got a text that said, Hey, will you come on this episode and whip Nick’s ass? So here I am. Let’s freaking go. Hopefully there’s no math. No. And our producer Jen is listening in to help with that math because today, as we go through Jeopardy, we’re going to do it just like the first round of the popular game show.

[1:19] But whoever wins the amount of money they win, we will be donating to a charity of their choice on behalf of Lights Out and the Making Chips podcast network. So really excited to see who’s charity and really, I don’t know what they are. So that’s kind of exciting too. That’d be something that helps actual humans. Okay. Not people’s pets. Well, I’m out. Yeah. They’re what? Half our listeners. Shots fired against Mike and his dog placement foster program. Yep. It can be whatever you want it to be. And, uh, Eric’s Warhammer collection is a legit charity. You can look it up online with that being said, gentlemen, you all have a game board. The categories today will be machine tool monitoring, automation, adaptive controls, additive manufacturing, CNC myths and stereotypes, and digital factory tech. Let’s go. I’m in pain. Yeah. Mr. Payne, you are our guest of honor. I will let you go first. You can pick a category and a dollar amount and we will start the lights out jeopardy. You have to call him Eric Trebek though. Right. Mr. Trebek.

[2:36] I think I will. Let’s start off with CNC myths and stereotypes for 200. CNC myths and stereotypes for 200. I knew he would go low, like just a freaking softball. I got to see what we’re dealing with. I didn’t go a hundred. All right. CNC myths and stereotypes for 200. Here’s the sound. No. Okay. I’m not going to do that all hour. You should. Manufacturing isn’t dying. It’s evolving into this high tech career field. Please don’t say what is so I can jump. I think we have to, don’t we? You have to. Yes. Yes. Yes. If you don’t, then someone gets to steal it. Oh, you were just hoping I did. What is CNC machinists? Nah, that’s good. That’s really good. Actually, David, you are immediately to Mike’s left again. Manufacturing isn’t dying. It’s evolving into this high tech career field. What is advanced manufacturing? Ding, ding, ding. 200. For the word advanced in front of manufacturing. I disagree. You’re going to get kicked off the show, Nick, you can go and select your next topic, your next category, please. Okay.

[4:06] Okay. Um, let’s do another softball. Let’s do a machine. Let’s do machine tool monitoring for a hundred dollars. Let’s do what I actually do. What I actually do for my job for a hundred dollars. Cause I’m exactly I’m stacked. I’m stacking the deck in my favor, guys. That’s right. So it’s like 500 bucks Canadian. Yes, exactly. 500 Canadian. All right. Machine tool monitoring for a hundred. This technology tracks spindle load, vibration and downtime. So you know what happened before an operator says it just stopped. I have a feeling that this has something to do with the category name itself. So I’m going to say, what is machine monitoring? Ding, ding, ding. Wow. David is on fire. This is so dumb so far. You can’t have the answer be the category. Oh, man. Please, David, select again. All right. All right. We’re warmed up. Okay. I’m rolling up my sleeves, literally, except my sleeves are a little tight. Can’t get them past my elbows. But anyways, let’s go with digital factory tech for 400 so that Nick won’t make fun of me anymore. We’re getting rich. Let’s go.

[5:27] Someone’s got some cojones here. Digital manufacturing tech for 400. This data strategy helps shops fix problems before they cause downtime. What is predictive maintenance? Ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. David wins. Yeah, that’s correct. 400. Nick, I think you are going to get spanked. Dude, I had it. I was ready to steal it, but I don’t get any chances. I’m going to just- So who’s keeping score here, Alec or Eric? Jen is helping me. Okay. I don’t know a lot about this next category, so I’m going to pick a doozy, and then I’m going to make it really easy for one of you two to school me on this. So additive manufacturing- Well, great. Now when I don’t know it, you just said it was easy. Middle of the road additive manufacturing for 300, Mr. Eric. Additive manufacturing for 300. Oh, David, the best use of additive is often not replacing machining, but doing this with it. What is, I don’t know, post-processing? Nick! Nick, to you. Enhancing. Enhancing machining.

