Podcasts about imts

Segment 1: Michelle Edmonson, Vice President of Exhibitions for AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and lead for the IMTS – International Manufacturing Technology Show brands, joins Jon to talk about how the show has been going so far this week, what she’s most proud of so far, what you will see if you visit, some […]

Kennametal isn't showing up to IMTS with another wall of cutting tools. They're building a working custom motorcycle shop in the middle of the West Building—and they plan to cut chips, build a bike, and give that bike away before the show ends. Kim Wilson, Global Director of Marketing Communications, and Matt Jacques, Global Brand and Creative Services Manager at Kennametal, join us for a look behind the curtain at what it takes to build an IMTS experience this ambitious. The concept started taking shape during IMTS 2024 and grew through collaborations with custom motorcycle builder Carey Hart, machinist Satya Krause, artist Taylor Schultz, and several Kennametal customers. Inside the Next Level Shop, those customers will machine real components using Kennametal tooling—including parts destined for a customized Indian Sport Chief. Attendees can watch live demonstrations, bring application challenges directly to the Kennametal team, explore its digital machining capabilities, and enter to win the completed motorcycle. But this episode isn't only about building an unforgettable booth. It's about replacing the traditional trade-show pitch with real conversations. Kim and Matt explain how Kennametal is training its team to begin with a manufacturer's challenges—not a product catalog—and help customers uncover opportunities around productivity, tool life, applications, and digital machining. Visit Kennametal in Booth #431800 in the West Building, Level 3, to experience the Next Level Shop, see live machining demonstrations, and enter to win the custom Indian Sport Chief. What's Covered in this Episode (0:00) Nick's fifth baby is due the Tuesday of IMTS, and his attendance is still up for debate (2:26) Kim Wilson and Matt Jacques on their roles (and the IMTS that doubled as Matt's first day) (5:43) Metal Mania in 2024 and why Kennametal had to come back looking different (7:20) How the Next Level Shop theme morphed into a full custom motorcycle build (9:08) Taylor Schultz, Satya Krause, and Carey Hart putting their hands on the booth concept (10:34) From giving away a machine in 2024 to giving away a bike built in the booth (13:15) Win a fully tooled SVM 4100 from MakingChips, DN Solutions, and Kennametal (14:02) A 100 by 60 booth, project sheets, and leaning hard on the EWI relationship (16:49) An in house design team taking over all the creative for the first time (17:47) Why so many IMTS booths run the same branding show after show (19:23) Racks of tooling versus something a shop owner can stand and watch (20:19) The 2024 lesson: cutting chips at a show takes about a year of prep (21:19) Elevate, powered by AMT and Women in Manufacturing, during IMTS 2026 (22:12) Customer demos from Spire Motorsports, Purdue students, and Tim Drinkwater (23:26) Partnership in practice: tooling up the mini tombstones in the Hennig booth (26:04) Two huge giveaways happening on Friday the 18th (28:45) A Monday announcement and a first to market additive technology launch (29:44) Find Kennametal tooling at 14 different booths in the South Hall (30:20) First timer advice: comfortable shoes, hydration, and map the show before you go (33:04) Who trains the booth team and how the floor gets divided up between them (35:35) Ask questions and be human, because nobody wants to be pitched at (37:42) Take your shop to the next level with DN Solutions (38:54) ProShop's booth staffed with 40 customer ambassadors (41:48) Does a booth theme actually stick with a shop owner two years later? (44:32) What they're most excited about, and what's keeping them up at night Resources Mentioned Kennametal MakingChips Machine Giveaway IMTS Elevate at IMTS 2026 DN Solutions ProShop ERP Superfeet Connect with Kim Wilson and Matt Jacques Connect with Kim on LinkedIn Connect with Matt on LinkedIn Kennametal Kennametal at IMTS 2026: Booth 431800, West Hall, Level 3 Connect with MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Where's the party at? While there's a lot to see on the show floor at IMTS 2026, some of the best conversations, connections, and memories happen after the show floor closes each day.In this bonus episode of Manufacturing Happy Hour, Chris is joined by returning guests Jim Mayer and Emily Wilkins for an "IMTS After Hours" conversation about how to make the most of manufacturing's biggest week in Chicago.They share some of their favorite stories from IMTS events of the past - from spontaneous meetups and happy hours, to karaoke, to Chris' infamous 90s Vs. Emo Night in 2024 - while previewing what's on the agenda for IMTS 2026.You'll hear why the after hours experience can be just as valuable as walking the show floor, how to pace yourself during a packed week of events, and where you can find Chris, Jim, Emily, and the rest of the manufacturing community once the trade show shuts down for the day.Whether this is your first IMTS or you're a seasoned veteran, consider this your unofficial guide to making the most of IMTS afterparties all week long.See you in Chicago. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

Alex Fitzgerald got the keys to his first factory on January 6, 2025. Eighteen months later Isembard has 14 factories across the US, the UK, France and Germany, just under 100 people, and a business model nobody in this industry has run at scale. Ten of those factories he doesn't own. They belong to franchisees. The franchise piece is the part I keep turning over. Before he started, Alex went through the McDonald's franchisee process himself, worked in a restaurant, got all the way to an interview with the chief restaurant officer for the UK. He doesn't look at McDonald's and see a burger business. He sees heat treatment and assembly, run to the same SOPs in every location, for a customer who knows exactly what he's getting. That's the bet. Build the systems once, then hand them to people who own their own shops. I gave a talk at the Top Shops Conference back in 2017 arguing something close to this. Even if you never open a second location, run your shop as if there's one a thousand miles away that you'll never visit. If it only works because you're standing in it, it doesn't really work. Most shops fail that test, and Alex named the reason. Too much of the business lives in the owner's head. We get into the practical side too. How he found his first four people, why he spends about half his week hunting for the next one, the hiring process that ends with a candidate standing in front of the entire company, how work gets funneled across 14 sites, and the two setbacks that actually hurt, an AS9100D audit and a machine crash. You may never franchise your shop. But the systems thinking here is 10% worth the hour. What's Covered in this Episode (0:00) Learn more about Alex Fitzgerald and his journey to Isembard (4:24) What Isembard makes in 14 factories (and the franchise model behind the growth) (7:39) The two books that made him care about manufacturing and the manual mill course that sealed it (9:56) The MakingChips machine giveaway with DN Solutions and Kennametal (10:41) Sourcing locations, hiring great people, and finding customers (14:57) Sean in Exeter, from a LinkedIn DM to a live factory in under 90 days (17:09) Justin, the Green Beret who ran a Chick-fil-A, and the first US factory in Dallas Fort Worth (18:52) The two kinds of franchisee, new builds and conversions, and what they screen for (21:55) Take your shop to the next level with DN Solutions + automation (23:07) Building a business development team that goes and gets demand instead of waiting for it (26:39) How the SOPs got written, and making the happy path the only path (28:16) My 2017 Top Shops talk on shop franchising, and why consistency is the product (29:46) The real problem with most shops—everything lives in the owner's head (32:16) How they've been able to hire 100 people in 18 months (35:41) Kennametal's Next Level Shop at IMTS 2026 (37:13) Narrowing down machines to purchase versus work they're winning (38:31) The two setbacks that stuck: The AS9100D audit and the machine crashes (40:58) Map the employee journey like a customer journey—including the way people leave (44:21) How Alex funded this franchising venture with investors (45:54) How work gets funneled across the network and what a franchisee does with overflow (48:00) The franchisee conference Alex launched for training  (50:09) Vibe coded internal tools and hiring software people from outside manufacturing Resources Mentioned Isembard MakingChips Machine Giveaway DN Solutions Kennametal IMTS Freedom's Forge Material World by Ed Conway The E-Myth Manufacturing Technology Centre Connect with Alexander Fitzgerald Isembard Connect on LinkedIn Mention mastery2026 for an exclusive discount

AI and Automation will take center stage at the Smart Manufacturing Experience Showcase during IMTS (Sept. 14-19) in Chicago. Jake Hall and Will Healy join SME's Steve Plumb and Carl Mitroff to talk about the show and the latest manufacturing trends, as well as the Cubs-Tigers rivalry

300 episodes of Chris asking all the questions, this week he is finally in the hot seat - and it's his high school buddies doing all the grilling!Recorded live at Urban Chestnut Brewing, this episode is split into two parts. First, Chris sits down with a Missouri manufacturing panel - Michael Eaton, Joe Mazzola and Maria Berra to talk Apollo 13 battery cells, pepper spray, whiskey barrels, and keeping it in the family in St. Louis.In part 2, we are flipping the script. To celebrate this milestone episode, three of Chris's oldest friends, Pat, Rob and John take over, asking Chris about his 'magic drug' for keeping the show running for 300 episodes, reminiscing on his first experience of things taking a turn for the worst on stage, and a very exciting personal announcement.In this episode, find out:How Missouri became the birthplace of a surprising range of products that most wouldn't realizeHow a kid who dreamed of building rollercoasters ended up building a manufacturing podcast insteadWhy Chris's dad might be the most legendary guy in their entire high school networkWhy Chris wouldn't watch the Blues win the Stanley Cup live, despite being in BostonWhat Chris says helps you stand out when everyone in your industry is chasing the same trendWhere Chris would send you for the best food and drink in St. LouisEnjoying the show? Please leave us a review here. Even one sentence helps. It's feedback from Manufacturing All-Stars like you that keeps us going!Tweetable Quotes:"I don't know if being an engineer is exactly what I wanted to be, but I was certainly going to take that problem-solving skill set and bring it wherever I go." - Chris Luecke, Podcast Host & Community Builder at Manufacturing Happy Hour"The more you can take that ‘all ships rise with the tide' approach, those are the regions I see really being successful in manufacturing." - Chris Luecke, Podcast Host & Community Builder at Manufacturing Happy Hour”What are the things that you can talk about that are timeless, that highlight who you are, that highlight your expertise, that can allow you to stand out from the pack?” - Chris Luecke, Podcast Host & Community Builder at Manufacturing Happy HourLinks & mentions:AssetWatch and MaintainX, our partners for this leg of the All-American Manufacturing Summer Tour.The Missouri Association of Manufacturers, supporting manufacturers and driving turnout for this special St. Louis event.IMTS, hosted by AMT (the Association for Manufacturing Technology) - the country's largest manufacturing trade show.Urban Chestnut Brewing Company is an unconventional-minded yet tradition-oriented brewer of craft beer with authentic heritage and proven quality.Make sure to visit https://manufacturinghappyhour.com for detailed show notes and a full list of resources mentioned in this episode. Stay Innovative, Stay Thirsty.

A lot has changed since the last time we pulled up chairs around the Boring Bar. For our fourth edition, eight manufacturing leaders joined us in the MakingChips studio ahead of the IMTS pre-party to talk about where the industry is headed and, after a couple pours, where they think it should be headed. AI takes over the conversation early. How fast is it really moving into manufacturing? What happens when it can quote jobs, write code, capture tribal knowledge, or help program a part? Where does the human still matter? And are we actually prepared for the power, infrastructure, workforce, and even educational questions that come with all of it? Then we turn the question back on ourselves. If you were starting a machine shop in 2026, knowing everything we know now, would you build it the same way? What would you invest in first? What kind of equipment would you buy? How would you think about automation, people, capacity, specialization, cash flow, and the growing list of incentives available to manufacturers? Along the way, we get into what's driving demand right now, why data centers suddenly matter to machine shops, what manufacturers should be watching at IMTS, and whether the next generation of shops will look anything like the ones we grew up around. As usual at the Boring Bar, there are strong opinions, questionable jokes, bourbon, gin, and a few detours we definitely didn't plan. Pull up a chair. What's Covered in this Episode (0:00) The fourth edition of the Boring Bar, back in the MakingChips studio + introductions (5:43) IMTS 2026 registration is running ahead of 2018, the largest show on record (6:36) The IMTS pre-party, the rally car, and what the night is really for (7:44) What's changed for everyone since the last Boring Bar (9:27) Data centers: Are they the engine behind this year's growth? (12:43) The 37 minute AI prompt that produced a consultant grade report (13:30) Hallucinations, beach reads that did not exist, and why you verify (18:39) Training on AI, where it's going, and why everyone needs to embrace it (25:33) The stage zero most shops skip: Security, then application  (26:48) How quoting has been compressed from days to minutes (28:19) The IMTS Industrial AI Conference and the Industrial AI Arena (29:28) The IMTS Job Shops Workshop and the AI for the job shop session (30:36) ProShop goes AI first, plus native machine monitoring, AI quoting, and Chip (33:21) Programming a part with AI after 30 years away from it (37:00) Capturing tribal knowledge so each job teaches the next (42:21) The machine tool giveaway with DN Solutions + Kennametal (42:38) The big question: how would you start a machine shop today (47:49) Invest in infrastructure first (digital and physical) (55:25) What will be your guiding metrics? Availability, performance, and quality (57:34) Run the shop lights out yourself, then replicate yourself with each hire (1:04:05) Three business skills for a new shop: cash, capacity, and credits (1:06:15) $3,500 per apprentice, plus the tax tools that arrived in July of 2025 (1:09:20) The Lights Out guest with a fab shop, a water plant, and a coal mine (1:15:32) The comp sci grad who chose trade school over a job AI could take (1:22:12) Generation CNC: teenagers buying their first machines (1:23:34) Math as a barrier, and why we should not exclude kids (1:26:48) The importance of Oscar Mike and Manufacturing Pathways (1:28:45) Machine giveaway: DN Solutions, Kennametal, SMW Autblok, and Martin Trunnion Tables Resources Mentioned IMTS 2026 IMTS Industrial AI Conference IMTS Student Summit DN Solutions Kennametal ProShop ERP SMW Autoblok Hennig CLA AMT The $3,500 Apprenticeship Incentive Oscar Mike Foundation Manufacturing Pathways Consortium Connect with Our Guests Connect with Larry on LinkedIn Connect with Bonnie and MC Connect with Jennifer Connect with Mike Connect with MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Andrew recently sold an underutilized CNC lathe, which raises a bigger question: when an investment does not work out as planned, was the money wasted? How do you gauge what value you got out of it, even in learning?Andrew and Jay discuss knowing when to experiment, when to hire expertise instead of learning everything yourself, and why good business owners need to understand what they should and should not personally master.Then the conversation turns to KPIs, benchmarking, revenue per employee, and the danger of comparing your company against businesses operating under completely different constraints. They also dig into the levers a business owner can actually control, why discounts may simply pull future sales into the present, and the relative value of Pierson's traditional IMTS sale.

