CPC is moving! (4 Viewers)

[Yahooligan]

I'm part-owner of a 125 year old manufacturing company also making niche, but best in the world. Also run my own company.

Rule of business, everything will take 2x as long as cost 2x as much as you anticipate. Especially when you're dealing with specialty machinery...one specialty part can shut down the line - only way to get it is custom fab or OEM. Not certain, but I'm guessing there is a high likelihood the original manufacturer of this equipment isn't around anymore, or at best if they are, don't support the uber-niche equipment used to make clay chips.

It's hard.

I don't have an order in right now, but i do intend to be one of the first "new orders" once the they're open again.

 

[TX_Golf_N_Poker]

I'm part-owner of a 125 year old manufacturing company also making niche, but best in the world. Also run my own company.

Rule of business, everything will take 2x as long as cost 2x as much as you anticipate. Especially when you're dealing with specialty machinery...one specialty part can shut down the line - only way to get it is custom fab or OEM. Not certain, but I'm guessing there is a high likelihood the original manufacturer of this equipment isn't around anymore, or at best if they are, don't support the uber-niche equipment used to make clay chips.

It's hard.

I don't have an order in right now, but i do intend to be one of the first "new orders" once the they're open again.

So in other words, would you say your advice is to "sit back, have a Shiner, and relax?"

 

[doublebooyah85]

Wait a second did this thread get nuked? I’ll see myself out lol

 

[BarrieJ3]

Wait a second did this thread get nuked? I’ll see myself out lol

I thought the exact same thing, but wasn’t going to say anything. Was just waiting for the fallout…

This is “CPC is moving!”, we’re thinking of “CPC move updates”.

Too bad for the popcorn eaters though, cause oof that would’ve been hilarious to watch.

 

[LeGold]

TBH, there is only one post I miss from the nuke.

 

[dizzyChipper]

TBH, there is only one post I miss from the nuke.

If you google the song title it comes up direct link.

 

[JMC9389]

Did the update thread really get nuked? Not a good look.

 

[LeGold]

If you google the song title it comes up direct link.

Ah, my bad, found it!

 

[CantSpellPoker]

Just got an email update, as I'm sure many others did.

The important part:
Now that we have the plans approved and we have the permit from the city and the contractors lined up it will be about 4 weeks until we're operational and can resume work on your orders.

 

[BarrieJ3]

50% of PCF has you muted or blocked lol

 

[Fran]

And with the email

 

[ekricket]

And with the email
View attachment 1653341View attachment 1653342View attachment 1653343View attachment 1653344View attachment 1653345

@Felt_Lizard md-50 mounted

 

[Darson]

Mine!

 

[justsomedude]

Well, that explains why some molds aren't easily replaceable... there are literally no cups for DSQ, the mold halves are engraved into the entire f-cking press platen.

Holy shit that's gotta be scary (as the owner/operator).

 

[doublebooyah85]

@Hunt247

 

[Fran]

The full email sent by Mike :

Everyone, I'm very pleased - and relieved - to announce that we finally received approval from the landlord on our plans for the boiler and chiller installation. This is the final step on getting the new factory up and running. We've been negotiating and waiting months for this approval. This is the reason why I haven't sent out an update since early January. All of our updates would have been the same until we got this approval. All the other equipment (presses, mill, punches, planker, printers, etc) has been installed and operational since December but we haven't had steam and chilling lines to the presses and mills.

Now that we have the plans approved and we have the permit from the city and the contractors lined up it will be about 4 weeks until we're operational and can resume work on your orders. We've been doing as much as we can on your orders in the meantime to be ready.

I apologize again for the delay. We've been doing everything we possibly can but until we got that approval last night it's been out of our control. Once the steam/chiller lines are operational then it's all on us for getting the orders out. I greatly appreciate your patience during this transition. Please note that I haven't taken any new orders yet as manufacturing your current orders has always been the first priority.

Next update will be when the plumbers are done and we're operational and working on your orders.

thanks,
Mike

 

[LionPaladin88]

Well, that explains why some molds aren't easily replaceable... there are literally no cups for DSQ, the mold halves are engraved into the entire f-cking press platen.

Holy shit that's gotta be scary (as the owner/operator).

View attachment 1653368

now a days you can make that whole mold with CNC all of that looks like its welded on there

 

[maxim_666666]

now a days you can make that whole mold with CNC all of that looks like its welded on there

For presses that powerful and abrasive clay like CPC’s, these molds require hardening (if you plan to manufacture chips at scale, for example millions of units), and that’s more complex than simply machining the die from raw metal.


Although modern technology obviously makes a lot possible, the die alone will cost around $30,000–40,000, if not more. And you need two of them. Add to that the cost of setup and equipment downtime, and this experiment can easily run you about $100,000.


Who is going to cover those costs? When will it pay for itself? And what if there’s an error and it doesn’t work out?

 

[justsomedude]

Although modern technology obviously makes a lot possible, the die alone will cost around $30,000–40,000, if not more. And you need two of them. Add to that the cost of setup and equipment downtime, and this experiment can easily run you about $100,000.