[6:46] What is enhancing machining? What is enhancing machining? I said what is. Do you want me to read the question again, or are you just going to shoot that one from the hip? Okay, we’ll try again. This isn’t rapid fire. That’s Turner’s weird little podcast. Yeah, stop stealing Turner’s thing. All right, I’m ready. The best use of additive is often not replacing machining, but doing this with it. What is supporting machining? Oh, come on. I feel like I’m missing the word, but like, what is augmenting the machine? We’re all just taking different synonyms. Almost a final answer, but I think that’s the wrong game show. So I will say, please sweep. The answer, gentlemen, is what is hybrid manufacturing. Okay, all right. Of course. That’s what I meant, but I don’t. That’s what I meant, too. Can what we meant count? I don’t. I don’t want credit for the answer, but that is. Yeah, that’s the word I was looking for. My intent was to get that one right. So can I have the money anyways? Yeah, I think Alex Trebek would be disappointed because your questions are stupid. All right. Well, it’s a better way to ask a man. I think I’ll save that one for tonight when I’m alone, and that’ll give me something to cry myself to sleep over.

[8:03] Thanks, Nick. You know what, Nick? Let’s just start with you again. Go ahead. Pick a topic in a category. I’m sure our friend in Canada doesn’t mind. Yeah, I’m going to go big here. No, I mind. Let’s select the hardest one for all of us. Additive manufacturing for $500. Additive manufacturing for $500. Are you ready, Nick? I am. Miss. Additive is slow. Reality. It’s often faster than this type of production. What is casting? Mike. What is subtractive? Dave. What is? Can I get the question again? Gosh, please pay attention. Additive is slow. Miss, there’s something remarkably funny in Nick telling you to pay attention. A little bit of the pot calling the kettle black, don’t you think? Right. Additive is slow. Reality. It’s often faster than this type of production. What is a one off thing? No, sorry. The answer is what is prototyping? Oh, that’s so close. That is really like half of it for for getting close.

[9:29] No, I do not. This isn’t Canada, Dave. We have standards. Shots fired. In manufacturing, growth isn’t accidental. It’s engineered. But a lot of suppliers are still building their pipeline on outdated lists, inconsistent follow up and hope based marketing, hoping their website will somehow bring in leads. Gabe Draper, the founder of Factor, knows that struggle. Years ago, he ran a shop that went bankrupt, not because of quality, but because he didn’t have a steady way to generate new opportunities. That experience is what led him to build Factor. Factor helps suppliers create consistent sales opportunities by combining targeted outreach with marketing that puts you in front of the right buyers. Their team finds the right companies, starts real conversations and sets qualified meetings. So if your pipeline swings with referrals or seasonality, Factor brings a system that puts you back in control. And for listeners of this show, Factor is offering a free custom report that highlights the best opportunities in your industry, plus a list of real companies that match what you do. Request yours at factormfg.com slash chips. That’s F-A-C-T-U-R M-F-G dot com slash chips. I let Nick start last one. We’ll go back to you, Mike.

[10:49] Go ahead. Category and dollar amount, please. Let’s do automation for 300.

[10:58] Automation for 300. All right. Oh, wait.

Could it be? It is true. This is our daily double. Oh, no.

Isn’t there some sound effects that go with the daily double? I might have missed that. It is true. Is everybody like British now? I’m the town herald.

All right. The biggest barrier. The biggest barrier to automation usually isn’t cost.

[11:26] It’s this four letter word hint of the day. Not profanity. Four letter word.

Yes. The biggest barrier to automation usually isn’t cost. It’s this four letter word.

[11:42] Well, the word I had was not four letters. So that’s that means it’s wrong. So just say it, please.

[11:53] I was going to say people. I’m trying to think if there’s a four letter word for people. I’m wrong.

Oh, no. Incorrect. Peeps.

[12:03] Incorrect. David, to you. The biggest barrier to automation usually isn’t cost. It is this four letter word. We’ve talked about this. What is fear? You get it. 600 to David. I was going to say that. I so was going to say that. Smells like fear, everybody. Honestly, these questions all derived from past. Lights out. Episodes. So these aren’t answers we’re making up here. You might remember how scared Gary was. Up at night sweating. In iron clunk machining. That said, David, you can get us. Keep us moving, my guy. Keep us moving. All right. Take a look here at the board at what’s left. Let’s do adaptive controls for 200. Oh, shoot. I was supposed to mark all these off. So I’m going to I’m just going to say some stuff that’s already taken. That’s all right. No problem. Adaptive machining helps prevent this expensive event. When a tool becomes a projectile. What is catastrophic tool breakage? Ding, ding, ding. You are correct, David. I hate this guy.