Zap and I go live one more time before IMTS with Patreon members firing off questions. We map out the meetups (Kern on Wednesday the 3rd, plus a rotation of podcast recordings around the show floor) and swap updates: Zap on Kinematic Sauce, CritLink, and nonstop coast-to-coast travel, me on the new auto CMM, the coolant dosing project, and the podcast bot that's now live in the Discord. Plus a Fraisa vs. the world taper battle in 17-4.Check out Zap's IG @zap.consulting-----------------------------------------Help support the podcast www.patreon.com/withintolerancepodcast

After more than 300 conversations across Machine Shop Mastery, MakingChips, and Manufacturing Transformed, I wrote a book. It's called Precision Manufacturing, Precision Business, and I keep saying "we" wrote it because that's the truth. I got the words onto the page, but the hard lessons, ideas, and wisdom came from this community. The premise is simple: you'd never ship a titanium part at 99% accuracy, so why run your business that way? Shops obsess over holding dimensions, but that same precision doesn't always carry into quoting, planning, scheduling, procurement, or contract review. That gap is the opportunity. In this episode, I share my journey in manufacturing, starting in 1997 with six college friends, a second mortgage, one Haas VF4, and very little idea what we were doing. The discipline I write about didn't come from a textbook. It came from getting things wrong and having people willing to tell us why. I'll also give you a sneak peek inside the book, covering everything from niching down and estimating to culture, compliance, and quote-to-cash. It's about building a business that runs with the same discipline as the machines and has real value whether you ever sell it or not. Precision Manufacturing, Precision Business launches September 1, just before IMTS, at disciplinetoprofit.com. More than 50 people from the shows are quoted in it, and if you want a signed copy, come find me at the ProShop booth or the MakingChips booth in the South Hall. What's Covered in this Episode (0:00) I announce the book, and why the credit belongs to the metalworking nation (1:02) Why a book after more than 300 conversations across three podcasts (3:21) The premise behind "Precision Manufacturing, Precision Business" (4:19) What changes when you apply shop floor discipline to business processes (6:26) My journey in the industry, from Pro CNC to ProShop ERP, and podcasting (13:16) Part one: Why manufacturing is the hardest business in the world (16:37) Part two: The E-Myth, the Goal, and the machinist to owner gap (17:09) Part three: Sales as a system, niching down, and the riches in the niches (19:10) Part four: People, culture, growth ceilings, and compliance (21:03) Part five: Quote to cash, Top Shops, and building a business worth buying (23:11) Mitch Free on leadership and accountability outrunning technology (24:36) Who the book is for, the September 1st launch, and disciplinetoprofit.com Resources Mentioned Discipline to Profit Website  IMTS ProShop ERP The E-Myth by Michael Gerber The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt Top Shops benchmarking program by Modern Machine Shop Connect with Paul Van Metre ProShop ERP Connect on LinkedIn Machine Shop Mastery MakingChips Manufacturing Transformed

IMTS 2026 is just weeks away, and the show floor will be packed with new equipment worth tracking down. In this episode, Laura Davis highlights four machines making their case at McCormick Place this September. Here's where to find each one, and what makes it worth the walk. A 5-axis mill-turn center built for aerospace engine components A compact CNC turning center for small high-volume parts A flexible cylindrical grinder A high-torque 5-axis horizontal machining center for large structural parts. 

Website traffic is falling across the board, and it's tempting to read that as a marketing problem. It usually isn't. AI summaries now answer the generic top of funnel questions people used to click into your site to answer, so the casual browsers never arrive. The visitors who do show up are the ones already deciding whether you're a fit. That changes what a manufacturing website is for. A list of machines, materials, and certifications was fine when buyers were willing to dig. Now they want a specific answer to a specific question, and if your site makes them hunt for it, they'll go back to Google or ChatGPT and get an answer from a source you don't control. We talk with John Greeley of Navu about what shops should actually do about it, and a lot of it isn't what you'd expect. Old content that used to sit harmlessly on your site is now working against you, because LLMs read your whole site at once and stop citing you when they find pages that disagree with each other. Less content with more depth beats the old habit of publishing a page for every possible search term. The other half of this is labor. The questions landing in your info inbox are usually answered somewhere on your site already, and they're pulling SMEs and owners off the work that actually moves the business. John walks through a real buyer journey where the ninth question was a technical spec buried on page 193 of a PDF, and the tenth was how to talk to sales. Nobody on that team spent a minute on it until the lead was qualified. Brooke also joins us in the host seat for the first time and gives the Gen Z read on all of it, which mostly comes down to letting people find what they need before anyone tries to sell them something. What's Covered in this Episode (0:00) Brooke steps into the host seat, and John introduces Navu (6:38) Take your shop to the next level with DN Solutions (7:50) What a single line of JavaScript can tell you about visitor behavior (10:35) About 37% of users who eventually convert used the chat along the way (11:42) Why traffic is down but conversions aren't (13:26) How LLMs read your entire site at once and punish conflicting answers (16:17) Less content, more depth, and a ruthless pruning habit (17:35) Your site's unanswered questions as a canary in the coal mine (20:14) What buyers actually asked Mike when Hill rebuilt its site (22:15) Why the old pop up chatbots earned their bad reputation (24:42) More than 60% of buyers now start their research in a chat interface (26:16) Turning AI buzzwords into outcomes at the IMTS Industrial AI Conference (27:04) Labor savings is how most customers justify the spend internally (28:50) The landing page listings and a conversation about instant gratification (32:12) Quote response time as the number one factor in winning or losing work (35:13) The real user journey and the questions that you see (38:30) Brooke on why her generation would rather research than call (42:27) Salespeople querying the site mid call instead of chasing down an SME (44:31) Kennametal's Next Level Shop at IMTS 2026 (45:34) Get started and build a custom demo at navu.co/makingchips Resources Mentioned DN Solutions IMTS Industrial AI Conference, Wednesday September 16, South Building Check out the Kennametal booth at IMTS 2026, the Next Level Shop, booth 431800 in the West Building, level 3 Connect with John Greeley Email John Greeley: john@navu.co Navu Connect with MakingChips MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

In this episode of Control Intelligence, editor in chief Mike Bacidore spoke with Doug Woods, president of the Association for Manufacturing Technology, which hosts the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) September 14-19 at Chicago's McCormick Place. In this interview, Woods explains the missions of the association and the exhibition, which is the western hemisphere's largest manufacturing trade show, as well as expectations of what the 2026 IMTS has in store and how to navigate the massive event.

Join the Discord by subscribing on patreon - https://patreon.com/tapsandpatience Get Parts Made! - https://subtractmanufacturing.com-----In the 173rd episode of "Tap Some Patience," hosts AJ and Harrison discuss the return of their podcast's music, highlight their recent busy work schedules, and share experiences using a Mazak VTC 300C milling machine, emphasizing its unique features and control challenges. They also reflect on the aftermath of a devastating storm that flooded the area, causing varying degrees of damage to their properties and equipment while expressing gratitude that their situations weren't worse. Lastly, the hosts explore topics related to product pricing strategies, lean manufacturing, and rapid quoting processes, alongside their thoughts on upcoming IMTS events and the state of the desktop CNC market.-----Check out the hosts on Instagram:https://instagram.com/audacity_microhttps://instagram.com/precisioningenuity

The manufacturing industry is changing at an unprecedented rate. With this in mind, the upcoming Smart Manufacturing Experience Showcase at IMTS will address the latest challenges, opportunities and how emerging technologies are shaping the future. In this episode, Jamie Goettler, chief revenue officer at BTX Precision, shares his thoughts and vision for "Unscripted Manufacturing: Real-Time Problem Solving Across the Industrial Ecosystem." Potential topics include scaling production, ROI, resolving the skills gap and managing CMMC compliance.

I sat down with Randy Swan, who started a Swiss machining shop at 60 after a 34 year career working for other people. Five years in, RPM is growing more than 60 percent a year. Ask Randy what's behind that number and he doesn't start with machines or markets. He starts with the 14 people on his floor. He hires for character, capability, and values, and he puts experience close to last. He looks for people who care and are willing to learn, then trains them through a three tier system at their own pace. One of his strongest operators had never seen a Swiss machine before she walked in the door. She runs multiple machines now and checks everyone else's parts. The other half of it is transparency. Randy puts the financials on the floor, posts the sales and profit thresholds where everyone can see them, and pulls the whole team together every Tuesday to look at the same numbers. Last year RPM paid its first profit sharing. When the shop does well, everybody does well, and people behave differently when they can see the target. The results back him up. Seven Swiss machines running seven days a week plus a night shift, ISO in the first six months, AS9100 in under three years. Sales does its part too, because as Randy puts it, nothing happens until somebody sells something. His 70 year old salesman lives by the shop's rule that no doesn't mean no, it just means not right now, and he keeps checking back with buyers until the work shows up. We also get into the flow mapping he's doing with the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance to strip the waste out of processes that made sense when he was doing everything himself, and why he'd rather be the best shop in Oklahoma than the biggest. Grab a pencil for this one. There's a lot of hard won wisdom packed in. What's Covered in this Episode (0:00) "No does not mean no—it just means not right now." (1:26) Learn more about Randy Swan and why he started a Swiss shop at 60 (7:01) Ground Control, automated FAI generation and PO review for scaling manufacturers (7:41) Passing the five year mark, leaning on old relationships, and a 70 year old MSC salesman who outworks everyone (9:46) A snapshot of RPM today and why they do in-house training (11:52) The secret behind 60 percent year over year growth (13:42) Building the playbook and getting ISO certified in the first six months (14:30) Running seven days a week to offset heavy capital investment (15:06) Moving into aerospace and earning AS9100 in under three years (15:51) Bringing in the Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance to map the process flow (17:26) Doing more with less, and protecting ten percent of the week to think, plan, and play pool (20:14) Kennametal's Next Level Shop and the bike giveaway at IMTS 2026 (21:22) Cutting duplicated work and over documentation by treating process like a risk register (23:54) Over-documenting every material receipt when a few fields would do (26:17) Breaking into aerospace on trust and machining the specialty hardware other shops no quote (28:57) Why relentless follow up wins the work (and the touches most salespeople never make) (31:00) Hiring for character, capability, and values, and building talent internally (34:50) DN Solutions, high end multitasking and five axis machining with automation (36:01) Diving into their three tier training system for new hires (39:22) Transparency, shared financials, and benefits from 401k to fully paid health insurance (42:45) Yearly budgets, two five year plans, and choosing to be the best shop, not the biggest (47:00) His biggest lesson, build a team with the right character and check egos at the door Resources Mentioned Ground Control Kennametal IMTS DN Solutions Oklahoma Manufacturing Alliance ProShop ERP Connect with Randy Swan RPM (Revolution Machine) Email Randy directly at randy.swan@rpm-ok.com

Cara Walton shares the latest benchmarking results about efficiency, ROI, automation, workforce trends, IMTS and more from the consulting company's annual survey. Spoiler: material costs and volatility were the top concern.

