John Saunders (machinist)

John Saunders (born 1983) is an American mentor and leader in the manufacturing community, entrepreneur, machinist, and YouTube personality. He is the owner and operator of Saunders Machine Works, a manufacturer of machine shop tools and fixture plates, and the founder of ProvenCut, a video speeds and feeds library website. He is also the creator and host of NYC CNC, a popular YouTube channel that documents his machining and entrepreneurial endeavors. He Started the, Business of Machining podcast with John Grimsmo in 2017, currently at 338 episodes.
Saunders started his path to CNC machining in 2007, when he bought a Taig desktop mill and began making parts for fun in his one-bedroom apartment in New York City. He soon realized that there was a demand for custom machined parts, and he decided to turn his hobby into a business. He named his company Saunders Machine Works.
In 2014, Saunders moved to Zanesville, Ohio, where he bought a larger shop space and expanded his business, as mentioned in this 2018 The New York Times article. He also upgraded his equipment, acquiring several Tormach CNC machines, a HAAS VF-2SS vertical machining center, and a HAAS ST-10Y CNC lathe. He continued to produce educational and entertaining videos for his YouTube channel, which grew to over 441,000 subscribers and over 83 million views as of 2023.
Saunders has made a widely recognized contribution in the field of manufacturing. His prolific work creating hundreds of tutorial videos for CAD/CAM and CNC machining, along with his 70 factory and machine shop tour videos, and online and in person training courses has been used by thousands of CAD and manufacturing students, workers, business owners and enthusiasts.
Saunders is known for his passion for CNC machining and manufacturing entrepreneurship. He has collaborated with various companies and organizations, such as mHUB, Autodesk, Tormach
, Fusion 360, Make Magazine, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to promote CNC education and innovation. He has also created online courses and hands-on training programs to teach Fusion 360, CNC machining, and business skills to students, hobbyists, and professionals.
Saunders is married and has two children. He is an Autodesk Expert Elite member and a graduate of Babson College.
==Coverage in the media==
The New York Times:
For Manufacturers, a Complex Mix Can Determine Location
Zanesville Times Recorder:
John Saunders: An agent of change in machining industry
Zanesville man produced parts of NASA Mars rover replica
YouTube star paying it forward with knowledge
The Bargain Hunter:
EODA 2020 Excellence Award: Small Business Awards: Saunders Machine Works (Muskingum County), nominated by Matt Abbott.
==Referenced by other Wikipedia article==
* Michael Dubno
==Other notable mentions==
*Saunders was a judge on Project MFG’s Clash of Trades.
*ANCA selects well known machining expert and influencer, John Saunders, as one of this year’s Tool of the Year judges.
*Featured in the Zanesville-Muskingum County Port Authority’s Success Lives Here campaign
==Interviews==
Saunders is a respected leader in the manufacturing community, and has been interviewed by Flex Machine Tools, The Amp Hour Electronics Podcast, Dan’s Discount Tools, Yates Precision Manufacturing, Making Chips, and Today’s Machining World.
Category:1983 births
Category:American people
Category:Entrepreneurs
Category:Machinists
Category:YouTube personalities