 

[Josh Kifer]

View attachment 1666673

YOU CANT AFFORD THE COTTON REQUIRED FOR ALL THESE CHIPS.

 

[WedgeRock]

 

[Josh Kifer]

 

[ekricket]

(if you plan to manufacture chips at scale, for example millions of units),

Nowadays if you can make a 25% return on it you can just throw it away and do another. Maybe the material doesn’t have to ”last a lifetime” with modern manufacturing turnarounds and methods. If a mold is only going to press 100,000 (one hundred 1000 chip sets) units why build it to last a million?

Casino sized operations may need that many chips of a particular mold for years. CPC has molds on shelves that haven’t been used for thirty years. But they were built “to last a lifetime” even if nobody wants them anymore.

 

[Mudfever]

Casino sized operations may need that many chips of a particular mold for years. CPC has molds on shelves that haven’t been used for thirty years. But they were built “to last a lifetime” even if nobody wants them anymore.

Ugh, the behind the curtain view….

Non-disclosures suck.

Mud

 

[buzzmonkey]

YOU CANT AFFORD THE COTTON REQUIRED FOR ALL THESE CHIPS.

 

[chipinla]

CPC has molds on shelves that haven’t been used for thirty years.

What molds?

 

[Josh Kifer]

 

[Gus]

What molds?

Any mold Burt made but CPC doesn’t offer

Would be great if Mike revealed what they have on hand

Some molds wore out, I recall the Flowers mold was returned to its owner George & co when they were made aware of its existence (you have WHAT in your safe? Send it back to us now!), others who knows?

Waves, Caro, CPIPs, triangles…

 

[maxim_666666]

Nowadays if you can make a 25% return on it you can just throw it away and do another. Maybe the material doesn’t have to ”last a lifetime” with modern manufacturing turnarounds and methods. If a mold is only going to press 100,000 (one hundred 1000 chip sets) units why build it to last a million?

Casino sized operations may need that many chips of a particular mold for years. CPC has molds on shelves that haven’t been used for thirty years. But they were built “to last a lifetime” even if nobody wants them anymore.

In the real world of manufacturing, it doesn’t work like that—unlike in YouTube videos. People watch them and think, “That’s easy! I’ll just buy a CNC machine and do the same!” — 100% no.

If you need molds for producing simple items like children’s toys or keychains, then sure—you can order them almost anywhere from any company with a decent CNC machine, and even change them every working day if you want. But if you have very specific requirements for your product, you won’t be able to just order them anywhere. The list of companies capable of doing that shrinks to maybe a dozen worldwide—if they’re even willing to pause their production for a one-off order.

To simplify the example: let’s say you’re making carbon fiber car parts in a home workshop—mirrors, bumpers. You can buy carbon fabric and epoxy resin and end up with something that looks like carbon fiber. But you will never be able, using such a DIY approach, to create a full monocoque chassis or even a roof/hood like those in cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, or even BMW. I mean achieving the same properties, the same weight, and passing the same tests. And those companies will never manufacture something for your idea using their equipment. You could invest millions, buy your own equipment, hire specialists—and then yes, maybe… if you don’t go bankrupt first.

In Germany it’s hard enough to find a good plumber… forget about carbon fiber roofs

 

[ekricket]

In the real world of manufacturing, it doesn’t work like that—unlike in YouTube videos. People watch them and think, “That’s easy! I’ll just buy a CNC machine and do the same!” — 100% no.

If you need molds for producing simple items like children’s toys or keychains, then sure—you can order them almost anywhere from any company with a decent CNC machine, and even change them every working day if you want. But if you have very specific requirements for your product, you won’t be able to just order them anywhere. The list of companies capable of doing that shrinks to maybe a dozen worldwide—if they’re even willing to pause their production for a one-off order.

To simplify the example: let’s say you’re making carbon fiber car parts in a home workshop—mirrors, bumpers. You can buy carbon fabric and epoxy resin and end up with something that looks like carbon fiber. But you will never be able, using such a DIY approach, to create a full monocoque chassis or even a roof/hood like those in cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, or even BMW. I mean achieving the same properties, the same weight, and passing the same tests. And those companies will never manufacture something for your idea using their equipment. You could invest millions, buy your own equipment, hire specialists—and then yes, maybe… if you don’t go bankrupt first.

In Germany it’s hard enough to find a good plumber… forget about carbon fiber roofs

Haha I’ve had hard steel machined in Germany. Check valves for slurry pumps (polyethylene in pentane slurry) in that case.

I’ve been involved in hard steel machining for slurry applications and for high pressure/temperature polymer spinning applications.
I’ve actually been to the CPC factory with the intention of buying it. I’ve seen their equipment and their books. I’m a chemical engineer and I’ve seen and learned things I probably shouldn’t have about making poker chips, both technical and business.

In THE REAL world of manufacturing I do know how it works and what might not and what might. You are working off of rumor and supposition.

Nobody except God tells a Chemical Engineer what can and cannot be done. Thats some arrogance for sure, but it’s that kind of arrogance that built the Hoover damn or any other engineering marvel that people of the time said couldn’t be done. We just flew men around the moon again FCS.

We can make poker chips again.