Welcome to Printing Money Episode 41. Danny is joined for this episode by Daniel Johns. Dan has deep 3DP/AM industry experience with the likes of 3T, BEAMIT, Oerlikon, GKN, Airbus, and Howmet, and currently runs TAAG, an industrialization and investment platform. Episode 41 starts by looking at Dan Johns' impressive career in 3DP/AM, at aerospace providers, service providers and now in an independent role. It's a great backdrop for some holistic discussion on the evolution and state of the 3DP/AM industry, which has come a long way towards standardization. Positive signals abound thanks to expiration of core IP enabling better economics, and a more product focused orientation. Next, Danny and Dan analyze some recent M&A in the 3DP/AM industry, and a keen ear will spot those positive signals clearly at work throughout the discussion. One recurring theme that gets some airtime is that service bureaus are hitting their stride in the USA, but not quite yet in Europe. To wit, Beehive Industries. Next, the discussion turns to 3DP/AM financings. Notably, we covered Meshy AI in the last episode, but there's more to talk about already with an eyebrow-raising $400M raise and $1.5B post-money valuation. Tying up the financing section, the conversation touches on a couple RIPs and liquidations. Last, a call to join Danny, Dan (and also the 3DPrint and AM Research teams) at IMTS in a few weeks in Chicago, and some recommended reading on the 3DP/AM market for drones. Please enjoy Episode 41 and check out our previous episodes too. This episode was recorded August 11, 2026. Timestamps: 00:13 – Welcome to Episode 41, and welcome to Dan Johns, TAAG 01:38 – Dan Johns' career, early years 05:26 – Dan Johns' time at Airbus, GKN and Oerlikon 08:40 – Dan Johns' career, the Sandvik, BEAMIT and 3T years 15:50 – AM has become a more normalized manufacturing process 19:00 – TAAG's advisory, investment, and exchange platform 22:23 – Reindustrializing the West and how to get started 26:55 – Crossing the Chasm: M&A in the captive 3DP/AM market 28:58 – Beehive acquires two Cincinnati-area machine shops 36:32 – New Zealand EBM contract manufacturer Zenith Tecnica acquired in part by internal investors 39:17 – Ricoh sells 3D Healthcare unit to former executives, new company named Myrava 41:15 – Roboze acquires Dimanex' IP 42:15 – 3D Prod acquires Sculpteo 43:45 – Meshy AI raises $400M Series B 49:42 – Kind Designs raises additional $10M 52:43 – IperionX (IPX) $50M offering led by Cantor Fitzgerald 54:13 – ALM Ortho closes small round, size undisclosed 55:04 – BigRep deslisting and liquidating 56:35 – 3DEO insolvency and liquidation 57:04 – Black Buffalo files bankruptcy 57:42 – IMTS 2026 next month, see you there? 58:38 – UAS/Drones market coverage from AM Research 59:01 – Thanks to Dan for joining, and thanks to you for listening! 59:53 – Disclaimer Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only, you should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing stated on this podcast constitutes a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by the hosts, the organizer or any third-party service provider to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments in this or in any other jurisdiction in which such solicitation or offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.  The information on this podcast is of a general nature that does not address the circumstances and risk profile of any individual or entity and should not constitute professional and/or financial advice. Referenced transactions are sourced from publicly available information. Danny Piper is a registered representative of Finalis Securities LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. This material has been prepared for information and educational purposes only, and it is not intended to provide, nor should it be relied on for tax, legal, or investment advice. Investors should consult with their own tax, legal, and financial professionals before investing. Real estate investments are generally highly risky. They can be volatile, unpredictable, illiquid, and are subject to ebbs and flows and market shifts. Investors also risk the loss of all principal investments.

Join the Discord by subscribing on patreon - https://patreon.com/tapsandpatience Get Parts Made! - https://subtractmanufacturing.com-----In the 172nd episode of the "Taps and Patience" podcast, hosts AJ and Harrison are joined by Ben from Black Fox Machining to discuss a variety of topics including Ben's transition from engineering to a sales role, his work with a software company called Arda, and the importance of Kanban systems in inventory management. The conversation also touches on domain name strategies, personal experiences in machining, and the challenges of maintaining efficient production processes in a machine shop. They explore innovative solutions for managing purchases and inventory while sharing anecdotes about their experiences in the industry.-----Find the Arda Booth at IMTS in the East Building - Level 3 - Booth#: 135836Check out the hosts on Instagram:https://instagram.com/audacity_microhttps://instagram.com/precisioningenuity

I sat down with Chris Beck, the founder of Innovative 3D Manufacturing in Franklin, Indiana, and the line that stuck with me was simple. Everything he owns is leveraged into this company. That is what skin in the game actually looks like, and it is the reason his team shows up at 2 a.m. on a Sunday when a job is on the line. Innovative is one of the few shops built around metal additive, laser powder bed fusion, with a full CNC machine shop bolted right alongside it. Chris started in 2017 with two engineers and a plan for ten printers and ten people. Today he is running 25 metal printers, 8 CNC machines, a handful of wire EDMs, and 32 employees out of a brand new 30,000 square foot facility, and last month they shipped more than 20,000 metal parts. What I loved about this story is how unglamorous the middle was. Chris bootstrapped the whole thing with no private equity, and he spent years running equipment himself and chasing what he calls 4,000 rabbit holes trying to find work that would pay for million dollar printers. He watched private equity backed competitors dump 30 to 50 million into the same idea and end up with their machines at auction two years later. The difference, he will tell you, is that his people care because they have something to protect. We get into the parts of additive that actually make money. The three boxes a part has to check, why qualification is the real bottleneck for the whole industry, and how his machining and foundry backgrounds let him design parts that come off the printer 80 percent finished. If you have ever wondered whether metal additive is a real business or a science project, Chris makes the case as clearly as anyone I have talked to. We also get into his team. Why he mostly will not hire book smart engineers, how he keeps his culture free of bad seeds, and the small perks that matter more to his guys than a raise. This one is a masterclass in grit. What's Covered in this Episode (1:19) Introducing Chris Beck and Innovative 3D Manufacturing (3:42) A snapshot of the shop: 25 metal printers, 8 CNC machines, wire EDMs, and 32 employees (6:04) DN Solutions and Kennametal SVM 4100 giveaway and the IMTS scavenger hunt (6:45) From Purdue and the big automakers to a small Okuma machine tool distributor (8:15) The lowest paying offer that taught him the most, and why wearing every hat mattered (10:55) Quoting turnkey lines and cycle times, then moving into sales (11:55) A wire EDM dream, a twelve year detour through financial services, and his own brokerage (14:40) Getting pulled back into manufacturing and starting 3D printing and rapid prototyping (17:34) Flipping from prototyping to production and shipping more than 20,000 parts a month (19:21) The Job Shops Workshop and networking reception at IMTS (20:21) Has industry caught up to additive? (Acceptance versus qualification) (20:58) Where additive already wins: implants, space and rocket, and GE's fuel nozzles (23:14) The defense qualification maze and the firearms market printing a million suppressors (25:25) Running 100+ prototype jobs a month, 400+ NDAs, and the fast make program (30:28) Design freedom and the three boxes a part has to check to be a good additive candidate (32:48) Why qualification is the real bottleneck, AMS 7032, and America Makes (34:55) Kennametal's Next Level Shop and the bike giveaway at IMTS 2026 (35:58) What finally cracked sales: one foot in the door and relentless past performance (38:51) Building a team of farm kid problem solvers over book smart engineers (41:21) Old school hours, tryout Saturdays, and keeping the culture free of bad seeds (50:16) What turned the tide: surviving, staying flexible, and bootstrapping without private equity (53:22) Skin in the game, profit sharing, and the small perks his guys value more than a raise (58:17) The machining edge and vertical integration that let him ship parts 80 percent as printed Resources Mentioned MakingChips Giveaway IMTS Kennametal America Makes Renishaw DN Solutions Connect with Chris Beck Innovative 3D Manufacturing Connect with Chris on LinkedIn Email Chris directly at chris.beck@innovative3dm.com

Most shops treat lean like a poster on the break room wall. Andrew Henry runs it like a competitive weapon. He built Henry Holsters into a company that ships around 55,000 orders a year, most of them the same day they come in, without stacks of work in process piling up on every bench. We caught up with Andrew at the Summit on the Summit, and the conversation kept circling back to one idea: The waste hiding in your shop usually is not the machine, but everything happening around the machine. He walks us through the custom vacuum former he eventually scrapped for parts, the moment "Two Second Lean" flipped a switch in his head, and the shift to one-piece flow that changed how his team works. We also dig into how he is putting AI to work right now, not someday. Re-pricing a newly acquired customer's parts in an afternoon instead of weeks. Scanning thousands of lines of inventory to surface dead stock and ERP errors. Using it as a sparring partner to keep high-stakes customer emails firm but professional. And yes, spending an afternoon fighting with a coding tool just to understand what it can actually do. There is a bigger theme running underneath all of it. Ten years after a lot of us met at our first IMTS, the shops that keep showing up, keep learning, and keep trying things are the ones still standing. The ones who decided they were too busy to leave the shop are a different story. If you have ever told yourself you do not have time for a morning meeting, a trade show, or an afternoon with a new tool, this episode is a friendly shove in the other direction. What's Covered in this Episode (1:26) Meet Andrew Henry of Henry Holsters, a lean guru and Workflow automation fan (2:40) Why Andrew bought a Matsuura MX-420 PC10 and what sold him on Hennig's Workflow (3:46) Ten years since our first IMTS: who grew, who is gone, and why (5:25) The pace of change, when 5-axis, automation, and AI all hit at once (8:06) A gondola conversation on why he cannot afford to skip summits and trade shows (9:53) IMTS Industrial AI Conference: reality-based AI for the factory floor (10:40) "I do not have time…"and why that thinking is backwards (12:47) Using AI to re-price a newly acquired customer's parts in an afternoon (16:31) Turning AI loose on inventory data to find dead stock and ERP errors (18:22) Making people show their work with AI as a required thinking partner (20:25) AI as a diplomat for high-stakes, antagonistic customer emails (24:08) Take your shop to the next level with DN Solutions (25:20) Andrew Henry's accidental path to a CNC shop (27:37) Buying a Matsuura for injection mold work and foundational problems to tackle (29:26) The dream of closed-loop, self-correcting machining (33:03) People should not wait on machines, the chaku-chaku principle (33:55) Twin Table Brother cells, vacuum fixtures, and the case against batching (38:58) Find manufacturing leaders who actually fit with Hire MFG Leaders (39:27) Make-to-stock, make-to-order, and any color as long as it is black (40:20) What FastCap taught us and going all in on one-piece flow (44:23) Ownership and pride when one person makes the whole part (45:47) Triag Swiss Modular and machinists who own their machines (46:48) Why you cannot get everyone bought in (and why it's okay) (48:25) How the morning meeting really works, the cobra effect, and why bad incentives break your culture (52:41) The eight wastes, and why seeing the problem beats memorizing the acronym (54:05) "I can't" versus "how could we," closing the gap without hearing no (55:53) Andrew's Lean Built Podcast and the LinkedIn AI slop problem Resources Mentioned Henry Holsters Lean Built Podcast IMTS Industrial AI Conference DN Solutions Hire MFG Leaders Book: Two Second Lean Triag Swiss Modular Connect with Andrew Henry Henry Holsters Connect on LinkedIn Connect with MakingChips Website On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

If you're heading to IMTS 2026, don't spend three days wandering around looking at machines you could have watched on YouTube.In this episode, Andrew and Jay share their best advice for machine shop owners who want to get real value out of IMTS, from crafting a better elevator pitch and making the right connections to finding hidden capacity gains in the tooling, workholding, and processes surrounding the machines you already own.They talk about why you should guard your time at booths, meet the technical people behind the sales teams, use your phone as an external memory, network with other shop owners, and debrief every night before valuable contacts and ideas disappear.Plus: free dinners, IMTS transportation hacks, CMM shopping, and where you can find Andrew and Jay at the show.

