Machine Shop

[Charles Nolan]

G'Day All,

When ComDe closed, I kept all the small tools, cutters, and inspection equipment.  If anyone wants to open a small machine shop to build things like robots, I am interested in collaborating and sharing decades of machining experience and resources.

A large garage could be a starting point.

Regards,

Charles Nolan

[Dan]

Where are you located Charles?

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[Charles Nolan]

G'Day Dan,

San Jose near Campbell.

Regards,

Charles Nolan

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hbrobotics/610782408.580480.1781998619864%40mail.yahoo.com.

[Dan]

I have a 22 acre ranch with a 1000 sq ft garage. I am building humanoids. I have lots of tools too but also am willing to share with others that like to build stuff.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hbrobotics/2052346536.372952.1782000582567%40mail.yahoo.com.

[Charles Nolan]

G'Day Dan,

What is your location?

Would it be convenient for me to meet you face to face?

I have mentored a robotics startup with a patient assist robot.  The money is in service contracts, not just selling hardware.

Regards,

Charles Nolan

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hbrobotics/402068667.591900.1782000807462%40mail.yahoo.com.

[Dan]

4827 Marsh Rd.

Milpitas 95035

google maps gives a good view

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hbrobotics/1647585537.377380.1782001370846%40mail.yahoo.com.

[Chris Albertson]

You say “small tools”, do you mean like a benchtop CNC mill or lathe or do you mean end mills and micrometers?

Below is an example of a part I designed and would need if making the wheeled humanoid.  Each robot would need six of these.    The part is bulky because the prototype is made of ABS plastic. If made in metal, it could be a bit thinner in some places.   The larger holes are for press-fit ball bearing units with about 50mm diameter.    The interior space is filled with gear reduction and some aluminium mounting plates.

It could be made on my CNC-converted Harbor Freight mill, but it is only 3-axis and no automatic tool changes, and it might take 6 operations and 10 or 12 hours of time on the machine.     Maybe longer, as I’ve not run a simulation.

This is where an experienced machinist could be very helpful.  I can design parts and do some simple finite element calculations to compute strength and flex, but I end up with an impossible-to-manufacture design.    The part is easy to print but not so easy to mill.

As for setting up shop to make robots.   The CNC equipment to turn these parts out is well into the 5-figure cost, and that is before you pay rent and salary.   A robotics startup would need in the high tens of millions of funding.    A LOT more if the robot were to actually do a useful function, as the software engineering costs would dwarf the manufacturing costs.     Note that even Tesla, with Elon Musk in charge, has not come even close to finishing the software.

Tesla has so far spent over a billion dollars developing Optimus and it still does noting usfull.   Some estimates are that the cost wil be over $3B before they can turn it into a product that could be sold.   After $1B the best it can do is very basic teleoperation and even then many of the operations require the feet to be secured to the floor.  (Teleoperating a humanoid is nearly impossible because the operator can easily do something that would topple the robot, because the operator has no “feel” for balance.)

But toy robots that are run by remote control can use basic open-source software and don’t need AI.  You can save a couple of billion dollars, literally.

Back to the wheeled humanoid.  Plastic flexes too much for precision tasks; many of the parts will need to be CNC.  If the robot walks then almost all need to be metal.

Again, the best way a machinist could help is in designing for manufacturability.   Design the tool paths and create the G-code and run it in simulation.  Then tell the guy doing the 3D CAD work, “that is a nice part but it will take four days and three machines to build it.  Can you remove these features?"

[Charles Nolan]

G'Day All,

I am getting confused as there seems to be Dan and Chris.  Please email me separately with contact information.  A chain of emails does not display well on my Yahoo client.

Regards,

Charles Nolan

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hbrobotics/DAA386C7-55E1-43B3-ABB1-E89A084BB995%40gmail.com.

[Chris Albertson]

On Jun 21, 2026, at 5:54 PM, Charles Nolan <chuc...@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

G'Day All,

I am getting confused as there seems to be Dan and Chris.  Please email me separately with contact information.  A chain of emails does not display well on my Yahoo client.

OK, contact info is is the from line.   But I will be out of town starting in 30 minutes and going on for a week.  

Chris

[Stephen Williams]

Hi Charles Nolan, Dan (?), and Chris Albertson:

I'd be interested in collaborating, sharing capabilities & space.  Dan, what is your email address?

I have some lab space in Sunnyvale where I have 3D printers, laser cutters / welder, plastic forming machine, DTG printer, etc.  Shortly, I will have a continuous fiber 3D printer and 2 4-axis CNC machines.  We've also done some silicone molding.

I plan to use Maker Nexis for some occasional larger machine use.  I am interested in collaborating on some robotics builds.

I am working on some designs for new ideas now toward humanoid hands, arm joints, etc.  My approaches are focused on lean, minimalist, creative solutions that are cheap, lightweight, quiet, toward being as humanoid as possible, and hackable.  I feel like I have some breakthrough solutions right now: Just need time to get them built & tested.  One side of that is a humanoid hand approach.  The other is a new take on running multiple robotic joints with a single motor.

I am or will be able to CNC mill, CNC laser cut, and laser weld metal parts.  Already have 3D printers and a plastic pressure former.  Working on solutions to bend sheet metal parts, probably by building jigs + a press.

One son is a CNC machinist on Swiss CNC machines.  The other is a mechanical engineer, although he's not interested in robotics yet.

Stephen

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/hbrobotics/368218650.470134.1782089663409%40mail.yahoo.com.

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Stephen D. Williams Founder: VolksDroid, Blue Scholar Foundation 650-450-8649 | fax:703-995-0407 | s...@lg.net | https://VolksDroid.org | https://BlueScholar.org | https://sdw.st/in