On the O/T Why? I don't understand the logic behind this.. Thread. quote: Tim Hollis, Everybody in this forum envies your position and opportunity – I will admit this freely, that I am indeed jealous. My question back to you is what is a free trade zone and how does it benefit a country(s) or commodity? IMHO – you are just a lucky sob that was not considered in the grand scope of things. (Note: this is not meant to be disrespectful at all). In other words, I believe your opportunity or success is nothing more than a happy accident hidden within or behind questionable government bureaucracy - to put this mildly. I truly enjoy your comments and outlook to be differing than most others. Please convince me to move where you are – the most striking difference is that at 48 years I know I will probably still be earning a living in 20+ years (only if my eyes can hold out that long). P.S. This thread is so long that I cannot tell if I am hijacking. Regards, Jack Tim Hollis quote: Good Morning, Jack. I would be happy to give a brief posting on American Free Trade Zones, and answer your questions. But before I do, I would like to hear from some of the other members, what I put up, is going to really make some people angry. Like me when I 1st found out, while I still had my own shop and was paying the tab for 80 employees back in NY. There are pluses and minuses for everybody, doing this. I don’t want to put myself into the Hall of FLAME! I enjoy this Forum, and it's an absolute necessity for me, 1st the problem solving, the interaction, the community spirit. Even though I run a website here for what is called an Ex-Patriot(Ex-pats), and Moderate a message forum laid out similarly like this one for Members: 4,795, Threads: 25,553, Posts: 161,767. This is where, I get my SANITY!! So do you guys really want to know how the U.S. Government helps BIG companies, legally manufacture those American Made Products, across the pond????????? And no, this is not NAFTA, I’m talking about. Let me know. And if yes, should I start it as a new THREAD? Thanks Tim H. ROBK quote: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So do you guys really want to know how the U.S. Government helps BIG companies, legally manufacture those American Made Products, across the pond????????? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oh Yeah.... Spill it all out Tim. Rob MATT QUARLES quote: Let's here it all buddy I want to know:) Should I post?????? Or just e-mail the guys asking about it. Thanks Tim H.

Good Morning, Jack. I would be happy to give a brief posting on American Free Trade Zones, and answer your questions. But before I do, I would like to hear from some of the other members, what I put up, is going to really make some people angry. Like me when I 1st found out, while I still had my own shop and was paying the tab for 80 employees back in NY. There are pluses and minuses for everybody, doing this. I don’t want to put myself into the Hall of FLAME! I enjoy this Forum, and it's an absolute necessity for me, 1st the problem solving, the interaction, the community spirit. Even though I run a website here for what is called an Ex-Patriot(Ex-pats), and Moderate a message forum laid out similarly like this one for Members: 4,795, Threads: 25,553, Posts: 161,767. This is where, I get my SANITY!! So do you guys really want to know how the U.S. Government helps BIG companies, legally manufacture those American Made Products, across the pond????????? And no, this is not NAFTA, I’m talking about. Let me know. And if yes, should I start it as a new THREAD? Thanks Tim H. [ 11-13-2003, 08:35 AM: Message edited by: TimHollis ]

We have done nothing but screw them, So lighten up a little, if they can get over!!!!! There not like Egypt the past 15 years, asking & getting a $11 BILLION handout or anything! Sheesh Thanks Tim H.

Every time I make a trip home to NY, I get flooded with orders. Name brand smokes Marlboro Newport and all the others, they ship down from the U.S. $8. U.S. dollars a carton. The locale produced version, have no tax on them, $6. U.S. dollars a carton. I think G W Bush, needs more money for his sandbox, 87 Billion & counting! Thanks Tim H. [ 10-30-2003, 03:05 PM: Message edited by: TimHollis ]

Carlos, that was your best post yet. It is about the $$$$$$$$$. I came here, when everybody back home was doing great!!!!! I have watched the recesion happen world wide, not just the U.S. But when I see themm giving, Billions & Billions & Billions of $$$ away, that tells me there id no recession. And I am not talking about the $$$ for Iraq. My Country has the best working Democracy, in the world. It does have its problems. As my Dad moaned when telling me " I remember when they told us about the TEMPORARY FEDERAL INCOME TAX, HA".. It really does not matter to me. I want to finish my goal, $$$$$, and go home with my family. After that, my biggest worry, will be who to invite to my barbacue's. Thanks Tim H.