[13:27] They’ve got all the money. Yeah, he’s got a lot of it. Yes, there’s a lot left on the board. But as of right now, yes, David is. There’s there’s one thing you need to know about David, guys. He has all the money. That’s what I want everyone to know. Fifteen hundred dollars is what you have right now. I feel like I lost a couple of those, though. There’s some subtraction that probably needs to happen. And by the way, Nick is terrible at math because it’s twelve hundred. I was just reading the chat. This episode of Lights Out brought to you by the By the Numbers podcast with your host, Mike Payne. All right, David. What do you have? This is the best round of British celebrity manufacturing jeopardy I’ve ever been on. We do C&C myths and stereotypes for 400. C&C myths and stereotypes for 400. All right, David. The stereotype that manufacturing jobs are low paying ignores this fact about top machinists. That many machinists are paid well, sometimes like into the six figures. Ding, ding, ding. He didn’t say what is, so I’m going to steal it. What is? Am I next? I’m next? Yes, you are technically next. All right.

[14:50] Nick is on the board the dirty way, but it still counts. Sorry, David. What is the fact that most advanced machinists make well above the average wage? Well, into the six figures. There you are. Yes, that’s what we were looking for. David, you gave him a gimme. Gimme, I need it. Eric, tell everyone right now, did Dave have a hand in writing the answers? No, he did not. I mean, well, here’s the thing. He is a host of the Lights Out podcast. So he has as much help in writing the answers as you have had, Nick. Okay, well, I’ll take it because he can’t pay attention or say what is. I want to kill any talks of collusion right now. All right, Nick, impress us all with your skills. Let’s see if Mike Payne, by the number zero, can get on the board here.

[15:48] He can’t. All right, I’m ready. I’m ready.

It’s my turn? Yes. Digital Factory Tech for 500, if it’s available, please. It is available.

[15:59] A smart factory isn’t one with the most screens. It’s one with the best. What is data or insight? What are insights going to do? Are insights going to fix your shop, Nick? Yes, I’m going to have to go. I’m just going to sit here while my insights do it all for me. I’m going to have to give you a big on that one. Mike, over to you. A smart factory isn’t one with the most screen. It’s one with the best. Dave, you’re going to give it to Dave. Yep, he doesn’t like mine either. Well, I like your answer. I don’t like how it’s framed. Did you say what is reporting? Yeah. Okay, good. You want me to say who is reporting? You know what? I think that that’s close enough to the answer that was generated here. Let’s get Mike some charity money. Mike, you’re on the board with 500. What was the answer here? I looked up his answer of what is reporting. The answer given to me was what is decision-making. So, I feel like reporting and decision-making go hand in hand. But Insight doesn’t? Literally doesn’t.

[17:18] Insight, to me, speaks to… This is rigged. It’s because I wore my bear sweater to a Packer fan hosting the dance. You’re absolutely right. This is rigged. This is so rigged. Insight, to me, speaks to gut check. We’re reporting data-backed. I said data and insights. Get out of here, Eric Dramat. We need to tie this to the point. And the point is that you can have all the data in the world. You can have all the dashboards and the screens. But if it doesn’t lead to improvement and actions that have been informed by the data, it doesn’t mean a lot. And I think that’s the point. Yeah, Eric? Is that where that answer was going? Okay, way to be the adult in the room, Dave. Thank you, David. That’s exactly… Well, listen, you lovable loose cannon. Thank you for always saying what is the best version of how I would have said it. Yes, exactly, David. To your point. What is up, Metalworking Nation, Making Chips family? It is an even year, which means IMTS is coming. September 14th through 19th at McCormick Place in beautiful Chicago. It is the largest manufacturing trade show in North America, bringing together thousands of manufacturers, OEMs, and solution providers every two years to explore how new technologies are being applied to real shop floors. So whether you’re planning future capital investments, benchmarking operations, or simply trying to cut through the noise around emerging technologies, IMTS is designed to help manufacturers make better, more informed decisions.

[18:50] Whether you’ve been going for years or this might be your first time, put it on your calendar right now, schedule your time away from the shop. It’s good to get out and see new things. It’s going to be a big party. I hope to see you there. Go to IMTS.com and register today. All right, Mike’s on the board. Nick’s on the board. Things are heating up. Mike, category and dollar amount. Let’s go with digital factory tech for $300. That’s our last daily double. All right. The system that tracks jobs, schedules, and production, like air traffic control for machining. What is ERP? Bing, bing, bing. There you go. And that’s a daily double, so that’s going to put you kind of next to Dave. I mean, he’s still in the lead, but it puts you near him. It puts you David adjacent. Is Nick just slightly short of us? That says I’m negative because she’s part of the whole thing, the whole coup against me here. Yeah, it’s what happens when you answer wrongly too often, Nick, is you go in the negative. It’s how this game works.

