North Coast Imagineering and Manufacture

01/03/2025

New stuff!

09/11/2024

I was working away this morning doing some paperwork, then I saw the date on my screen.

9/11

For those who were lost, you are still remembered.

08/21/2024

It’s nice to have a success story go further than having a satisfied customer with a development project. While it is critical for the outfit paying for the development of creative solutions to their problems to be pleased with the results, the feeling of satisfaction to see the engineering and prototyping work be put into actual use can be profound when the customer incorporates the solution into their process. Taking the success a step further is when the customer starts to pursue a patent on the design.

For companies that have their own engineering and legal departments, that can be just another week in the office. For a small business owner to develop an idea and get prototypes produced, where every penny counts because there is no R & D budget, bringing an idea into reality is a huge investment. Cost-effective results must be produced with minimal iterations.

North Coast Imagineering and Manufacture is celebrating in our own way for one of our customers, Auto-Pro Glass and Tire, now pursuing patent protection on a power tool assembly that allows them to apply a sealant product in a more efficient way, reducing waste and time while improving consistency. We’re thrilled to see their concept come to life and watch them run with it!

01/31/2024

Hello 🔵 It’s official. Signed at 07:18 pm. . Don't forget that tomorrow starts the new Facebook rule (aka... new name, META) where they can use your photos. Don't forget the deadline is today!!! I do not authorize Facebook/ META or any entity associated with Facebook/ META to use my photos, information, messages or posts, past or future.
With this statement, I notify Facebook/ META that it is strictly prohibited to disclose, copy, distribute or take any other action against me based on this profile and/or its contents. Violation of privacy may be punishable by law.

Here's how to do it:
Hold your finger anywhere in this message and “copy” will appear. Click “copy”. Then go to your page, create a new post and place your finger anywhere in the empty field. “Paste” will appear and click Paste.
This will bypass the system….
He who does nothing consents.
Reposted

08/29/2023

Got a fun project going on for the Houghton County Historical Society - we're helping to bring a steam locomotive train back into service! A valve housing / manifold that has been repaired multiple times needs to be replaced, so we are making the parts to weld up a new one.
So far, the biggest hiccup was having to reverse engineer the threads of the valve piston assembly itself, 10 threads per inch at about a 2-1/2" major diameter - couldn't find any information anywhere on 10 TPI threads for steam fittings, only UN threads. Measured the pitch diameter by 3-wire to verify that the thread geometry is 60 degrees, and worked back from there to make the female threaded weld b**g.
A cool project to work on for a good purpose, our apprentice remembers riding the train when he was a young boy and is excited to be a part of brining it back to life for the next generation. From parts in space to choo-choo trains, always something new going on!

05/29/2023

Let us not forget their sacrifice...

Thank you to all who have served and paid the ultimate price to preserve our freedoms.

05/12/2023

First new machine - this puppy is heavy! Love that new machine smell!

04/14/2023

Machining some custom brake rotors for Michigan Tech University, some new special alloys for dyno testing, machined from raw castings. On the last operation, pinch turning, style with a VMC!

11/10/2022

Happy birthday Marine Corps!

05/25/2022

One of our best customers has been throwing us quite a few odd-ball jobs, all of which are smoking hot for them as they tie up loose ends on a major project. A few weeks ago, I get pinged to see if I could drill some small holes in an uncommon material that I can't describe for the NDA in place. I replied back along the lines of "sure, but it will cost you a bottle of bourbon" as a tease. When the engineer showed up with the parts to be worked on, he came prepared! It's one thing when you come through for a customer that's in a bind and you see the look of relief in their expression when the parts are delivered followed by honest appreciation for your efforts, but this just blew me away! It isn't bourbon, it's a lot better! To the company in question, we truly thank you for your continued patronage!