Page 41 - CNC West Web August - September

J.E.M. F/X’s has a CNC milling and turning department with a Haas VF1, VF5 and a ST20 Haas lathe. A larger Haas lathe will be the next machine tool purchase for this department. Elia likes how most machinists can run the Haas machines and that Oxnard is only an hour away if they need service.
explains Phillip. “I had nothing else to go on and could build whatever I wanted. I had to design, build and test in under a week. Having a full CNC machine shop is great when building contraptions like this winch system. Many times, the water jet is the quickest and easiest way to cut out the shaped parts you need. We have three pretty identical Flow machines, and they are constantly running. All three have a 6’x12’ worktable and some days we use every inch building pirate ship parts. Other days it is small items that are part of a galaxy far far away.”
Elia’s dad taught him early on if you are going to be a welder, be the best welder, if you are going to push a broom push it the best, if you are going to be a doctor be the best damn surgeon you can. “I still consider myself to be a dumb welder,” tells Elia. “But I’d be happy to show you around the shops and my house to see what a dumb welder can do when they apply themselves. Be the best at what you do. Hammer the best nail you can. Make it perfect. Our QC department is shame, humility, respect, and honor. We measure quality in one take, perfect, in the can, and no one got hurt, maimed, or killed.” Every year J.E.M. F/X engineer, build, and install upwards of 250 roll cages in stunt vehicles. They are designed to take multiple
Culture is a big part of working at J.E.M. F/X. The day CNC West was on site it was Elia’s birthday with cake and ice cream. They work together, play together and everything is 100% a team effort.
beatings that normal people can’t even comprehend. “Our cages don’t fail because we strive for perfection and treat every one of them like it is our family members in the car,” adds Elia. “Would you build this any differently if someone you love was behind the wheel? The answer is always no. We build everything the best way possible because the reality is these stunt people are family, this entire industry is family, and we treat it as such.”
Even though he is at the top of his game Elia feels every day is a struggle to make it work. Every morning he thinks this is it, this amazing ride is over. There is a humility that drives him to do more and to do it better. “I never feel like I’ve made it,” concludes Elia. “That motivates me every day. Even though we have jobs in house with every studio, Netflix, Amazon, Paramount, Lucas film. Even though we do pyro, smoke, fire effects, rain, snow and so forth for all the live shows I know there is more we can do. Work hard, make it perfect, invent, create, push harder. We nitpick everything, and it shows in our work and makes this place run at the level that it does. Generations of people, crew, stunt folks, grips, lighting techs, and actors have gone home to their families after filming because we are the best at what we do.”
CNC WEST August/September 2021
www.CNC-West.com 39
This fire stick was used one time. Phillip had two days to design and produce essentially a wand that shoots a piece of pyro. All the wiring, battery and pyro had to be inside with buttons to arm and fire it.