[20:08] Nick is a Bears fan, which means he’s not going to start playing until the last two minutes of the episode. Let’s freaking go. Let’s go. The Iceman coming, baby. Mike, you still control the board. Let’s stay with what’s working. Let’s do digital factory tech for $200. There you go. When machines talk to machines, it’s called this. Not robot gossip. It’s like General Hospital, but for robots. Am I next? Yeah, I don’t know. David is next. Beep, beep. I’m out. He sounds like a roadrunner. Dave, when machines talk to machines, it’s called this. Not robot gossip. Because I call it robot gossip. There’s them two fanooks talking about me again. I think this is where you’re going with it. What is the Internet of Things? Ding, ding, ding, ding. Gosh dang it, I was so close. That’s what I was going to do. You control the board, David. I say we just close out. I think this is the last one on the digital factory tech for $100.

[21:23] Absolutely. The digital representation of your production floor, machines, data, and dashboards. What is a digital twin? Beep, beep. Sorry, David, that’s incorrect. Nick, the digital representation of your production floor. Yeah, you know what? It is technically correct, but it’s not what we’re looking for. Machines, data, dashboards, which is something I think that wouldn’t be in your digital. That’s true. That’s true. It’s because I’m Canadian. Not. I love you. I love my Canadian brothers. Machines, data. Say it again. The digital representation of your production floor, machines, data, and dashboards. What is simulation? Beep, beep. Mike. What is digital factory? Beep, beep. Sorry. The answer that we had was what is industry 4.0? Oh, Jesus. That ain’t right. I disagree. Well, you guys want to split the $100? Yeah.

[22:41] This guy. This freaking host. Let’s just make Eric pay that. Let’s go get lunch. Totally. Sounds good. Next time we’re all together, lunch on me. Yeah. You know what? Technically, everything you guys gave for that answer was accurate, and those things exist. But I think dashboards is what keeps it unique and keeps it in that industry 4.0 category. With that said. Cyber physical systems. That’s really what it is. Could be, David. Do your board. Let’s go into. I hope I’ve been updating my board. So this is accurate as to what’s left. Can we do automation for 400? You certainly can. Automation for 400. All right. Lights out manufacturing doesn’t mean no people. It means people are doing this instead of loading parts at 2 a.m. What is higher value tasks? You are correct. I know this one. I know this one. All right, David, fill your board. Okay. Okay. Cool. Let’s go with automation for 200.

[24:00] This collaborative automation approach often starts small. One machine. One robot. One very nervous first week. Oh, come on. It’s too bad it’s a podcast. People can’t see how visually disturbed Nick is right now. You’re just torturing me. You’re getting back at me for the wild card game, and I signed up for it. So, I mean, you’re talking about, like, not just one piece of hardware there, because you’re talking about the cell. So I would say what is, like, a collaborative application or collaborative automation? Is that fair? Yes, I’m going to give that to you. The answer was what is a Cobot cell, but I believe that that is close enough. Nick had his hand up. Look how upset he is. Judges? Yeah? You like it? Okay, good. Judges agree. I disagree with all of them. All right. All right. I was ready to steal, but whatever. Give me automation for 500. Automation stereotype. Robots take jobs. Reality, robots mostly take this job.

[25:17] What are dark, dirty, dangerous tasks? I mean, it does that, but it’s looking for a very specific alternate answer. So, Nick, to you, automation stereotype, robots take jobs. Reality, robots mostly take this job. What is monotonous, repetitive, button-pushing, low-skill tasks? Ding, ding. I’ll give it to you. It was looking for what is repetitive manual labor. I think you summed that up. I said repetitive. I said repetitive. You did say repetitive manuals, David. I agree. Dark, dirty. Do you guys want to split that? I’m glad it’s not a live recording. Absolutely not. No, because dark has nothing to do with it. In fact, when the lights are off, the automation is rocking and rolling. He’s just buzzwording that dark, dangerous, dull, dirty thing that everyone hears. That’s all he’s doing. I had the real right answer. I guess I didn’t know, Mike, that it was going to start to get a little heated. I was just kind of thinking, I’m glad we’re not all standing at three podiums next to each other because someone’s leaving with a busted lip.