T@T@LO quote: I dont know if you are talking by personal experience, just cause you live now somewhere other then here (u.s.)PERSONAL EXPERIENCE!!! My Government may not be perfect, but it is the best example of Democracy, I have ever seen!!!!!! People who Screw People, stand a better chance of facing justice there, than any other place I have lived. ( Enron, TYCO, Wall Street!!!!) Where I have been, Money exempts you from every thing. Lack of it, I will not comment on. My 8 years in the Navy, put me in more Foreign Countries than there are States in the U.S. ( Including that now ungrateful litter-box called Roosevelt Roads PR, being closed as we speak!!!!) YEAH BABY!!!! No more U.S. $$$$$ for welfare there!!!!!! Anyway, when I lived in Latvia Russia, it was the worst place I have ever been too!! Nogales, Mexico, In-between!!!! Barry Italy, for some real trouble!!!!!!!!!! Now the DR. I have a driver, a senior Captain in the Police Department, Not only does he collect a regular monthly salary for that, I pay him as well. Not because I need to have my AS* hauled around, but it is cheaper than paying the local policeman, sitting on the side of the road, drinking his glass of Brugal Rum, acting like a TOLL COLLECTER, for every-one who passes him by. FACT OF LIFE, no bs….. Watched an employee of mine, back in NY, 1 block from work, ran a lady down, vehicular homicide the police called it. Quit his job and disappeared. Saw him 2 years later, when he walked in for his old job, new name same game…. Go figure!!!!!! Thanks Tim H.

That’s the 1st time I saw... FLOOD CONTROL WHEN POSTING! Sorry for the repeats when posting, my bad!!!! Also, I do not blame illegal for being in the USA, I understand why they come. But rather blame MY POS!!! GOVERNMENT!!! For not dealing with it!!!!!! Since they can not protect the borders!!! HA,Ha, ha!!! Make the system work for the people who come here, under the wire!!!! Imagine all these people & employers, paying State, Federal, SS, Medicare, workers comp, dis-ability, every week, with not one of them will ever put in a CLAIM!!!! All that $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ being un- accounted for!!!!! Homeland Security (HOMELAND SECRECY!!!) WAR on TERRORISIOM !!!!! (N/KOREA with NUKES!!) WHERE IS OSMA B,L. OR SADDAM H!!!!! And the beat goes on..... and the beat goes on..... Thanks Tim H. [ 10-24-2003, 02:17 PM: Message edited by: TimHollis ]

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If you read my post about the MIB, from INS, over the SS#, good, then what I'm about to say may clear up a few things. IT DON"T F*CKING MATTER!!!!!! An ILLEGALE IMMERGRINT, will not take advantage of any services by the Government, that requires a photo, real name, maybe a fingerprint. Most are coming from a country, that has a corrupt Government. They gain wisdom and experience, before leaving for the U.S., from their friends who left before them, and got deported back home. So they already have their DO & DON'T list. 1st thing they do when they get here. Hook up with some FAKE ID, for about $300. they buy their very authentic looking, albeit phony ( MOST TIMES) INS ID card, SS card, Birth-certificate, State Drivers License. The basic fact is, over 95% of the ILLEGALE ALIENS, will never use their real ID for anything Government related, TO AFRAID of being deported. Since they have been raised with a MIS-TRUST of their government their whole entire lives, what makes you think they are going to come here and trust ours??????????????? GO HOMER SIMPSON!! Maybe, being a past employee, past empolyer and now, living in a 3rd world country gives me a different perspective. Thanks Tim H.

Jack Mitchell quote: Well done Andrew, let's kick it around for another year or two and please put aside the notion about moving down there to work with Tim Hollis.Pluses 1, A Tax Free, U.S. income. 2, Cheap Cervesa, Presidente! 3, 6 hours, door to door, DR to LI,NY. 4, Last years total cost of living, $10,250. U.S. dollars, House, food, utilities, maid, driver, night-life, resort weekends once a month. Sucks 1, Must be outside the U.S. 320 days a year, or no tax free status. 2, I miss my folks. 3, Plenty of Dominican Mami's, and my wife won't let me out to play! I look at it, like doing my time in the Navy, I'm a short-timer now, 27 months to go. Thanks Tim H.