Some businesses have a founding story. HFW Industries has an 80-year one, and it starts in a World War II foundry. I sat down with Jack Watson, the fourth generation to work in his family's business in Buffalo. HFW does turnkey thermal spray and hard facing, the coating work that keeps power plants, turbines, and other critical infrastructure running. But the throughline of our whole conversation was the journey: how a company gets from a spray gun bought out of the back of a salesman's car to a 70,000 square foot shop still serving customers it first won three generations ago. Jack's great-grandfather Harold spotted thermal spray as a brand-new technology during the war, and when his boss wouldn't buy in, he bought the equipment himself and sold the service out of his car. His grandfather took over at 26 with the business four weeks from closing. His dad rebuilt half the company when the print cylinder business went to zero. Every generation faced a crisis that could have ended the whole thing, and every generation found the next opportunity. What carried through all of it is a focus on people. Jack half-jokes that you need a psychology degree to run a shop, and he tells a story about a simple thank you that brought one of his guys to tears. Management by walking around, treating people well, training patiently for years: that's the culture his grandfather built and Jack is protecting as he brings in the next generation. We also get into why they carry almost no debt, how Jack balances his own hunger to grow against everything the generations before him learned the hard way, and where thermal spray and precision machining are headed with gas turbines and AI driving demand. If you care about building a shop that lasts, this one's worth your time. What's Covered in this Episode (0:00) Introducing Jack Watson and HFW Industries in Buffalo (4:50) What HFW looks like today: 60 people and a full thermal spray lineup (6:43) Industrial AI Conference at IMTS: reality-based AI for the factory floor (7:31) Back to the beginning: 4 generations of HFW Industries  (11:44) Selling thermal spray out of the back of a car (with donuts to GE every Monday) (14:32) The industries HFW serves and machining materials above 50 RC (17:00) The coolest work they can never show share (18:26) Navu: AI chat for your manufacturing website (19:41) Solving near-impossible coating and machining problems alongside demanding customers (21:10) Rebuilding the apprenticeship program, meshing generations, and letting young guys make cheap mistakes (26:50) Building the HFW way: a structured curriculum beyond trade school (29:45) Recruiting tactics that work: word of mouth, being a good employer, and social media (33:02) Pay, benefits, 90% tuition assistance, and small surprises (34:55) What great listening actually looks like on the shop floor (35:51) The thank-you that brought a machinist to tears, and why the little things matter (37:05) Connecting customers to the guys who do the work (38:22) Hire MFG Leaders: recruiting built by shop owners (38:54) Using social media as your true self to build a real network and win work (40:58) Grandfather's money philosophy: conservative growth, no debt, and cash on hand (42:55) How his dad rebuilt half the business when print cylinders went to zero (46:34) The succession plan, the demand outlook (48:37) The demand outlook and opportunities for growth Resources Mentioned Industrial AI Conference at IMTS Navu Hire MFG Leaders HFW Industries Connect with Jack Watson HFW Industries Find Jack on LinkedIn HFW Industries on Instagram HFW Industries on X

Planning to attend IMTS? This year, IMTS is celebrating manufacturing with a 6-week giveaway. Through August 14, they're releasing a new limited-edition hat patch every week. The first 100 people to register for IMTS using that week's promo code will receive the matching hat. Register here: IMTS Registration, then check IMTS or Practical Machinist's social channels each week for the latest promo code and that week's hat design.This week felt different.After years of talking about someday owning his own CNC machine, Pat finally spent his first full week making real customer parts on one. It wasn't smooth. There were long nights, missing tooling, scrapped parts, last-minute hardware runs, and more than a few moments of wondering what he got himself into.But somehow, after putting in 92 hours between his day job and the shop, he wouldn't trade it for anything.The guys talk about what that first week was really like, the mistakes nobody tells you about, and why having good people around you makes all the difference when you're getting started.Later, Cam shares the next big step for his business as his shop prepares to move into a much larger building. From planning machine layouts and inspection rooms to figuring out how to relocate an entire operation without bringing production to a halt, it's a real look at what growth actually looks like behind the scenes.They also talk IMTS, what they're looking forward to, and where you'll be able to find the Practical Machinist team during the show. If you're planning to be in Chicago, come by the booth and say hello.

Every shop owner knows the workforce problem by heart. The trades got denigrated, tech ed programs got gutted, and a whole generation of kids never found out that a manufacturing career was even an option. We have all heard that speech a hundred times. What we rarely hear is a practical, repeatable way to actually fix it. In this GenCNC series episode, we sit down with two people who built one. Dave Hataj is the second-generation owner of Edgerton Gear and the founder of Craftsman with Character, a semester-long program that pairs job shadowing with a character and worldview curriculum. Courtney Silver runs Ketchie in North Carolina, where she and her husband Andy took Dave's curriculum and launched their own version, Opportunity Knocks. The through line is simple. Kids are starving for two things, purpose and community, and the shop floor is one of the best places on earth to give them both. Dave shares how a 2014 experiment with ten students grew into a Navy-funded program running across multiple states. Courtney shows why it is far less of a lift than you would think, roughly two hours a week for fourteen weeks with a handful of students. We also get into the payoff owners do not expect. Reverse mentoring from young employees, a culture where machinists suddenly want to be on camera, productivity that climbs year over year, and stories like Miguel, a first-generation immigrant who fell in love with the trade, worked six to ten in the morning before school, and just bought his first home. If you have ever done a plant tour for a school and wondered whether it actually mattered, this one reframes the whole thing. As Dave puts it, we make gears as a vehicle to invest in people. What's Covered in this Episode (2:48) Dave on the origins of Craftsman with Character as a second-generation owner of Edgerton Gear (7:02) The Navy's two million dollar, three-year contract to take the program national (8:30) Inside the Craftsman Code, from I'm not the center of the universe to the world needs me (10:30) Why you need to head to Kennametal's booth at IMTS (11:37) Courtney on discovering Dave's work during COVID and launching Opportunity Knocks (15:25) Why it's not a big lift: twenty team members, six students, two hours a week (17:11) Continuous improvement: field trips, supply chain tours, and a Mastercam capstone part (23:31) Reverse mentoring and the young energy that re-energizes the team (24:40) Twelve years of rising productivity from more engaged, purpose-driven employees (26:17) The DN Solutions install video shot by interns (and a new content culture) (29:26) Breakfast, gratitude, and the lesson on showing up on time (30:30) Turn website visitors into buyers with Navu's AI chat (31:42) Learn more about Miguel, a first-generation immigrant who fell in love with the trade (34:10) Break room culture and crews that stick around after shift (37:01) From feeling less than to finding a joyful place to belong (39:16) The mindset flip: we make gears as a vehicle to invest in people (40:07) Get in the room: the Job Shops Workshop and reception at IMTS (40:58) Miguel buying his first home, and the ripple effect on a community (42:56) How to start, facilitator and mentor training, plus a track for shops without a school partner (45:00) Manufacturers as an army that can heal society by being the hero for one kid (48:52) Practical encouragement to start now Resources Mentioned Craftsman with Character Edgerton Gear Ketchie The Craftsman Code by Dave Hataj Machine Shop Mastery, Episode 106 with Dave Hataj Kennametal Navu IMTS Oscar Mike Foundation Connect with Dave Hataj & Courtney Silver Dave Hataj, Edgerton Gear Craftsman with Character Courtney Silver, Ketchie Connect with MakingChips Website On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What can manufacturers expect from the Smart Manufacturing Experience at IMTS 2026? In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, Steve Plumb is joined by Carl Mitroff, SME's conference manager, to preview one of IMTS's premier educational destinations. Carl shares what attendees can expect from more than 30 presentations designed to help manufacturers turn emerging technologies into practical business results.

IMTS is 1.2 million square feet spread across six days, and the average visitor only spends about 2.7 of them on the floor. That math is exactly why walking in without a plan means seeing a fraction of what you came for. In this episode we sit down with Bonnie Gurney and Michelle Edmondson from AMT, the team that builds IMTS, to talk through how to actually get value out of the biggest manufacturing show in the country. We're about six and a half weeks out and registration is running 29% ahead of 2024, so the energy is real. Bonnie and Michelle break down what's new for the 100th anniversary show: the 10 technology sectors, the Industrial AI arena with 40 first-time exhibitors, a bigger defense presence, and a conference lineup, from Elevate to the job shop and LATAM tracks, that too many people still treat as a hidden gem. We also make the case for why you should go even if you're not buying this year. As Mike puts it, you don't have time not to go. You go to see the solutions you'll need in two or three years, the way he spotted a machine tending robot in 2018 and finally bought it in 2022. And this year, a plan-my-route feature built into the floor plan app is a genuinely practical use of AI. There's plenty happening on the floor too, from the main stage schedule and the 100-year history of the show to the machine tool we're giving away with DN Solutions and Kennametal. Mostly, though, this is a conversation about showing up prepared and getting the most out of your days in Chicago. If you're heading to IMTS 2026, this is the planning conversation to hear first. Come find us in the Hennig booth, and let's make some chips. What's Covered in this Episode (0:00) Why every visitor needs a game plan before the doors open (1:21) Six and a half weeks out, with registration up 29% over 2024 (3:25) The scale of IMTS: 1.2 million square feet and 500-plus semis a day (7:56) The August 5th pre-IMTS party for Oscar Mike and the Manufacturing Pathways Consortium (10:04) Elevate: powered by AMT and Women in Manufacturing (10:56) What's new: the 10 technology sectors that map the show floor (13:00) Why the conference and education lineup is the show's hidden gem (17:58) Learn more about Elevate, the Women in manufacturing conference (20:45) Kennametal's Next Level Shop and a bike giveaway on the show floor (21:47) 100 years of IMTS, from a 62,000 square foot science fair in 1927 (27:06) The main stage schedule: capital decisions, AI, and the coolest stuff we saw (28:31) How the machine giveaway works: register, collect chips, earn entries, win Friday (31:09) Find your next leader with Hire MFG Leaders (31:38) Why "you don't have time not to go" is the real case for IMTS (35:47) A practical AI use case: let the floor plan app build your route (37:48) Poll your team: What should you look for at IMTS? (39:17) The biggest changes coming to IMTS 2026 Resources Mentioned IMTS 2026 Register for the IMTS machine giveaway: https://www.makingchips.com Hire MFG Leaders Elevate, powered by AMT and Women in Manufacturing DN Solutions Oscar Mike Foundation Manufacturing Pathways Consortium Connect with Bonnie Gurney & Michelle Edmondson IMTS AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology IMTS on LinkedIn Connect with MakingChips Website On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Join the Discord by subscribing on patreon - https://patreon.com/tapsandpatience Get Parts Made! - https://subtractmanufacturing.com-----I'm Basically Chris Pratt nowIn the latest episode of "Taps with Patience," hosts AJ and Harrison discuss preparations for the upcoming IMTS meetup, where they'll connect with listeners and engage with other podcasters in the machining community. They explore the advantages and disadvantages of starting automation in their respective shops, emphasizing the importance of risk tolerance and individual business needs. Additionally, they dive into specific questions from listeners about machinery choices for home shops and the nuances of operating higher horsepower machines in residential settings. And also training velociraptors.-----Check out the hosts on Instagram:https://instagram.com/audacity_microhttps://instagram.com/precisioningenuity

Most shop owners have stood in front of a shiny new machine and felt the pull. Buy it, and the work will come. Tim Drinkwater of Accurate Machine Products has lived both sides of that bet, the one that nearly buried him and the one that showed up as a free machining center. This conversation sits right where two of our current series meet: Gen CNC, where we talk to founders who started young, and our workforce development series. Tim started his shop in a garage in 2007, and he's blunt about how a young founder should spend those first dollars. Cash is worth more than tools you don't need. Customers come before capability. And sometimes buying an existing shop beats building one from scratch. We also get into the mistake that can quietly kill a shop. Tim bought a brand new lathe for a firearms customer who never signed a contract and then walked away. Mike shares the flip side he keeps running into, walking through shops with gorgeous, idle equipment bought on a customer's promise that never turned into a purchase order. One of those build-outs is the reason a whole company ended up for sale. Then there's the fun part. Tim won a DN Solutions SVM 4100 in the DN and Kennametal giveaway, put it to work on challenging tool steel parts, and liked it enough to go buy a second one. There's another machine giveaway coming at IMTS this year, and you can get in on it at makingchips.com/giveaway. The back half is all about people. When applicants dried up, Tim went straight to the high schools, joined the Craftsman with Character program, and stopped using the word machinist because most students have no idea what it means. It's the same thing we keep coming back to on this show. The parts matter, but the people are what carry a shop into the next generation. What's Covered in this Episode (0:00) A machine giveaway teaser, and why Tim's story matters (1:31) Starting Accurate Machine Products in a garage in 2007 (3:22) What the shop makes, from jet ski parts to finish packaging (4:43) Advice for young founders: cash beats tools you don't need (8:00) eBay machines and the leap to the first brand new machine (9:16) A new lathe, a firearms customer, and no contract to back it up (11:31) Beautiful equipment gathering dust: the shop that went up for sale (13:51) Take your shop high-end with DN Solutions (15:02) Winning a DN Solutions SVM 4100 in the DN and Kennametal giveaway (16:45) Turning the win into S7 tool steel work and a 4+1 upgrade (17:57) Buying a second SVM 4100 and standardizing on one control (20:21) Dial in your workholding with SMW Autoblok (21:10) DN service put to the test: the contactor gremlin (23:18) From zero applicants to working with the youngest generation (24:56) Youth apprenticeships and rebranding machinist to precision metal cutting (28:38) Rhett's story: four years, his own key, and a CMMC future (30:38) The industry needs accountants and coders, not just machinists (33:53) Invest in your leadership at Elevate during IMTS 2026 (34:45) Getting your crew and local students to IMTS (40:39) MakingChips at IMTS 2026: find us in the AME/Hennig booth Resources Mentioned DN Solutions Kennametal SMW Autoblok Dave Hataj with Craftsman with Character Elevate powered by AMT (IMTS 2026) IMTS MakingChips Machine Giveaway Connect with Tim Drinkwater Accurate Machine Products Tim Drinkwater on LinkedIn Tim@ampcnc.com Connect with MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