[26:35] I was going to do a spitwad at David. Wow. All the way from Illinois? Intercontinental spitwad. I’m going to have to go outside and pet a puppy after this just to calm down a little bit. Good grief. This is the exact opposite of what I was hoping to do. I was hoping to bring people together and support a charity, but I feel like I might drive these people apart. It’s like the Olympics. And further heightened tensions between the U.S. and Canada. We can all be friends after the hockey gold medal game. It’s your board, Nick. I will take Adaptive Controls for $500, please, Eric. Okay. Adaptive Controls for $500. Is that available? It is. Yes. Cool. CNC is not set it and forget it. Adaptive Control proves it’s more like, if you’ve ever listened to my good friend David Buick, you’ve heard this said an insane amount of times. Shall I read it again? Yeah. He’s dying over there because he knows exactly what it is. CNC is not set it and forget it. Adaptive Control proves it’s more like… What is start and optimize? I will give it to you. Yes, it was what is set it and optimize it.

[27:56] Okay, cool. I believe that that’s close enough, but I think we would all agree. Optimize is close enough. You’ve got to give it to me, Dave, even though we hate each other from one border to another. Mike, do you ever hear Eric say, hey, Dave, I’ll give it to you when it’s half right? No, he only does that for Nick. I don’t know why, but we’ll have to explore that later. No, no, no. Hey. Look, I don’t know what you guys talk about when the recording is off, but… Nick still owns the board. I will take Machine Tool Monitoring for $500 if it’s available. It is. Nick taking big swings here. The Mark McGuire of Lights Out Jeopardy. Myth. Monitoring replaces machinists. Reality. It helps machinists spend less time doing this. Okay. Monitoring replaces machinists is a myth. It helps machinists spend less time doing this. Man, I know what it helps them spend more time doing, but that’s not the question. No pressure. Oh, my gosh. It would allow them… Okay, what is it would allow them to spend more time doing continuous improvement and less time doing the status quo? Wordy, but incorrect.

[29:30] Shoot, man. Mike, to you. Myth. Monitoring replaces machinists. Reality. It helps machinists spend less time doing this. What is guessing? Oh, come on. Can’t be. It can’t be. David, I have a great hint for this when we get all the way around. So it won’t count for a dollar. If you’re monitoring a machine, you’re collecting data from the machine. So I would say for the operator, it would be what is manual data entry. So the answer, the answer we have, and here’s your hint. Who’s we? You and Nick? Not the answers? No, no, no. I’m going to give let me give Mike a hint and see if he can get this. Okay. If you had to hire one of these for Nick or David, it would cost you a small fortune. There. I was going to say babysitter. The answer is what is babysitting machine? That’s good. Okay. All right. That’s fair. All right. Oh, boy. I don’t even know what’s available.

[30:45] What’s the highest number available? We still have C and C myths and stereotypes for 500. I’ll take it. Okay, Nick. I’m doing good on the hard ones. I think. Oh, gosh. Mike, Mike, Mike and David, let me apologize in advance. Again, I had help from AI writing these questions. You guys, I’m going to visually see both your eyes roll. Okay, Nick. C and C myths and stereotypes for 500 manufacturing. Hey, wait, wait, wait, Nick. No pressure. But he just basically said, if you don’t get this right, you’re a dumbass. Okay, cool. I’m not worried. I’m not manufacturing isn’t stuck in the past. It’s shaping the. Oh, man. This is the $500. What is the future? No. Yes, that’s correct. Then what the heck is it? I apologize to everyone that that was the $500 question. But obviously we put a lot of time into this. So you’re bored, Nick. So you’re bored. Okay, what’s the next highest number available in a category? Monitoring for 400 adaptive controls for 400 and additive for 400.

[32:12] All right. Adaptive controls for 400, please. Adaptive controls for 400. Trying to take out all the ones where it’s Dave’s actual job. These controls help shops cut faster while also improving this thing that inspectors love. What is quality? Mike, these controls help shops cut faster while also improving this thing that inspectors love. How? Improve this thing. I don’t write the questions. I just write the questions and the answers. All right. He’s just a show host, Nick. Be easy on him. Hey, they’re, they’re taking up my time. Will you repeat the question? All right. So it’s adaptive controls, right? So it’s important that you think of the category adaptive controls. And if you’ve read a slide tech one pager, right? These controls help shops cut faster while also improving this thing inspectors love. Oh, gosh. I know what it is now. Go ahead, Mike. Yeah, I know. Shut up, everyone. So what am I do that you got it wrong? No. I don’t know. I mean, I was going to be so mad at you guys.

