About

Our Story: A Machinist's Solution to a Machinist's Problem

My name is Jay McFarlane, owner of McChine, LLC. For over two decades, since 1998, I’ve operated as a one-man machine shop, turning concepts into precision parts. McChine isn’t just a company; it’s the culmination of a lifetime of hands-on experience, born from a problem I knew I had to solve.

The Spark: From a Farm Lathe to Aerospace

My love for machining began on our family farm in eastern Colorado. I was in the 8th grade when I first got my hands on our old 1945 Montgomery Wards lathe. I started making small parts I’d dream up, and I was hooked.

That passion led me to a degree in manufacturing technologies. During college, I worked part-time in a small job shop, which solidified my dream of one day owning my own. After graduating, my career took me from draftsman to a CNC programmer at General Dynamics, and later to Boeing and Aerostructures. In the high-stakes world of aerospace, I spent my days programming complex parts, constantly pushing the limits of precision and efficiency. It was during this time, while still working my day job, that I officially started my own shop.

The Challenge: The Limits of Workholding

As a programmer, I worked extensively with large fixture plates for the aerospace industry. But the real challenge came with smaller, more intricate parts. While working on a project for Audio International, I was tasked with making small aluminum bezels and boxes for business jet cabins. These were low-run jobs of 1 to 10 pieces, and many had complex contours that ran right to the edge of the part, making them impossible to hold in soft jaws for the final setup.

I tried every method I knew:

  • The Vise: Using a "picture frame" method in a vise worked, but if you overtightened it, the frame would buckle, throwing the part out of position.

  • Large Grid Plates: Standard 1"x1" grid plates were too big and wasteful. A part that was only 0.75" square would require a 2.5" x 2.5" piece of stock just to match the bolt pattern. The material cost was simply too high.

  • Custom Fixtures: I started designing and machining a new fixture for every single job. This was precise, but incredibly time-consuming and inefficient for low-run projects. Top-down cap screws required leaving extra material around the part profile just so the endmill could pass by without a collision.

  • Vacuum Fixtures: A vacuum fixture seemed ideal—no top clamping! But they require a large surface area to hold securely, and designing custom fixtures with rubber sealing grooves for every small job was a headache I didn't need.

I was stuck. I needed a universal, rigid, and efficient workholding solution designed specifically for the challenges of small, complex parts.

The Innovation: The Back Bolt Fixture System

The "aha" moment came from turning the problem upside down. Instead of clamping from the top or creating a custom fixture for every part, what if I bolted the part from the back?

I started experimenting. I drilled and tapped holes directly into the excess stock around the part during the first setup. This allowed me to flip the part over and bolt it directly to a fixture plate from underneath for the final operations. After extensive design and testing, the core of the McChine Back Bolt Fixture Plate was born:

  • A Precision Grid: A 0.250" x 0.250" grid pattern with #8 screw holes offered the perfect balance of density and strength.

  • Foolproof Locating: To prevent loading errors, I designed specific locating rows with .1875" counterbored holes, easily identified by an engraved line. Instead of fumbling with press-fit pins, a locating post could be machined directly into the stock during the first operation.

  • Secure Hold: I was initially skeptical if just three threads of engagement (.100" deep into the stock) would be enough. It turned out to be more than enough, creating an incredibly rigid setup.

Refined by Experience: From Our Shop to Yours

I’ve been using and perfecting this system in my own shop since 2000. It's not just another tool—it's the foundation of my workflow. I use this plate for over 90% of my jobs, which has completely streamlined my operations. I no longer have to design, machine, or keep track of specialty fixtures or dedicated soft jaws.

Over the years, I’ve made key improvements based on real-world use. The original cap screws would sometimes fall out, so I redesigned them as captive panel screws with a small plastic clip—they never get lost. I added a washer to prevent the screw head from digging into the plate.

For years, I’ve wanted to share this solution with fellow machinists. Now, I’m finally making it happen. The McChine Back Bolt Fixture Plate isn't just a product; it’s a system born from decades of experience, designed to solve a problem I know firsthand. It’s built to save you time, material, and the headaches that come with complex workholding.