# S7E33 Sam Thomason | The Black Magic of Nano-Machining

- Show: [Being an Engineer](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer)
- Published: 2026-08-07
- Length: 1h 00m
- Episode: 33
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-07-s7e33-sam-thomason-the-black-magic-of-nano-machining

## Summary

Sam Thomason, National Sales Manager for Shibaura Machine's Nano Processing Division, explains the capabilities of the UVM Series ultra-precision machining platforms, which use aerostatic spindles and linear motors to achieve picometer-level precision. He details how these machines enable diamond turning and hard milling, allowing manufacturers to machine hard materials like carbide without the defects of EDM or the labor of manual polishing. The conversation covers applications in optics, semiconductor showerheads, and automotive headlamp molds, highlighting how automation reduces dangerous, tedious work while maintaining tight tolerances.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-07-s7e33-sam-thomason-the-black-magic-of-nano-machining#t=0) Introduction: Sam Thomason and Shibaura Machine
- [1:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-07-s7e33-sam-thomason-the-black-magic-of-nano-machining#t=96) Sam's Background: Japan, Australia, and Takamatsu Machinery
- [11:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-07-s7e33-sam-thomason-the-black-magic-of-nano-machining#t=670) Assembly Line Training and Precision Culture at Takamatsu
- [18:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-07-s7e33-sam-thomason-the-black-magic-of-nano-machining#t=1088) Diamond Turning and Picometer-Level Precision
- [26:25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-07-s7e33-sam-thomason-the-black-magic-of-nano-machining#t=1585) Aerostatic Spindles and Linear Motors in UVM Machines
- [31:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-07-s7e33-sam-thomason-the-black-magic-of-nano-machining#t=1863) Applications: Headlamp Molds and Reducing Manual Polishing
- [45:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-07-s7e33-sam-thomason-the-black-magic-of-nano-machining#t=2708) Hard Milling Carbide and Avoiding EDM Defects
- [54:40](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-07-s7e33-sam-thomason-the-black-magic-of-nano-machining#t=3280) Machine Cost, Formi Tool Gaging, and ROI

## Topics

- [Mechanical engineering](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/mechanical-engineering)
- [Design for manufacturing & NPI](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/design-for-manufacturing)
- [Materials & manufacturing processes](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/materials-and-processes)
- [Manufacturing partners & offshoring](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/manufacturing-partners)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Shibaura Machine (company)
- UVM Series (product)
- Takamatsu Machinery (company)
- SE4 (company)
- Workr Labs (company)
- Yuasa International (company)
- Konica Minolta (company)
- Pipeline Design and Engineering (company)
- Pipeline (product)
- Formi (tool)
- ASML (company)
- Nvidia (company)
- Toshiba (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Ep 272: Desktop EDM, Silence of the Leaves, and the Tyranny of the Rocket Equation](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2024-05-24-ep-272-desktop-edm-silence-of-the-leaves-and-the-tyranny-of-the-rocket-equation) (Hackaday Podcast)
- [100. Weaving Nanomaterials With 3D Printed Machine](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2022-12-13-100-weaving-nanomaterials-with-3d-printed-machine) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Adaptive Over Aggressive: Redefining Lights-Out Manufacturing with Camoren Schley, Ep #25](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2025-09-26-adaptive-over-aggressive-redefining-lights-out-manufacturing-with-camoren-schley) (Lights Out)
- [Zero Setup Time: Inside Norbert Kempf CNC-Technik GmbH's 23-Machine Automated Shop | Ep. 49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2026-09-11-zero-setup-time-inside-norbert-kempf-cnc-technik-gmbhs-23-machine-automated-shop) (Lights Out)
- [A Samurai's Journey to Automation, Ep #5](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/lights-out/2024-11-20-a-samurais-journey-to-automation-ep-5) (Lights Out)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/being-an-engineer/2026-08-07-s7e33-sam-thomason-the-black-magic-of-nano-machining. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Being an Engineer.