[33:35] Quality is the only thing I can. Yeah. That’s the only thing I can’t get past that answer. I think Nick deserves credit for it regardless. Okay. Well, let’s see what David comes up with. Cause you’re Mike. Love you, man. But. All right, David. It controls help shops cut faster while also improving this thing that inspectors love. What is. Surface finish. Gosh. Just a freaking flex on us like that. That’s my overconfidence spin. Which is like you control the board. Me and Mike. I mean, what surface finish? You have to hit the surface finish requirements for quality. Right. So. Whatever. Yeah. I mean, we’re just, we’re big picture thinkers. Yeah. All right, David. I don’t get down to the details. Over here for my small picture world. I’m going to pick. Machine tool monitoring for 400. Monitoring for 400. All right. All right, David, this metric tells you whether you’re expensive machine is cutting metal or just being a very loud space eater. I would have to go with. What is utilization? Ding, ding, ding, ding. David.

[35:00] Takes that and still controls the board. Good job, David. Can we. You should have said it was wrong. What do we have left on the expensive side of things? You have one more 400 left and that’s an additive that you guys seem to be avoiding. All right. Let’s let’s. It’s time, right? We’re warmed up. Let’s go. I don’t think Dr. Jones would appreciate you guys avoiding the additive category. Jason Jones, we’re sorry. We are sorry, Mr. Jason Jones, but also, or Dr. Jason Jones, but also you can find some softballs up there in the high dollar ones like the future. You did get a high curve on that one. We’ll give it to you. All right. Additive for 400. Additive allows designs impossible to machine like lattice structures and parts that look like this. This is probably the most ridiculous question in the whole thing. The answer is just. So anyway. Additive allows designs impossible to machine like lattice structures and parts that look like this. Draw it. Draw it. So, I mean, like you’re talking about like topology optimization and the crazy generative designs and stuff like that.

[36:22] They look, they look like kind of space age technology. I don’t know. Is that your answer? What is something that looks like space age technology? Dave Nick, a wide open birthday. I’m going to give it to you, Dave, because the answer is what is alien technology? Ah, so ding, ding, ding. Good job, David. I wouldn’t know. It’s like, it’s like, it’s just an opinion. It’s an opinion. This is just not even fact based. I think our audience is getting dumber through listening to this. Actually, says the guy who got, what is the future for 500? But man, at least I was right. Some guys have all like, uh, I hope that at the end of your guest appearance on lights out, the big takeaway isn’t what a monumental waste of time. All right, David. I’m just doing the math to see if I can claw back into this thing. Yep. Uh, there’s three categories with 300. There’s three myths and stereotypes for 300. Okay. Yeah. We have myths and stereotypes, adaptive and machine tool monitoring. I’ll have 300 left. Okay. Do that. That one that I already called out missing stereotypes.

[37:41] Let’s let’s go for it. Modern shops look less like smokestacks and more like what kind of a question is this? What is not like smoke? Like light. Is that what it’s talking about? Yeah. Light stacks. Final answer. Moron. What the heck is a light stack? You just made that up. That’s not even a thing. Did you answer with what is the light stack? I mean, it’s, it’s kind of a weirdly. What is an idiot? Here’s the answer. You’ll be like, you’re going to be like. What is an idiot? All right. Modern. Well, listen, pride cometh before the fall, David. What is a laboratory? Ding, ding, ding. What is a tech lab? Let’s go, boy. All right. And that was CNC Myth for 300 goes to Nick. Fellas. Hey, well, I got you both real quick. So I’m really trying to drill in like our workholding options at Hill and all of our shops. Any advice? Mike, it’s as simple as RASRAM. As what? RASRAM. You’ve never heard of it? I have not.

[39:02] Paul? What Nick is referring to is the seven habits of highly effective workholding. That makes more sense. Repeatability. Accessibility. Scalability. Reliability. Adaptability. And modularity. If you want to find all of these principles in one catalog, check out the SMW Autoblock catalog. You can find it at smwautoblockblok.com. Thanks, fellas. All right. Next, you control the board. Okay. What’s the highest possible way to get it so I don’t have to pay the show to be here? You have 300 in adaptive and 300 in monitoring still available. I’ll take adaptive for 300, sir. No. Adaptive controls for 300. Adaptive controls turn machining into something closer to this. Smart, steady driving instead of flooring it everywhere. Which is how they drive in Oklahoma. Okay. One more time, please. Say it again. I think this is the parallel I always say. Go ahead. Adaptive controls turn machining into something closer to this. Smart, steady driving instead of flooring it everywhere. Didn’t you just kind of, like, answer the question? Yep. I most certainly did not. Yeah.

