Within Tolerance Within Tolerance Episode 263 - The Coolest Safeties Around with Zap
Aug 10, 2025
Dylan and Zap dive into the world of innovative machining techniques, discussing everything from $10 aviator safety glasses to advanced tool automation. They share project highlights like a smart coolant-dosing system and the effectiveness of mist collectors. The duo also covers the importance of quality tool investments and the latest trends in workholding systems. Plus, get a peek into their engaging experiences at tech events and the complexities of balancing parenthood with the craft of machining!
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Cheap Aviator Safety Glasses Win
- Chris Zapatini and Dylan both love the $10 aviator-style safety glasses for comfort, low fogging, and side protection.
- Zapatini buys many pairs to stash around because they are light, comfortable, and make you "look like a fucking cool guy."
Big Cycle-Time And Tool-Life Win
- Zapatini describes improving a customer's waveguide process from 15 to 10 hours and increasing tool life by 50% on some parts.
- He slow-rolled changes, worried it took too long, but the customer was thrilled and asked for more work afterwards.
Use Prepaid-Hours To Avoid Scope Creep
- Zapatini recommends prepaid-hours billing chunks to standardize pricing and reduce scope creep for turnkey and programming work.
- Offer clients fixed-hour tiers and require funding upfront rather than milestone partial payments to protect the business.