AI is going to be everywhere at IMTS this September, and if you walk the floor without a filter, it'll make your head spin. So we brought in someone whose whole job is helping manufacturers tell the real thing from the marketing fluff. Ryan Kelly, VP of Technology at AMT, joins us to break the noise into something usable. He walks through a simple way to sort every AI claim you'll see into three layers: the hyperscalers and cloud platforms laying the foundation, the AI native tools that couldn't have existed a few years ago, and the embedded AI features showing up as new buttons in the CAD, CAM, and ERP systems you already run. Then we get into physical AI, the part that actually matters for a machine shop. It's the loop that takes information from the physical world, lets an AI reason on it, and sends a decision back to the machine or the robot in close to real time. Nick's tool load monitoring, Paul's native machine monitoring in ProShop, Mike's managing 60 jobs a day by exception, they're all versions of the same idea. The catch is data. If the grammar of your data isn't good enough, the AI will hand you an answer you can't trust. Ryan also previews what AMT is building at the show: a new Industrial AI Arena with 32 exhibitors, a one day Industrial AI Conference focused on the factory floor instead of TED-talk futurism, and an Emerging Technology Center where, alongside Oak Ridge National Lab, they'll be making and flying drones right off the line. Three quadcopter models, a fresh one every couple of minutes, with the ability to change the design on a dime and ramp right back into production. Whether you're already wired up or still getting your data in order, there's something at IMTS for wherever you are on the journey. Take stock of your readiness before you go, bring your real problems to the vendors, and you'll come home with something you can use on Monday. That's making chips.   What's Covered in this Episode (0:00) Drones that fly themselves right off the assembly line (2:11) Ryan's back: the tariff comment that drew hundreds of responses (4:40) Boost spindle uptime without adding headcount with the Hennig Workflow (5:40) Meet Ryan Kelly of AMT, and why this year feels like AI-MTS (7:16) A filter for the floor: the three layers of AI at IMTS (11:42) Turn AI buzzwords into outcomes at the Industrial AI Conference at IMTS (12:30) How to shop for AI: bring your problem, not your intimidation (13:58) Inside the new Industrial AI Arena: 32 exhibitors and the ETC (17:15) Know your AI readiness before you walk the floor (19:41) Why it's worth seeing tech you're not ready for yet (21:37) Two frameworks: the data-to-application stack and the part lifecycle (23:13) Automation everywhere, and what physical AI actually means (27:14) The human body metaphor: sensors, feedback loops, and real-time decisions (31:52) The real challenge isn't robots, it's the data and its semantics (33:40) ProShop's machine monitoring: what people say vs what machines say (37:52) Reach true high end machining with DN Solutions (39:03) The two dangerous extremes: blindly trusting AI vs writing it off (40:48) Managing by exception: AI flags the few jobs that need you (42:44) Reflexive factories and capturing shop floor knowledge for AI (47:35) Inside the ETC: making and flying drones live with Oak Ridge National Lab (53:50) Register at IMTS.com and find us live in the Hennig booth (339133) Resources Mentioned Hennig Workflow Automation System DN Solutions Register for IMTS 2026 (September 14-19, Chicago) Connect with Ryan Kelly Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn AMT, The Association for Manufacturing Technology IMTS Connect with MakingChips Website On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Getting laid off twice early in your career could make you crave stability. It did the opposite for Brian Balthasar. After two rounds of corporate layoffs, he decided that starting his own machine shop was the safer bet. This is another one of our Gen CNC conversations. Brian founded Balthasar Industries in 2022, and he just bought his first building in North Tonawanda, New York. We walk through the leap: buying a mill and a lathe before he had customers, learning that the sales cycle can run a year or more, and finding out how fast the costs that have nothing to do with machines pile up. Some of the most useful parts are about money. The SBA 7(a) loan that got him started, the tooling and support gear that blew past every budget, and why his original business plan turned out to be 10 to 20 percent right. We add the rule every shop owner learns eventually: plan on it costing twice as much and taking twice as long, then pressure test that plan against the worst case. We also get into growing past a one person shop, standardizing on DN Solutions, and building a tech stack in the right order, with connectivity first. Brian shares the CAM path that let him run a shop knowing only basic G code, and where he wants to take the business next, from complex turning and mill turn work to the optics, aerospace, and defense jobs around Buffalo. Underneath all of it is an idea we keep circling back to. Growth is a calculated risk. You run the numbers, decide how much risk you can live with, and then, as Brian puts it, burn the boats and go. There's also a DN Solutions machine giveaway coming at IMTS this year, and you can sign up at makingchips.com/giveaway. What's Covered in this Episode (1:57) Learn more about Brian Balthasar and his journey in manufacturing (4:56) Why starting a shop felt less risky than another corporate job (6:22) Take your shop high-end with DN Solutions (7:35) Buying machines, hunting for customers, and learning sales (10:41) The startup costs nobody budgets for (15:04) Plan on twice as long and twice as much, then pressure test it (16:11) Boost spindle uptime with the Hennig workflow automation system (17:03) Buying the building and adding a third machine (18:33) Financing gear and getting a line of credit before you need it (21:09) Win a DN Solutions SVM 4100 at IMTS 2026 (22:37) The SAE effect and the community that shapes young founders (26:19) Growing past a one person shop and protecting your balance (27:48) Invest in yourself first with ProShop ERP (29:24) Building the tech stack in the right order, connectivity first (34:19) The CAM journey and running a shop on basic G code (36:06) Where the equipment is headed and a wild GM grinder story (39:34) Positioning for optics, aerospace, defense, and AS9100 (44:36) Closing advice: decide your risk threshold and burn the boats Resources Mentioned DN Solutions Hennig Workflow Automation ProShop ERP IMTS Bryce Barnes: The Tech Stack Advantage Connect with Brian Balthasar Balthasar Industries Balthasar Industries on LinkedIn On Instagram On Facebook Email Connect with MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Everybody in manufacturing knows the skills gap is real. Far fewer people are doing anything about it. That tension runs through this entire conversation, and it's why we're glad to have Kyra Tillman back on the show as part of our workforce development series. Kyra runs BTM Industries, a small job shop in Woodstock, Illinois, and she's a driving force behind the Manufacturing Pathways Consortium, a group of more than a hundred McHenry County manufacturers, every local high school, and dozens of community partners who decided to grow their own talent instead of fighting over the same shrinking pool.  The numbers back it up. This year 186 students applied for the summer internship program and 85 got placed, with grant funding covering 85 percent of their wages. We get into the parts most people skip. How do you actually build an internship that works when your team is already slammed? Why do so many shops still say they don't have time for an inexperienced kid? And how did this group push back on a new Illinois foreign language requirement that would have gutted high school manufacturing programs, and win? There's a bigger idea underneath all of it. The shortage isn't only a skills gap, it's an opportunity gap. Most students have no idea these careers exist, and the fix isn't complicated. Open your doors, bring kids in, and let them try the work. Whether you run a shop, sit on a school board, or just want to see your community thrive, this one's a blueprint you can copy. What's Covered in this Episode (0:00) Why workforce development gets its own series, and welcoming Kyra back (1:56) Kyra's path to owning BTM Industries, a third-generation Woodstock job shop (4:13) MPC: 100+ manufacturers, every local high school, one focus: the talent pipeline (5:59) Why it works: stop playing the victim and do something about it (8:48) Inside the summer internship program: 186 applied, only 85 placed (10:53) Building a real intern plan instead of winging it (15:16) It's a manufacturing experience, not a polished college internship (16:15) CLA: helping manufacturers find millions in savings and revenue (17:23) Nick's intern Peter and the value of learning what you don't want (20:00) Why this program is oversubscribed when others can't fill seats (22:40) The funding model: grants cover 85 percent of intern wages (25:16) Saving CTE programs from Illinois's new foreign language requirement (27:45) IMTS Job Shops Workshop and Networking Reception, September 15 (28:39) Putting machined parts on guidance counselors' desks (32:46) Connecting with students who don't yet know what they like (35:00) It's an opportunity gap as much as a skills gap, so open your doors (36:42) Scaling means hiring beyond the shop floor, from coders to accountants (40:09) Why we love the quality of SMW Autoblok workholding (41:36) The results so far: 400+ interns, 46 now working in manufacturing (44:00) Help solve the problem: Let's get more manufacturers involved (47:15) How to replicate this: start with your local schools (49:30) Summer events, the Rockford party, and an IMTS kickoff Resources Mentioned Manufacturing Pathways Consortium CLA IMTS SMW Autoblok Connect with Kyra Tillman Manufacturing Pathways Consortium BTM Industries Connect with MakingChips Website: https://www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, I got to sit down with Kenny Williams of Native Aerospace and Defense. Kenny has a really interesting background because he did not come into manufacturing through the traditional path. He started in technology, worked with major ERP companies, served as a CIO for several manufacturing companies, and saw firsthand how deeply connected systems, process, people, and business really are. What I really appreciated about this conversation is that Kenny has lived the lessons he shares. He started a shop, grew it from zero revenue into a seven-figure aerospace and defense business in less than two and a half years, and eventually sold it. Now, through Native Aerospace and Defense, he is looking at his next chapter: acquiring and growing shops with the right foundation, systems, and opportunity. We talked about the realities that many new shop owners do not fully understand when they first get started. Kenny shares how he and his partner expected some large purchase orders to materialize early on, only to realize that relationships, trust, cash flow, capacity, and execution matter far more than simply having machines on the floor. His perspective on starting with the right size work, asking for money up front, managing cash, and growing at a sustainable pace is full of hard-earned wisdom. We also dug into what it takes to build a real business instead of just creating a job for yourself. Kenny shares why he fired roughly a third of his early customers, how he thought about moving into more complex and higher-value work, and why systems are the backbone of a scalable shop. Toward the end, we also got into CMMC, IT infrastructure, cloud platforms, and why Kenny believes machine shops should stay focused on their core competency: making great parts, serving customers, and building strong teams. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:00) Kenny Williams and his journey from IT, ERP, and manufacturing systems into machine shop ownership (2:51) Kenny shares how his background in technology and ERP shaped his understanding of people, process, systems, and change management (7:43) How Kenny and his partner launched Phoenix Products through Kickstarter before growing into aerospace and defense work (10:14) High end parts, high end capability, and high end thinking with DN Solutions  (11:25) The importance of proper change management in an organization (16:03) The early startup lessons Kenny learned (relationships, cashflow, execution, etc.) (18:46) The hidden costs of outgrowing a facility and why moving a machine shop is far more disruptive than most owners expect (21:42) Your buyers have technical questions. Navu delivers reliable, accurate answers. (22:54) Why small purchase orders can create just as much work as larger ones, and how young shops should think about sustainable growth (25:18) How large purchase orders can become a cash flow problem if the shop is not prepared to fund materials, labor, and delivery (27:56) Why Kenny recommends asking for money up front, charging for NREs, and building deposits into quotes (30:50) How Kenny learned to identify the right customers, fire the wrong ones, and move toward better-fit work (34:32) Why strong systems are the backbone of a scalable shop and help turn a job into a real business (35:13) What Kenny is looking for as he searches for shops to acquire through Native Aerospace and Defense (39:10) Why you need to join us at IMTS 2026! (40:02) The challenge of buying shops that are still completely dependent on the owner (44:55) Why Kenny believes manufacturing needs to be positioned as a technology-driven career path for younger workers (46:50) How shop owners can support workforce development by engaging schools, offering internships, and speaking up about opportunity (48:49) Kenny explains why CMMC and IT decisions should start with a question about a shop's true core competency (51:00) Why Kenny believes shops should lean on experienced MSPs and major government cloud providers instead of trying to build everything themselves (54:43) Why MSPs need configurable CMMC solutions that actually fit small and midsize manufacturers (58:12) How to connect with Kenny and what types of shops he is interested in acquiring Resources & People Mentioned High end parts, high end capability, and high end capability with DN Solutions  Your buyers have technical questions. Navu delivers reliable, accurate answers. Learn more at Navu.co/MakingChips Why you need to join us at IMTS 2026! Connect with Kenny Williams Native Aerospace and defense Kenny@NativeAeroDef.com Connect with Kenny on LinkedIn Connect With Machine Shop Mastery The website LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on Apple, Spotify

In this episode of Advanced Manufacturing Now, Steve Bauer sits down with Association for Manufacturing Technology (AMT) Vice President of Technology Ryan Kelly to unpack a unique industry challenge: why breakthrough technologies aren't reaching factory floors fast enough. Plus, a preview of what to expect at IMTS, where the next wave of innovation takes center stage.