[40:22] No, it was not. I would say competitive racing. Uh, no, no. Well, it’s true. All right. So 300 to you, Mr. Payne. Adaptive controls turn machining into something closer to this. Smart, steady driving instead of flooring it everywhere. The way he says it’s flooring it everywhere. Um, I’ve heard Nick use this analogy. I’m surprised he couldn’t get it right. Um, but I don’t remember. I said NASCAR. That’s how I made up the whole parallel that we all use. I’m going to go. I’m going to read it again. I feel like the answer’s in the question. Adaptive controls turn machining into something that’s closer to this. Smart, steady driving instead of flooring it everywhere. I know what it is. Yeah. I feel like because of the way you’re stressing flooring, like the answer is what is braking? Nope. Nope. Isn’t it, David? All right. So it’s kind of like. You guys are all going to be mad at yourselves. It’s kind of like. I already am. Modern vehicles. The cruise control in modern vehicles is adaptive.

[41:41] If the car in front of you slows down or speeds up, your car will slow down and speed up according to the cars around you and what they’re doing. So adaptive cruise control. Hey, is there a what is in this? I correct myself. I correct myself. We’re good. What is that cruise control? Ding, ding, ding. Correct, David. What is cruise control? Very good. All right. There’s one 300 left. And that would be machine tool monitoring. I’d say we’re quite proficient. Otherwise, you have a 200 available in machine tool monitor, a 200 available in additive. And other than that, it’s all $100 bills, y’all. Hit me with a 300, Eric. 300 machine tool monitoring. If your machine sends more notifications than your teenager’s cell phone, you probably need better. OK, for clarity, I don’t have a teenager yet, but probably better. Set thresholds on your alerts. Ding, ding, ding. David. David runs away. That goes to you, David. All right. Let’s fill your board. So we’re coming to the end here, David. So what would you like next? There’s so few to pick from at this point because I’ve already done so many of them.

[43:09] I suppose we’ll go for machine tool monitoring for 200, Eric. Great. The most common reason shops install monitoring isn’t Big Brother. It’s this boring but profitable goal. Increased revenue? And profit margin? What is? Sorry, David, that’s incorrect. I’m getting sloppy, guys. You hear that? Man. The most common reason shops install monitoring isn’t Big Brother, Nick. It’s this boring but profitable goal. What is efficiency? I can’t give it to you. Mike. I disagree. The most common reason shops install monitoring isn’t Big Brother. It is this boring but profitable goal. So I’m going to get this wrong because it’s not going to be the most common reason people do it. But in real practice of doing it, I will tell you it’s the most, it’s the best reason I did it. Is what is coaching? Phenomenal answer. And we touch on that a lot on Lights Out. But incorrect. The answer we were looking for is what is reducing unplanned downtime? Yeah. But it’s not the real answer.

[44:26] I mean, it’s your answer. It’s a phenomenal wrong answer, according to Eric Trebek, the freaking worst host of all time. But yeah. Nick is hot. You guys should play Monopoly with him. All right. You know what, Mike? Far be it from me to argue with someone who actually owns and operates a successful machine shop. So, Mike, that $200 is going to you. You control the board. For your phenomenally wrong answer, you are awarded $200. My wrong answer was so good that we changed the judge’s mind. Your board, Mike. There’s one $200 left. Otherwise, it’s all Ben Franklin. All right. Well, we have failed bad at additive manufacturing. But let’s do $200 in additive manufacturing. Great. And, David, Ben Franklin appears on the $100 bill in America. Thank you for the clarification. They won’t teach you that. Yes, you’re welcome. All right, Mr. Payne. Additive isn’t just plastic trinkets. This industry prints metal parts for jets and rockets. Yeah. What is jets? I’ll read it again slower.

[45:45] Because I was trying to, like, inflect it. I think it screwed up the question. Additive isn’t just plastic trinkets. This industry prints metal parts for jets and rockets. What industry prints metal parts for jets and rockets? What is additive manufacturing? Nick can’t take it anymore. He’s, like, chomping at the bit. I’m going to give you a mulligan on that. Because I love you, Mike. You’re going to get a mulligan on that. Because I can’t have your listeners hear you answer this question that way. What is aerospace? Ding, ding, ding. $200 for Mike Payne. And it’s your board. It’s like when he gets too hammered at his daughter’s weddings. And his buddies have to, like, go take him out. Go take him out of the room so he doesn’t embarrass himself. All right. It’s all $100 from here on out. Automation, adaptive, additive, and CNC-missing stereotypes still have that $100 category open. And it’s your board, Mike. Okay. Clean sweep coming up. Oh, no. Yeah, right. Get out of here. What is… Let’s do automation for $100. Automation for $100. Okay, team. Here we go. The coworker who never calls in sick, never needs coffee, and never asks for Friday’s off.

