Why Horizontal Mills Are the Unsung Heroes of the Shop Floor
Walk into any job shop and the big machines tend to hog the spotlight—CNC lathes with fancy controls, plasma tables throwing sparks like a Fourth of July show, vertical mills that look like they’re ready for a photo shoot. But tucked off to the side, usually looking suspiciously calm for how powerful they are, sit […]
One Year Ago
One year ago, I signed the papers and officially became the owner of General Machine. And for the first time in my career, I wasn’t alone. I had a team behind me – my investors, some of whom became my Board. Nevertheless, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. But I also didn’t yet understand just […]
Welding Is Only the Beginning
Welding is often where a project looks like it comes together, but in reality, it’s just one chapter in a much bigger story. At General Machine, welding and fabrication are core capabilities, but they’re intentionally integrated with precision machining, assembly, and in-house paint. That combination matters. It means our customers aren’t just getting welds that hold; they’re […]
Lathes
Why round parts, tight tolerances, and critical fits all start on a lathe. If mills are about shaping metal from the outside in, lathes are about perfect balance. Instead of the tool doing all the moving, the part itself spins, sometimes slowly and deliberately, sometimes at thousands of RPMs, while material is removed with remarkable […]
Vertical Mills
Why they’re the everyday heroes of the shop floor—and the go-to choice for hundreds of industrial parts. If horizontal mills are the bruisers built for heavy lifting, vertical mills are the agile all-star athletes of machining. They can pivot fast, switch between totally different parts without blinking, and handle everything from delicate contours to deep […]
“You Shaftin’ Me?”
You did everything right. You installed the new shaft. You aligned it. You even gave it a pep talk. But now it’s vibrating like a caffeinated jackhammer, your bearings are screaming for mercy, and your production manager just used the words “catastrophic failure” in a meeting. It’s not you. It’s the shaft. Shaft Failures: Not […]
“You Can’t Handle the Shaft!”
Cue dramatic voiceover In a world where machines grind to a halt… One job shop dares to answer the call… With lathes so long they barely fit on screen… This summer… it’s time… for Shaft Redemption. Shaft Problems: The Hidden Villain of Industrial Downtime Let’s be honest… Nobody wants to think about shafts until they break. […]
How to Outsource Fabrication Without Losing Control
Outsourcing fabrication can feel risky. You’re handing off more than a drawing — you’re trusting someone else to deliver on your quality, schedule, and reputation. If they miss? You’re the one who hears about it. At General Machine, we hear this concern often. And we get it. We’re not just fabricating parts — we’re stepping […]
Build It Once, Stock It Smart:
Spare parts are critical to customer satisfaction but managing them can be costly and inefficient — especially when those parts are low volume, irregularly ordered, or difficult to manufacture in-house. At General Machine, we help OEMs simplify this challenge by providing small-batch, on-demand production and stocking support for spare and replacement parts. This approach helps […]
Stock Smarter, Serve Faster:
In the world of equipment manufacturing, speed and service can make or break a deal. Or an ongoing customer relationship. When your customer calls needing a critical replacement part, they’re not asking for a lead time — they’re asking for a solution. Right now. At General Machine, we help equipment manufacturers stay ready by producing […]