When I sat down with Casimir Sienkiewicz (CAZ) from CazTek, I immediately connected with his story because it reminded me so much of the journeys so many shop owners go through. What started with a Bridgeport mill in a garage has evolved over the last 22 years into a growing engineering and precision machining company tackling everything from advanced prototypes to 5-axis machining, Swiss work, automation assemblies, and aerospace and medical projects. But what really stood out to me wasn't just the equipment or the growth. It was Casimir's mindset around creativity, problem-solving, and continuously evolving as a business owner. One of the themes throughout this conversation is how closely personal growth and business growth are tied together. Casimir talked openly about the realization that he had to stop trying to personally carry every responsibility inside the company if he wanted the business to scale. Like many entrepreneurs, he built the company through grit, technical skill, and sheer determination. But eventually, that approach created bottlenecks. Bringing in strong leaders, defining core values, implementing systems, and learning to trust his team became the next phase of growth for both him and the company. We also spent a lot of time talking about the intersection of engineering and manufacturing. CazTek isn't just a machine shop. Their team works through the entire product development lifecycle, from early concepts and mechanical engineering all the way through machining, assembly, testing, and production. That end-to-end visibility gives their employees a unique sense of purpose because they get to see how the products they design and manufacture actually impact the world, whether it's medical devices, aerospace hardware, or industrial systems. This episode is packed with lessons around scaling a manufacturing business, building the right culture, implementing systems like EOS, adopting new technology, and creating an organization that can grow sustainably. Casimir brings a thoughtful and honest perspective to the conversation, and I think listeners will really relate to the challenges, mistakes, and breakthroughs he shares along the way. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:00) Introduction and the origins of CazTek's manufacturing journey (3:18) Overview of CazTek Engineering and CazTek Precision today (8:28) Learning manual machining, CNC setup, and programming at a young age (10:17) Landing in a manufacturing engineering technology program (11:36) Starting the business in a 400-square-foot garage with a Bridgeport mill (15:15) Hiring the first employee and moving out of the garage (16:58) Learn more about IMTS 2026 (and why you should join us) (17:51) Purchasing the first Haas VF-2 and launching the machine shop side (19:44) Expanding into 5-axis machining, turning, and Swiss machining (21:22) Balancing rapid prototyping work with outside contract machining (23:21) Growing through referrals, relationships, and word-of-mouth reputation (24:29) Building a true sales pipeline and moving beyond feast-or-famine growth (28:06) Recognizing personal limitations and bringing in experienced leaders to scale (29:56) Why we love SMW Autoblok workholding  (30:39) Learning to trust others and let go of operational control (34:04) How systems and delegation unlocked the next stage of growth (36:54) Challenges of investing time and resources into organizational growth (38:11) Implementing EOS and building systems for accountability and growth (39:53) Hiring the right personalities and getting people in the right seats (41:08) Why we created Hire MFG Leaders (and why you should use it) (42:04) Coaching employees into roles that fit their strengths (46:25) Building scalable processes and implementing tools like ProShop and Paperless Parts (49:19) Current growth challenges, operational bottlenecks, and scaling in parallel (51:33) Defining CazTek's core values and attracting mission-driven employees (57:03) Thoughts on manufacturing growth, automation, and staying resilient through market shifts Resources & People Mentioned Why you need to join us at IMTS 2026 Why we love SMW Autoblok workholding  The E-Myth Revisited Built to Sell EOS MN Precision Manufacturing Association  Connect with Casimir Sienkiewicz CazTek CazTek Precision Connect on LinkedIn Connect With Machine Shop Mastery The website LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on Apple, Spotify

From shadowboxing aerospace tool kits with a CO2 laser to running thousands of work orders annually across machining, sheet metal, and waterjet operations, Low Country Aerospace has grown by embracing systems, trust, and relentless customer focus. In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Paul Van Metre sits down with founder Barry Russell to unpack the unconventional path that transformed a small support-services company into a fast-growing aerospace manufacturing operation. Barry shares how saying "yes" to customer needs opened entirely new business opportunities, even when he had little idea how to execute them at first. From buying his first laser and imaging machine to eventually investing in CNC machining centers and waterjets, the company's growth was fueled by relationships, adaptability, and a willingness to figure things out along the way. But as the business scaled, Barry learned that growth without systems can quickly become chaos. One of the most powerful themes in this conversation is leadership transformation. Barry opens up about the difficult process of letting go, trusting his leadership team, and shifting from working in the business to working on it. With guidance from a mentor, he learned to think more strategically, build incremental growth plans, and empower his team with autonomy instead of micromanagement. That mindset shift helped position the company to handle explosive growth while maintaining strong delivery performance and company culture. The episode also dives deep into operational realities that many shops face today: cash flow struggles, scaling labor, balancing overtime with flexibility, implementing second shifts, and managing staggering work order volume without sacrificing quality or delivery. Barry's transparency about near-insolvency during COVID, finding financial solutions through factoring, and navigating growth responsibly offers valuable lessons for shop owners at every stage. Whether you're running a small shop trying to land your next big customer or managing a growing operation struggling to scale sustainably, this episode delivers practical wisdom on leadership, systems, trust, and long-term growth strategy from someone living it every day. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:00) Barry shares the philosophy: "Think big, stay small" (1:20) Paul introduces Barry Russell and the growth of Low Country Aerospace (3:14) Barry explains how aerospace relationships led to starting the business (5:40) Early growth came from saying yes to customer needs and learning on the fly (7:35) Entering machining, buying the first CNCs, and growing into aerospace parts production (9:48) Building trust with customers through honesty, relationships, and reliability (13:24) Get a free report of opportunities in your industry from FacturMFG.com/chips (14:30) COVID, slow-paying customers, and nearly running out of cash (16:13) How factoring and financial changes stabilized the company (20:26) Creating a flexible culture with strong retention and employee trust (24:28) Learn more about IMTS 2026 (and why you need to come see us there) (25:21) Learning to let go, trust the team, and stop micromanaging (27:17) A mentor helps Barry develop long-term planning and scalable systems (29:17) "Micro-dosing" growth through incremental, achievable goals (32:10) Why autonomy, accountability, and trust matter more than control (37:58) Check out the Hennig WorkFlow Automated Pallet Delivery System (38:48) Balancing sales growth with operational capacity and workload realities (42:42) Managing nearly 12,000 work orders annually while maintaining strong delivery performance (46:22) Why Low Country Aerospace processes material in-house using waterjets (48:39) Decoupling from daily operations while staying connected to the team (53:09) Barry's biggest lessons on relationships, humility, mentorship, and trusting people (55:53) Final advice for growing shops: build systems before scaling big  Resources & People Mentioned Get a free report of opportunities in your industry from FacturMFG.com/chips Learn more about IMTS 2026 (and why you need to come see us there) Check out the Hennig WorkFlow Automated Pallet Delivery System Connect with Barry Russell Low Country Aerospace Barry@LowCountryAerospace.com Connect With Machine Shop Mastery The website LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on Apple, Spotify

What happens when a young woman with zero machining experience gets handed the keys to two CNC mills and told, "Figure it out"? For Melissa Ramos, it became the start of a journey that's equal parts grit, creativity, community, and stubborn determination. In this episode of MakingChips, we sit down with the founder of M95 Machining to unpack how she went from crashing machines, crying in shop bathrooms, and being dismissed in trade school… to building a respected machining brand with a massive social media following and partnerships across the industry. Melissa shares the real story behind learning CNC machining from the ground up, the pressure of working alongside her father, and the moments that nearly made her quit. But this conversation goes far beyond tooling and G-code. It's about building a business while building confidence. Melissa opens up about the challenges of being a woman in manufacturing, the ugly side of internet criticism, and why storytelling and content creation have become just as important to her business as making parts. From balancing customer work and brand partnerships to literally moving into the shop to chase bigger goals, her story captures the modern reality of manufacturing entrepreneurship. The episode also dives into automation, mentorship, social media, family dynamics, and Melissa's vision for creating a safe learning space for women entering the trades. Whether you're a shop owner, aspiring machinist, parent, or someone trying to carve out a path in manufacturing, this conversation is packed with honesty, perspective, and a refreshing reminder that there's no single blueprint for success in this industry. If you've ever wondered what the next generation of manufacturing leadership looks like, this episode delivers a pretty compelling answer.  Segments (0:00) The MakingChips crew welcomes Melissa Ramos to MakingChips: GenCNC (2:17) Melissa shares how her dad introduced her to CNC machining with two Haas mills (4:33) Melissa discusses the challenges of being a woman entering manufacturing (6:04) Melissa opens up about her negative trade school experience and being dismissed by an instructor (8:29) How a group of classmates helped her learn programming despite lack of support (10:01) Discovering Fusion 360 and teaching herself CAM programming (11:56) Learn more about IMTS 2026 (and why you should join us) (13:14) Building M95 through family connections, word of mouth, and social media (15:52) Melissa discusses workload balance, shop growth, and finding ideal customers (17:50) Balancing machining work with growing content partnerships and brand opportunities (18:32) Why Melissa prefers prototype and quick-turn work over repetitive production (19:30) Lessons learned from a difficult automation experience with a robot cell (22:08) Melissa shares the story of meeting her boyfriend through tooling recommendations (22:55) Paperless Parts uses secure AI to take busy work off your estimators (24:07) The influence of Melissa's father and the family dynamic behind the business (26:24) Why Melissa's dad originally brought machining in-house (29:53) How social media unexpectedly transformed into a business opportunity (32:53) Why you should listen to the Lights Out Podcast (33:20) Melissa explains why she's moving into the shop to focus fully on growth (37:07) Melissa reveals her vision for a women-focused manufacturing meetup and mentorship space (38:42) Advice for young people entering manufacturing and entrepreneurship (39:43) Where to connect with Melissa Ramos and M95 Machining online Resources mentioned on this episode 12. Inspiring a New Generation of Female (and Male) Machinists Learn more about IMTS 2026 (and why you should join us) Paperless Parts uses secure AI to take busy work off your estimators info@M95Machining.com Connect with Melissa on LinkedIn M95 Machining on YouTube M95 Machining on Instagram Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Join the Discord by subscribing on patreon - https://patreon.com/tapsandpatience Get Parts Made! - https://subtractmanufacturing.com-----In the 160th episode of Taps and Patience, AJ and Harrison discuss their experiences with equipment upgrades and challenges in their respective machining environments. AJ shares updates about his projects, including his greenhouse and improvements in his programming applications, while Harrison explains the intricacies of ISO 9001 compliance and the challenges associated with equipment maintenance. The episode also highlights their collective efforts to engage with their listeners through Patreon and upcoming events such as IMTS, aiming to build a community around machining and manufacturing knowledge.-----Check out the hosts on Instagram:https://instagram.com/audacity_microhttps://instagram.com/precisioningenuity

When I sat down with Alex Mazerolle from Archer Precision, I thought I knew where the conversation was going. We were originally planning to talk about their ProShop journey and some of the operational improvements they've made along the way. What I didn't expect was to walk into a full-on masterclass in how to build a modern, high-performance machine shop. As Alex started sharing his perspective, it became clear pretty quickly that this wasn't just about software or systems. It was about vision. He's spent the last decade intentionally building a company that's transparent, disciplined, and designed to scale—what he calls a "glass box" instead of the traditional black box most shops operate in. What really stood out to me is how much of this comes down to mindset. Alex challenges a lot of the default thinking in our industry—the idea that the owner has to carry everything, that firefighting is just part of the job, or that growth naturally leads to chaos. Instead, he's built Archer around systems, clarity, and repeatability so the business doesn't depend on any one person, including himself. We also kept recording after the "official" episode ended, and honestly, that might be the most valuable part of the entire conversation. Alex opens up about the trap so many of us fall into as owners, what it takes to get out of it, and how he's thinking about building a team and a workforce for the future. If you're trying to build a shop that's not just busy, but truly valuable and sustainable, there's a lot in here worth paying attention to. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:00) Why lack of clarity in work creates frustration—and how great shops eliminate it (3:21) Archer Precision overview and Alex's path from toolmaker to owner (9:49) The "black box" problem and the vision for a transparent "glass box" shop (12:43) Building (and abandoning) a custom ERP system the hard way (15:57) Discovering ProShop and shifting focus back to manufacturing (19:15) Check out the Hennig WorkFlow automated pallet delivery system (20:08) The process of implementing ProShop with Michael Collins (24:25) The wake-up call: realizing how little visibility existed inside the business (26:23) Transforming traceability, QA documentation, and customer communication (29:36) Simplifying certifications and audits through digital systems (34:20) ERP as the operating system for a scalable, high-performance shop (36:16) Why you need to come to IMTS 2026 in Chicago! (39:13) CJ Abraham's story of running a one-man shop with ProShop (42:16) How better systems reduce firefighting, stress, and improve culture (46:51) Standardizing processes to create consistency for customers and employees (51:20) Get a free report of sales opportunities in your area from Facturmfg.com/chips (52:25) Building a fully prepped shop floor with tooling, setups, and planning (56:33) Why doing the work upfront saves massive time downstream (57:44) Entering defense work and navigating CMMC requirements (1:02:43) Progress toward full transparency—and why it's worth the pain (1:10:39) The "superman owner" trap and why it eventually breaks (1:16:57) The cost of short-term heroics vs. long-term discipline (1:18:30) Solving the workforce gap with structured training and apprenticeships (1:20:53) Connecting education, career paths, and the future of manufacturing (1:27:01) A blueprint for building a valuable, enduring machine shop Resources & People Mentioned Check out the Hennig WorkFlow automated pallet delivery system Why you need to come to IMTS 2026 in Chicago! Get a free report of sales opportunities in your area from Facturmfg.com/chips BDC (Business Development Canada) The E-Myth Revisited CTMA Connect with Alex Mazerolle Connect with Alex Mazerolle on LinkedIn Archer Precision Connect With Machine Shop Mastery The website LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on Apple, Spotify