Feds Arrest 300 Workers at 61 Wal-Marts LINK quote: They said the investigation, known as ``Operation Rollback,'' involved allegations the contractor had recruited illegal immigrants, mainly Eastern European nationals, to work on cleaning crews at the stores for the world's largest retailer. The key word, ILLEGAL. Thanks Tim H. [ 10-23-2003, 03:08 PM: Message edited by: TimHollis ]

Congratulations, Andrew!!!!!!!!!! For 1000 posts, you are the proud owner of a Golden Ticket, good for 1 tour at Willy Wonkas Chocolate Factory. quote: How do I sign up to be you replacement after you retire??If your really interested, PM, or E-mail me. Thanks Tim H. [ 10-22-2003, 08:27 PM: Message edited by: TimHollis ]

If you read my post about the MIB, from INS, over the SS#, good, then what I'm about to say may clear up a few things. IT DON"T F*CKING MATTER!!!!!! An ILLEGALE IMMERGRINT, will not take advantage of any services by the Government, that requires a photo, real name, maybe a fingerprint. Most are coming from a country, that has a corrupt Government. They gain wisdom and experience, before leaving for the U.S., from their friends who left before them, and got deported back home. So they already have their DO & DON'T list. 1st thing they do when they get here. Hook up with some FAKE ID, for about $300. they buy their very authentic looking, albeit phony ( MOST TIMES) INS ID card, SS card, Birth-certificate, State Drivers License. Some ILLEGALES, will become legal or Nationalized, A VERY SMALL percentage. Of those. It would surprise you, how many PAY AN AMERICAN TO MARRY THEM. The other 98%, will stay and keep earning under fake ID, most times sending the money home, once they have made enough, to build or buy a house, then usually, they themselves can go home. I used to personally examine & photo-copy, the INS and SS card, of each person I hired, I did not want to get zapped $15,000. for each incident of hiring somebody who did not have the right to work. Back in the days before employers could check ID on-line, the only requirement was that they LOOKED AUTHENTIC, no more, no less. The basic fact is, over 95% of the ILLEGALE ALIENS, will never use their real ID for anything Government related, TO AFRAID of being deported. Have you every seen inside the Medicaid qualification book????????? The 1st 8 pages out of 11, DO NOT APPLY TO ILLEAGLE ALIENS!!!!!! But those are only the pages that ask about... Work history, bank accounts, real estate, property, monthly bills, and retirement benefits. I know, had to do it for my Mom. And so on...... Thanks Tim H. P.S. Edited to add. My folks now live in MY house back in NY. Medicaide eventually got their house. [ 10-22-2003, 02:42 PM: Message edited by: TimHollis ]

quote: TAKE A STAND FOR YOURSELF AND THE REST OF THE MANUFACTURING COMMUNITY IN THE GRAND OL' US OF A!!!!!!!!!!!!Absolutely!!!!! I couldn't agree more! But it's not just China, it's the whole dam World, Mexico-India-The Banana Republics, the Caribbean’s, and so-on & so-on. NO WORKERS COMP, OSHA, EPA, HAZMAT,UN-EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE, LIABILITY INSURANCE, FAMILY MEDICAL LEAVE ACT. And everything else that can put a guy out of buissness. Like Law-suits for age/race/sex discrimination. Who let this happen? MY GOVERNMENT!!!!! 20 years ago, the largest job market in NY was manufacturing, today it's one of the smallest, under 400,000 people employed in this field for the year 2000. I am in the Dominican Republic working for an American Fortune 500 company. In an American Free Trade Zone. The people I pass on my way to work...... Cutler Hammer, AVON, Allen Bradley, G.E. power equipment, Johnson & Johnson, TYCO INDUSTRIES. And many others, in this park established by the AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, yep my tax dollars were hard at work all those years. Most of these companies have 500 to 800 employees, earning about $150. @ Month for a machine operator, operating machines like chip shooters, for manufacture of PC-boards for INTEL, and Wave Solder machines, assembly people earn a little less. And while the economy has collapsed here in the last 2 years, and their version of the Federal Reserve( BANCO CENTRAL) is down to 75 million, in U.S. dollars, guess who came to the rescue with a loan for 1.25 Billion dollars??? WITH NO HOPE OF EVER SEEING IT BACK!!George Bush & the IMF. Again there are soooo busy with those U.S.tax dollars, they can just add it onto the 87 billion they are taking out of future taxes for rebuilding Iraq. As I work here, and my weekly paycheck is direct deposited from HQ in NY, to my NY bank account. I still pay S.S. and Medicare, but $0 on the State & Federal, because I am working outside the U.S. 320 days a year. The only thing that gets me through the day is, Just 2 years, 3months, till I go home, debt free, no mortgage, and enough CASH saved to retire! Will I? No. At 40 with 3 kids still growing, I will still work, but not because I HAVE too. My day-to-day life here, was all set up by my and your, U.S. Tax dollars. I don't like it, but what’s a guy to do?? Thanks for letting me vent Tim H. [ 10-21-2003, 07:27 PM: Message edited by: TimHollis ]