[47:08] What is a robot? Ding, ding, ding. Mike for $100. You can tell Nick didn’t write these questions because… Nick, you cannot… You got a $500 for what is the future. You cannot roll your eyes at another question. It’s not the past or the present. The proof that Nick didn’t write that question is that there’s nothing in there about going to the bathroom. All right. Mike, adaptive controls, additive manufacturing, CNC-missing stereotypes. Let’s do adaptive controls. All right, adaptive controls. These systems automatically adjust feed and speed so the machine doesn’t sound like it’s fighting for its life. Well, you guys have a technical term for it that I’m going to miss. What is… Golly, I’ve heard Nick say it 100 times. Adaptive tool control. I don’t remember. Ding, ding, ding. Yeah, absolutely right. What is adaptive controls? Yep. Maybe I didn’t hear what is there, but… I did. Nope. He said it. I said what is… Nick says this 100 times. Yeah. It was just wordy, Dave. It was in there. It was in there. That’s fine. All right. I’ll let it go. Two more left, gentlemen. Additive manufacturing. Additive manufacturing. The process of building parts layer by layer instead of cutting everything away is called what? Additive manufacturing.

[48:33] What is additive manufacturing? Ding, ding, ding. Mike is sweeping the bottom row. Just another question that is the category. Is the category. This is so dumb. All right, Mike. Good job, AI. Hey, we’re all safe for a few more years because this is what AI puts out there. At least six months. CNC myths and stereotypes for 100, please. Yes. The last one, gentlemen, and then we can wrap this very informative and great, funny episode up. Machinists are not just button pushers. They are highly skilled. What is machinists? I don’t know which word you’re looking for. Professionals, tradespeople, skilled people. All right. Who wants to grab this hundred dollars from Mike? I’ll take it. All right. They are highly skilled manufacturing leaders created in God’s image. Let’s go. I love your answer. I love your answer, but it is incorrect. David, let’s finish how we started, baby, with you knocking one off the board. Machinists are not just button pushers. They’re highly skilled. What are problem solvers? Again, guys, these are things that we’ve talked about all the time on the Lights Out podcast.

[49:54] That’s it. Jen, do you know, do we have a winner or are we going to bore the folks at home and I’ll add all these numbers up right now? We should make them wait for 10 minutes while you suck at math. I carry the one. Sorry, that wasn’t my calculator. I was texting my mom. All right. 100 plus. No, we will. How about this? How about when we post this episode? Freaking Dave wins. Dave won by a lot. We don’t know. We don’t know like how much, but it was a landslide. Listen, guys, I had fun and you proved to the industry why you guys come on here every week and share your knowledge. Thank you for humoring me. And when we post this episode live on LinkedIn, we’ll go ahead and not only confirm what we all know that David Buick is the winner, but we’ll also share what charity he’s going to be donating his winnings to. Anything you guys want to say? I’ve got some ideas. This is just a terrible pilot and I hope this show never goes live. Well, I, for one, am honored to be invited. And I’m sorry. And I apologize for being so terrible. It was good to have the numbers man himself.

[51:15] And I didn’t get a single question about numbers. No. But he did finish with zero, which is kind of the absence of numbers. Listen, guys, I can’t thank you enough. Thank you to all our listeners. If you enjoyed what you heard here today, please subscribe and like the Lights Out podcast and quite frankly, all of the Making Chips podcast network. If you know Mike from Making Chips, he does that with Nick and Paul Van Meter, but also his show By the Numbers. It’s a great listen. We highly recommend it. Especially if you want to actually learn something. Yeah. David, I’m basically just spitting and sputtering through your normally well done outro. Do you have anything you’d like to add before we let everyone go? Save us. I guess I just say thanks everyone for listening to this crudely conceived episode of the Lights Out podcast. Make sure you share, like, and subscribe. Otherwise, we’re turning the lights out on this episode and we’ll catch you on the next one. Thanks, everybody. Woo! Thanks, guys.