What happens when global policy decisions collide with the realities of the shop floor?  In this episode of MakingChips, the team sits down with Brennan Grignon, founder and CEO of Vantive, to unpack the hidden complexity behind supply chains that power everything from defense systems to everyday manufacturing.  With experience advising at the highest levels of government, Brennan brings a rare perspective on how geopolitical decisions ripple all the way down to machine shops across the country. At the heart of the conversation is a hard truth: supply chains are not as flexible as policymakers often assume. Moving production isn't like flipping a switch—it's a tangled web of materials, processes, certifications, and human expertise that can take years, not days, to shift. And yet, those decisions are being made every day, often without a full understanding of the downstream consequences. The discussion dives deep into the structural challenges facing the defense industrial base, especially for small and mid-sized machine shops. From cash flow constraints and unfavorable payment terms to the rising cost of compliance like CMMC, many shops are being asked to shoulder burdens that simply don't make financial sense. The result? A system full of opportunity, but also friction, risk, and misaligned incentives. Despite the challenges, there's also a sense of possibility. With advancements in digitalization, predictive modeling, and better visibility into supply chains, there's a path forward. But it will require collaboration, smarter policy, and a willingness to rethink how the entire ecosystem works, from government to primes to the shop floor. Segments (0:00) Setting the tone for the episode with Brennan's "dad joke"  (1:31) Introduction to Brennan, Vantive, and her mission to solve supply chain disruption (3:58) Brennan's background advising the Department of Defense on supply chain resilience (9:38) Lessons from leading supply chain efforts during COVID response (10:55) Real-world example of how geopolitical decisions impact machine shops (15:22) The myth of "just moving production" and why it's far more complex (17:24) The emerging requirements of CMMC certification and the effect on the DIB (18:31) You need to come join us at IMTS 2026, September 14th-19th! (19:27) The missing piece in procurement: why supply chain risk isn't formally measured (22:10) Why small shops struggle to participate in the defense industrial base (25:13) The broken incentive structure between government, primes, and suppliers (32:10) Cash flow challenges and unfavorable payment terms for small manufacturers (37:21) Workforce instability and the impact of inconsistent demand cycles (38:40) Check out the Hennig WorkFlow: a 40-pallet automation system (39:31) Risks tied to critical materials and global dependency challenges (45:30) The looming impact of CMMC compliance on the majority of machine shops (48:50) Practical call to action: be specific, propose solutions, and leverage trade organizations (57:47) Can local MEPs help fund a small shop's CMMC certifications? (59:51) Get a free report of sales opportunities in your area at FacturMFG.com/chips (1:00:55) How Vantive is turning supply chain uncertainty into actionable data Resources mentioned on this episode Connect with Brennan Grignon and Vantive (and come see her at IMTS) Jason Ray and Paperless Parts Why AI Isn't the Answer for Quoting: The Risks of Using ChatGPT in Manufacturing How to Fix Your Quoting Process Before it Kills Your Shop You need to come join us at IMTS 2026, September 14th-19th! Check out the Hennig WorkFlow: a 40-pallet automation system Cybersecurity Requirements for DoD Contractors: A Deep Dive into CMMC with Jacob Horne Trade organizations: NTMA, NDIA, & AMT Oklahoma's MEP Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Join the Discord by subscribing on patreon - https://patreon.com/tapsandpatience Get Parts Made! - https://subtractmanufacturing.com-----In this podcast episode, host Harrison welcomes Josh from Layton Machine, who shares his journey from a sales background in IT to discovering CNC machining after attempting to create a product he couldn't find. Josh discusses his current focus on job shop work and his transition to engaging with the Subtract Manufacturing network, where he is taking on quoting and account management roles to help grow the business. The conversation also touches on the importance of diversifying customer bases, the challenges of running a machining business, and their experiences at IMTS, emphasizing the need for strategic growth and effective networking in the industry.-----Check out the hosts on Instagram:https://instagram.com/audacity_microhttps://instagram.com/precisioningenuity

What happens when a shop owner refuses to accept the tradeoff between developing people and driving efficiency? In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Brian Kippen shares a story that feels less like a linear journey and more like a carefully engineered system—one where workforce development and automation aren't competing priorities, but deeply connected levers for growth. Brian's path into manufacturing didn't follow a traditional script. From his early days working in a one-man prototype shop to co-founding KAD Models & Prototypes, he built his business with a bias toward action, experimentation, and learning by doing. Along the way, he navigated partnership transitions, expanded across the country, and made bold bets—like launching a second facility designed for automation from day one. But what truly sets Brian apart is his commitment to the future workforce. While running two shops, he stepped into the classroom as a manufacturing instructor, gaining firsthand insight into the gaps between education and industry. What he discovered reshaped how he thinks about hiring, training, and building teams—and ultimately reinforced why automation isn't about replacing people, but enabling them. This conversation brings those two worlds together. Brian breaks down how standardization, pallet systems, and lights-out machining can unlock capacity in even the most complex prototype environments. At the same time, he makes a compelling case that the real ROI of automation isn't just spindle uptime—it's the time and space it creates to develop the next generation of machinists. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:00) The collaborative nature of manufacturing and why asking for help is critical to survival (3:55) Brian's origin story and the founding of KAD Models & Prototypes (7:23) Navigating a partner buyout and the realities of business ownership (10:26) Expanding to a second facility in Vermont and entering a new market (12:35) Building an automation-first prototype shop with pallet systems and 5-axis machining (16:17) Surviving COVID while managing two facilities and maintaining operations (17:41) Differences in workforce dynamics between California and Vermont (22:27) Why manufacturing culture thrives on relationships and shared problem-solving (25:48) Why you need to check out the SMW Autoblok workholding catalog (26:36) Brian's experience stepping into education as a manufacturing instructor (32:15) Gaps in technical education and the need to modernize training for CNC environments (35:41) The challenge of outdated equipment and bringing real-world technology into the classroom (40:10) Barriers to improving manufacturing education, including cost and lack of experienced instructors (41:49) Why you need to join us at IMTS 2026! (42:41) Hiring students directly from the program and building a young, scalable workforce (45:00) Coaching young employees, building confidence, and helping them navigate early career challenges (47:03) Why you need to listen to the Buy the Numbers podcast (48:02) Using quoting automation and digital tools to increase speed and efficiency (50:36) Standardizing tooling, workholding, and processes to enable scalable automation (54:09) Running high-mix, low-volume parts lights out through smart process design (55:36) Balancing risk and efficiency when automating complex prototype work (58:16) The true ROI of automation: creating time to invest back into people Resources & People Mentioned American Precision Museum Why you need to check out the SMW Autoblok workholding catalog You need to join us at IMTS 2026! Listen to the Buy the Numbers podcast Paperless Parts Connect with Brian Kippen KAD Models & Prototypes Connect with Brian on LinkedIn Follow KAD Models on Instagram Connect With Machine Shop Mastery The website LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on Apple, Spotify

On today’s podcast, I'm talking with Mike Payne, owner of Hill Manufacturing and Fabrication in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, to peek inside the mind of a prolific acquirer of manufacturing companies. Before purchasing Hill in 2018, Mike spent 20 years in M&A, orchestrating over 100 deals across nearly every industry. Since then, Mike has acquired four machine shops, and he’s constantly scouting for more opportunities to expand. What struck me about Mike isn’t just his deal-making successes – it’s his genuine passion for manufacturing. While some people get caught up in the game of acquisition deals, Mike seems to remain committed to his stated purpose, making quality parts and building lasting companies. *********** Listen on your favorite podcast app using pod.link.      View the podcast at the bottom of this post or on our YouTube Channel Follow us on Social and never miss an update! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swarfcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swarfcast/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/todays-machining-world Twitter: https://twitter.com/tmwswarfblog ************* Link to Graff-Pinkert's Acquisitions and Sales promotion! ************* Main Points Working in the M&A Industry Mike Payne’s career began in the mid-1990s when he graduated from the University of Tulsa with a computer science degree. He started a software company specializing in shop floor data collection, working with manufacturers during the era when Walmart was pushing barcode implementation. This early exposure to manufacturing sparked his interest in seeing how things were made, from tires to fishing reels. After successfully growing and selling his software company in 2003, Payne transitioned into private equity, where he spent 15 years buying companies across various industries. What set him apart in the M&A space was his approach: rather than just completing deals and moving on, he would typically take board positions or operational roles in the acquired companies to ensure their success. He completed over 100 deals during this period, attributing some of his success to being an outsider who asked “dumb questions” that often led to valuable insights. Purchasing Hill Manufacturing and Fabrication In 2018, Payne purchased Hill Manufacturing and Fabrication, a company he’d known for 30 years. The company, established in 1976, had become “tired” under an owner looking to sell, with minimal reinvestment in equipment and growth. Payne saw this as an opportunity to revitalize a solid business. Since his acquisition, the company has doubled in size through both organic growth and the acquisition of four additional shops. What distinguishes Payne’s approach to business is his complex motivation. While he openly acknowledges his desire to make money (“I’m a capitalist”), he emphasizes that his greater satisfaction comes from creating opportunities for others. At 51, he could coast or even retire, but he continues growing his business because he enjoys developing his team and seeing them succeed. He shares examples like watching a 27-year-old manager building his first home and starting a family. Payne also maintains strong relationships with the previous owners of companies he’s acquired. He shared a story about receiving a photo from a couple whose shop he bought in 2022. While he was at IMTS viewing the latest manufacturing technology, they sent him a picture from their retirement travels of an old lathe in an Arizona campground. This exemplified his goal of not just making profitable deals, but helping owners successfully transition into their next life phase. Philosophy of Business Growth The conversation also touched on the philosophy of business growth. While Payne acknowledges that maintaining a steady, non-growing business can be viable, he believes companies need to at least stay current with technology and market demands to avoid slow decline. He shared an example of a recent acquisition target that had gradually declined from $2 million to $1.2 million in annual revenue because they weren’t reinvesting or replacing lost customers. Throughout the interview, Payne’s enthusiasm for manufacturing shines through. He describes the satisfaction of seeing raw materials transformed into finished products and particularly enjoys giving shop tours to people unfamiliar with manufacturing, as their fascination helps him see the magic of manufacturing through fresh eyes. He compared this to hiking with his daughter, who helps him notice beautiful details he might otherwise miss in his rush to reach the destination. The discussion reveals Payne as someone who has successfully merged the analytical skills of a private equity investor with a genuine passion for manufacturing and people development, creating a business approach that values both profitability and purpose. Questions: If you were to acquire a manufacturing company, what would you be looking for? What would it take for you to sell your manufacturing company? Check out Mike Payne’s  podcast, Buy the Numbers. The blog was assisted by Claud.ai

What happens when a college engineering student buys a CNC machine just to experiment… and accidentally builds an aerospace machine shop? That's exactly what Nick Preece did. What started as a curiosity fueled by YouTube videos and garage tinkering quickly evolved into Preece Machining & Assembly, a fast-growing shop focused on complex, high-mix aerospace work. In this Gen CNC episode, Nick shares how he bootstrapped the business from a used mill and a $1,200/month goal into a 10+ machine operation. Alongside his brother Tanner, the two built a company rooted in technical problem-solving, disciplined growth, and a willingness to learn everything the hard way, from customer concentration risk to hiring challenges. The conversation dives into how young shops can compete with larger manufacturers by focusing on complex work, building strong customer relationships, and creating positive sales pressure. Nick also explains how painful lessons around diversification forced them to rethink outreach, refine their quoting strategy, and become more intentional about the work they pursue. Nick also discusses scaling a team, investing in five-axis capability, and even bringing on strategic partners to accelerate growth. With a vision of building a full "PMA campus" and a culture built on kindness and urgency, Nick offers a real-world look at what it takes for the next generation of manufacturing leaders to grow fast without losing focus. His advice for anyone starting a shop? Don't just compete, turn it up to 11 and deliver something exceptional every single time. Segments (0:00) Introduction and welcome to Gen CNC featuring Nick Preece (2:24) Preece Machining & Assembly overview and aerospace focus (4:22) Origin story: learning machining on YouTube and starting in a garage (7:40) Working with family and division of responsibilities with Tanner (12:39) Bootstrapping the first machine to multiple machines and five-axis investments (15:00) Head to DN Solutions Manufacturing Without Limits event (15:59) How they make decisions on capital equipment (17:47) Sales and marketing strategy, customer concentration, and diversification (20:15) Building a sales process and generating positive sales pressure (21:34) First in, First Order: What is your ideal part profile? (27:7) Pricing pressure, margins, and competing during slow periods (30:54) Hiring strategy, workforce challenges, and recruiting experienced talent (33:55) Shop culture: kindness, urgency, and high performance (36:33) Why we love SMW Autoblok for workholding (38:48) Long-term vision and building a "PMA campus" (42:39) Five-axis strategy and thoughts on automation (45:10) Why you need to come see us at IMTS 2026 (46:04) Bringing on investment partners and scaling the business (49:24) Nick's advice to young founders: "turn it up to 11" Resources mentioned on this episode NYC CNC/John Saunders John Grimsmo Head to DN Solutions Manufacturing Without Limits event: DN-Solutions.com Paperless Parts: What is your ideal part profile? Why we love SMW Autoblok for workholding Hire MFG Leaders Why you need to come see us at IMTS 2026 Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