Yeah Baby!!!!! Give it all away!!! I used to care what the Government did with my dinero, not any more! The last time I got involved in something like this, was HUMILIATING! 1999, my Book Keeper/ Human Resource Manager walks into my office and shows me a letter from Social Security. 43 out of 82 employees, had a problem with their SS #. The letter instructed us, that we had to notify the employee, That there is a discrepancy with the Social Security Number provided by them. And also in the letter was a carefully worded warning, that I, ( the company) alone would be liable if any action stemming from this notice resulted in a termination of that employee. After a call and a fax to my attorney, This is what he came back with. You being notified by SS, that there is a problem with the SS# reported by some of your employees. You by law, have to notify them accordingly. I’m sending you a master form to use for each person. Once it’s signed, put it in their folder and forget about it. If INS comes in, just show them the notice signed by them, you’re covered. But if they feel threaten or discriminated against, you are responsible for the liability’s not SS. I understood and had no problem following his recommendation. Then the 2nd half of our conversation. This was a common situation, the computer at SS, automatically kicks these numbers out, and they send the notice out to you to cover their backside because more often than not, the SS# being used by Illegal Aliens, are original SS# belonging to people who now are deceased. I hung up the phone, and called a couple of other people, with their own company. We were all getting these letters, and we were all being told to do the same thing. I sat there and got excited about the fact that SS, was getting all of this money, on people they would never have to pay a benefit claim on again, same for State and Federal wage taxes. So I called and wrote letters with photo-copy’s of the original SS notice, to all Government Offices, one would send these things to. After getting all kinds of nice reply’s, I sent them to tax watchdog groups, the local papers. Then one day, just like the movie, 2 MIB show up, receptionist tells me, she put 2 INS people, in the conference room. I go in, sit down, and listened to them, about how I was interfering with ongoing investigations, that if I continued to bring attention to this problem that they were already handling, I might receive more than I bargained for. It was explained to me, what the Full Resources of the Government, means. I told them I would co-operate a 100%. I never told anybody else in the group of owners who got together once a month for our Molders Guild meetings, but imagine the feeling I had when one person came up to me and told me that same thing happened to her, only difference was they saw me 1st, and TOLD her how I was co-operating. I let it go, and to this day have never heard a word about this issue. Thanks Tim H.

For the last week, I have searched and tried to convert a detialed 3ds file into something I can use. I have tried following all the steps mentioned in the past posts, but I'm just not getting it. The file is a highly detialed 3ds mesh, of 20K's Nautilius. Yeah I know! I down- loaded the Rhino, trial version, and I am able to save as an Iges, STL, any many other formats. What I am having trouble, is creating surfaces, off the import, in SolidWorks 2003. Can some body, help walk me through, what the f*ck, I am not doing right, please. I am in no rush, and would appreciate any suggestions. If need be, I can up-load the file to the FTP site, just tell me which folder. Thanks Tim H.

Chris M. Your right! I promise, before Friday, to get the whole thing up. Also got pics to go with it all. Thanks Tim H.

IMHO, 1st May-Day. We should be so lucky, that our software programs worked like the printers we buy. The last few printers I bought, did indeed, come with everything to Plug & Play, out of the box. Printer cartridge, cables, free photo software, power adapters, DEVICE DRIVERS and yes, even some fancy paper samples. 2nd, fboike. I agree, this whole issue of asking for a post, is something that CNC Software, should be handling on the front-lines, starting with the re-sellers, a article in the News Letter, and perhaps a e-mail notification to the forum members, and the Moderators supervising the Forums. Referring a 1st time, Do you have a post for…. To the FAQ’s is fine, but when it gets ugly, nobody benefits. When I had my own molding shop back home, I learned real quick, never give the customer what he wants. 9 out of 10 times, they were not satisfied with getting what they asked for. quote: I want a mold to make this part, and I don’t want to pay a lot of money. And I need it in 4 to 5 weeks. When they got the samples, that was usually the start, of a round of Engineering changes, and sometimes, Material changes, that would have a different shrink rate than the original material. Scrap the core and cavity, finally get the part they were looking for, then hit them with the bill, for all of the work AFTER, the original sample was approved by there QC, department, as meeting, all critical dimensions on the print. This was always the Final Payment, condition. Well, the reactions I used to get on the up-dated bill, would take you breath away. It would not matter that I met the print, on the 1st samples, nor did the ECN’s coming through by fax, authorizing this change, or that change, for X # of $$. It would always end up with the same line, quote: But you quoted this price to build the mold!!!Then, I got tiered of all the B.S. When I quoted a tool, I had a standard line of questions, that I would ask, Face to Face, in a meeting, my place or theirs, with the Designer, and the Project Engineer, and the Purchasing agent. I never made exceptions. This is the point of all of this, pay attention, if you’re still reading. I would start asking, Why this material? How many pieces do you need initially? Can you give me more draft, and a better radius, on all stand-offs, ribs, walls???? Flame Retardant Poly Pro? No, no, no, why do you need that? UL. Your better off with Flame Retardant, Glass Filled, Poly Carb. $3 @ pound cheaper, 10 times stronger, holds critical dimension more repeatedly. BY EDUCATING MY CUSTOMER, THEY GOT WHAT THEY NEEDED!! And I got paid!!!! After awhile, I would get calls for all new projects, before they were released, quote: We want to pick you brain, on this projectSure, No Problem!!!! I am sure there are Re-sellers out there, that are doing 110%, on making sure each customer, is going to be successful. I am also sure, that there are Re-sellers, who might not get the opportunity, to give it their all, Ex… Dealing with a Purchasing Agent, whose only goal in life is to cut a P.O. at 15% less than the quoted price. Or dealing with a VP of Engineering, who is processing a Department Request, and does not realize, that each different piece of CNC, equipment requires a different post. And so on, & So on…. 3rd, I believe CNC Software, should be Pro-active in educating the customers, about the Weakest Link in the chain. Also, Post questions should be prohibited. The should ALL go through the Re-seller 1st, then off to CNC Software, and if still no answer, is found, the Moderators could post the questions, and collect the responses. If that did not yield a working post, well my friend, 3 strikes you out, we tried. We can have some-one write one for you, you still got the QUOTE for the custom post, if none were available—RIGHT? Post’s, on Post Help, and Modifications, should have to go thru the Moderator’s 1st. To Peter Scott, I realize some re-sellers go way above and beyond what is needed. And that MasterCam is a great product. That there are many thieves out there, using illegal software. I was not aware, that the territories weren’t protected, until your post. So you also have to compete with other Re-sellers, which is fine for the dummies, looking to save a couple of $$, on the P.O., these guy’s WILL NEVER be in the position, to have to call for help, if something doesn’t work out! IMHO Thanks Tim H. [ 09-29-2003, 03:19 PM: Message edited by: TimHollis ]

Good Afternoon, Chris M. I'm going to find that thread and post the out-come tomorrow. I did it 3 different ways, the results were surprising. Thanks Tim H.

Millman^crazy and chris m. I Thank You, for the replies!!! Managment sent me over a dozen, digital, photos, and the name plate does say, 1990. I think what caught me off guard, was when they kept telling me, quote: But it also has, a Punch Tape, option!!!! When I asked them back in NY, do you guys know what that is????? All I got was silence, then some one says quote: Thats, the option for punching tape, right??? These are the guys sitting NY, who are going to help me out down here, where- we lose the electric 3 times a day, 4 times a week, and wait for the automatic back- generators to kick in, so we can re-boot, re-home and NC-find, and go, until the next time. I have some Fuji chip-shooters, that go through servo amps, like cervesa. But at least the Fuji's and the VMC's are newer, and have some built-in diagnostics, when they go on the fritz. I Thank You again, for the quick reply's. Tim H.

Good Afternoon. Ref: Turret Punch Press. Some of you might remember, I am down in the Dominican Republic. Management has decided, that since I design, build, and maintain, dies for the molding dept, and the metal dept, in this 3rd world country, that I would have no problem, receiving a 1990, Amada CNC, Turret Punch Press, and a 5 axis, Amada Brake. And adding the programming, set-up, maintenance, of such, to my light work-load, quote: You should have no problem with this, it's a CNC!!!! I have been doing Hard Tooling, for the 18, standard Punch Presses we currently have, usually, I am building in the 60-ton range. OK, so I am CLUE-LESS, I have been doing a lot of searches, and reading everything I can lay my eyes on, but there is not much available. Anybody, know some friends in that end of it. I am looking for 1, User Groups, Message Boards, Forums. 2, The Amada Punch Press, uses a Fanuc OA4-PC controller, the press is a 1990, but they tell me it has a PUNCH TAPE FEED, option. Any comments on the Fanuc Controller? 3, The Brake has a Proprietary Controller. Any and all recommendations are appreciated. Thanks Tim H.

If you went from V6 to V8.1, that would be a big jump in up-grade's & price. I think you should ask your dealer about the up-grade to 9.1, You might find out it's not nearly the $$, as you last up-grade. Thanks The Ex-pat.

Hola, Andrew M. Thank You for the reply!!!! This Saturday when I go to the Parquesito for an afternoon of Presidente and Bachata, with my wife, I will defiantly spill 1 on the ground for you!!!!!! Change that to 2 Presidente Thanks The Ex-pat