What happens when a childhood obsession with trains turns into a manufacturing business? In this episode of MakingChips Generation CNC, we sit down with Chris Huffman, a young shop owner who launched Huffman Machining Solutions at just 21 years old. Now 26, Chris is building his business one machine, one customer, and one calculated risk at a time. Chris didn't grow up in a machining family, and he didn't follow the traditional path into manufacturing. Instead, his curiosity started with steam locomotives and model trains. That fascination led him to learn how parts were made, which eventually pulled him into machining. Along the way, he realized he didn't just love trains. He loved the process of turning raw material into precision components. That passion evolved into opportunity. Requests for custom parts began to pile up, and Chris saw a path forward. With minimal overhead, a steady job at a community college, and a willingness to take calculated risks, he bought his first machine, found a small space, and started building his shop from the ground up. In this conversation, Chris shares the realities of starting young. He talks through financing equipment, navigating insurance challenges, buying used machines, and learning business skills on the fly. He also opens up about the mental side of entrepreneurship, including the pressure of hiring a first employee and the responsibility that comes with building something bigger than yourself. This episode is a great look at what the next generation of manufacturing founders actually looks like. It's not about overnight success. It's about passion, persistence, and slowly laying the track to build a sustainable machine shop. Segments (0:00) Introduction to Chris Huffman and the Generation CNC young founder series (1:06) Starting a machine shop at 21 and the story behind Huffman Machining Solutions (4:30) From model trains to machining and discovering a passion for manufacturing (9:18) Why you need to come see us at IMTS 2026! (11:00) Desire to work on historic locomotives and falling in love with machining itself (14:10) Demand for parts lead to launching the business in 2022 (16:16) Transitioning from teaching machining to running a shop full-time (19:30) Financing the first machine and lessons learned about tooling costs (22:02) Buying a used Mazak and costly surprises after purchase (25:54) Adding additional machines and building capability as a one-man shop (28:43) Paperless Parts: CMMC compliant and secure option for estimating and quoting  (29:55) The "#ThankAMachinist" mindset and educating others about manufacturing (33:20) Hiring plans, apprenticeships, and outgrowing the current space (37:13) The fear and responsibility of hiring the first employee (38:40) Why we created Hire MFG Leaders (and why you should use it) (39:08) Learning the business side: scheduling, marketing, and sales (41:39) Long-term goals including ISO certification and ERP implementation (43:15) Letting go of machining work to grow the business (45:21) Opportunity to acquire retiring shop owners' businesses (46:50) Hosts' reflections on passion-driven paths into manufacturing Resources mentioned on this episode IMTS 2026: https://www.imts.com/ Paperless Parts: https://www.paperlessparts.com/ Coffey Machining Group: https://coffeymg.com/ The E-Myth Revisited: https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Revisited-Small-Businesses-About/dp/0887307280 Huffman Machining Solutions: https://huffmanmachining.com/ Connect with Chris on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-huffman-93b69423b/ Chris@HuffmanMachining.com

Taking over a family machine shop is one challenge. Scaling it rapidly while navigating defense-industry cybersecurity requirements is another entirely. In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Paul sits down with Jessica Eckman of Bent River Machine, an Arizona-based factory tooling and automation company that has been building complex equipment since 1978. After Jessica and her husband took over the business in 2021, Bent River experienced explosive growth, landing on the Inc. 5000 list after expanding more than 125% in a single year. Jessica shares how a combination of long-standing customer relationships, major automation projects, and a surge in demand from companies like Amazon and Sonix pushed the company from a $5 million operation to more than $12 million in revenue almost overnight. With limited time to expand facilities, the team had to rethink planning, outsourcing, subcontractor relationships, and internal logistics to scale quickly without losing control. Midway through the conversation, we pivot to one of the most pressing topics in defense manufacturing today: CMMC 2.0 certification. Jessica walks through Bent River's year-long journey to achieve Level 2 certification, covering everything from cybersecurity systems and physical security requirements to auditing, consultants, and real-world implementation challenges for manufacturers. For shops working in the defense supply chain, this episode offers a rare inside look at what it actually takes to become CMMC compliant and why it will soon be unavoidable for much of the industry. In This Episode:  (0:00) Introducing Jessica Eckman and Bent River Machine's rapid growth story (3:21) The origins of the company and its evolution from a machine shop to full engineering and automation (8:05) Jessica and her husband's journey toward eventually taking over the business (11:31) Completing the ownership transition and purchasing the company in 2021 (14:31) Scaling from a $5M shop to a $12M+ company and landing on the Inc. 5000 list (20:18) The role of long-term relationships in winning repeat business and large automation contracts (22:05) Get a free report of opportunities in your industry at facturmfg.com/factur (23:52) Scaling production through subcontractors instead of immediate capital expansion (24:54) Lessons learned while outsourcing large volumes of work quickly (26:44) Why we created Hire MFG Leaders to help the metalworking nation (28:37) Why detailed planning is critical when coordinating internal and outsourced manufacturing (31:10) Creating documentation systems and supplier communication tools to avoid costly mistakes (34:11) Hiring assemblers, building a team, and workforce development (37:40) The process of pursuing CMMC Level 2 certification (44:52) Key cybersecurity infrastructure decisions including ERP, servers, and email security (47:27) Handling CNC programs, drawings, and CUI within a manufacturing environment (49:44) Why you need to come see us at 2026 IMTS (57:08) Advice for manufacturers preparing for CMMC certification (1:02:57) Where to connect with Jessica and learn more about Bent River Machine  Resources & People Mentioned Get a free report of opportunities in your industry at facturmfg.com/factur Why we created Hire MFG Leaders to help the metalworking nation Why you need to come see us at 2026 IMTS Jessica recommends Reef Systems for CMMC Audit Microsoft 365 Government Community Cloud Virtru Connect with Jessica Eckman Bent River Machine JessicaR@Bent-River.com Connect With Machine Shop Mastery The website LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on Apple, Spotify

Buying a machine shop from the outside can sound intimidating. For Nik and Aaron of Mahler Machining, it was also an opportunity. In this episode of Machine Shop Mastery, Paul sits down with the two partners who acquired a precision machining business in Vancouver, British Columbia after spending nearly a decade in corporate finance and private equity. Instead of continuing to advise businesses from the outside, they decided to own and operate one themselves. Their search led them to manufacturing, and ultimately to Mahler Machining, a shop they believed had the foundation to grow into something much larger. What makes this conversation especially valuable is the playbook they share for buying a machine shop the right way. From structuring the deal with the retiring owners, to spending their entire first year on the shop floor learning the business, to intentionally investing in culture, systems, and leadership, Nik and Aaron walk through how they approached the transition. Their story shows how disciplined operators from outside the industry can successfully step into manufacturing ownership while earning the trust of the team already in place. Since acquiring the business, they've implemented major operational improvements, including adding a third shift, investing in new equipment, building a formal sales engine, implementing ERP, and even completing a tuck-in acquisition of another small shop. The result has been consistent growth while laying the groundwork for entry into aerospace and defense markets. For anyone thinking about buying a machine shop, scaling one beyond the typical owner-operator ceiling, or preparing their own shop for acquisition someday, this episode provides a rare behind-the-scenes look at how thoughtful operators approach the process. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:51) Paul introduces Nik and Aaron from Mahler Machining and explains why their acquisition story matters for the future of the industry (3:29) Growing up together, careers in corporate finance, and the decision to pursue business ownership (6:25) Why manufacturing and precision machining stood out as the right industry to enter (9:50) Structuring the acquisition and navigating the transition (12:25) Why we love SMW Autoblok for workholding (13:12) Learning the business, early operational improvements, and plans for long-term growth (19:21) Why diversification across industries and customers is critical to reduce risk (21:30) Building a disciplined sales engine using CRM, metrics, and persistence (23:58) Developing machinists through partnerships with technical colleges and apprenticeship programs (27:31) Shifting company culture toward learning, psychological safety, and clearly defined core values (31:23) Operational improvements including quality control upgrades and stronger sales efforts (34:47) Grow your top and bottom line with CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) (35:28) Managing change and helping employees adapt to ERP implementation (38:35) Recruiting challenges and building the next generation of machinists (41:20) The unforgettable first day of ownership… (42:32) Investing ahead of growth and building a leadership team for scale (47:12) Integrating employees after acquiring another shop (48:21) Advice for future buyers: go slow in year one so you can move faster later (49:26) Why they remain bullish on the long-term future of precision machining (53:47) Join us at IMTS 2026 in Chicago!  Resources & People Mentioned The Gap and the Gain SMW Autoblok Join us at IMTS 2026 in Chicago!  CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) Connect with Nik and Aaron with Mahler Machining Mahler Machine Nik Paukkunen Aaron Kennedy Connect With Machine Shop Mastery The website LinkedIn YouTube Instagram Subscribe to Machine Shop Mastery on Apple, Spotify

At 17 years old, Michael King bought a brand-new CNC machine despite never having seen one in person. With no formal trade school background or apprenticeship, he relied on years of self-directed learning, curiosity, and a steady stream of YouTube machining content to take the leap. He sectioned off space in his dad's warehouse, installed a Haas DM2, and started figuring it out in real time. What began as a personal interest in building things quickly turned into real production work. A stainless steel contract gave him early traction. A used Swiss machine that arrived broken forced him to learn diagnostics and hand-code thousands of lines of G-code. Over time, one machine became several, including a dual-spindle lathe and a five-axis Matsura, forming the foundation of what is now The Monk Works. In this episode of MakingChips Generation CNC, we talk through how Michael has approached growth with unusual discipline. He's kept overhead low, relied entirely on word-of-mouth instead of advertising, and leaned heavily into technology from day one. Rather than scaling by adding headcount immediately, he's focused on automation, standardized tooling, and building systems that allow the business to operate beyond what he can personally track in his head. The conversation also explores how he thinks about cash flow, process maturity, quality, and long-term sustainability. At just 20 years old, married with two kids, Michael is already navigating the tension between capacity and structure, ambition and patience. His story challenges the idea that manufacturing has a high barrier to entry while reinforcing that longevity still depends on discipline and intentional decision-making. Segments (0:00) Buying a brand-new Haas DM2 at 17 (before ever seeing a CNC machine in person) (1:24) RC planes, 3D printing, Fusion 360, and discovering machining through YouTube (6:24) The YouTube channels that shaped Michael's journey (8:27) Paperless Parts: secure AI-powered quoting built for manufacturers (9:42) Landing the first year-long stainless contract and realizing the machine had more capacity (11:00) How Michael learned business fundamentals from his dad (12:21) Becoming a firefighter, HVAC tech, drone pilot, and getting married (13:38) The $5,000 "working" Swiss machine and the lessons that followed (16:39) The Monk Works brand story: small, fast, agile, and intentionally different (18:58) IMTS 2026: Why getting out of the shop and into the show matters (20:07) Financing growth: bootstrapping under an established family business (21:44) Homeschooling, self-directed learning, and defining meaningful work (22:38) Faith, diligence, and quality as a leadership philosophy (23:52) Realizing systems must scale before workload does (25:35) Building his business entirely through word-of-mouth (26:52) Launching proprietary titanium suppressor accessories alongside contract work (28:00) Certifications, ERP systems, and preparing for higher-regulated industries (29:47) Embracing paperless workflows, CAM, automation, and standardized tooling (33:09) Adding automation to unlock capacity without adding labor (35:50) SMW Autoblok, RASRAM, and the seven habits of highly effective workholding (37:50) Advice for young entrepreneurs: low overhead, low risk, and just start Resources mentioned on this episode The Munkworks Connect with Michael on LinkedIn TITANS of CNC NYC CNC John Grimsmo Adam Savage Hacksmith Industries Donnie Hinske Paperless Parts Join us at IMTS 2026 SMW Autoblok Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Recorded live from McCormick Place in Chicago, this episode marks the official kickoff of the MakingChips journey toward IMTS 2026. With nine months to go, we sit down with two leaders helping shape the show itself: Michelle Edmondson, Vice President of Exhibitions for IMTS, and Bonnie Gurney, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships and Industry Relations. What unfolds is a behind-the-scenes look at how the largest manufacturing technology show in North America is built — from campaign strategy and theme development to visitor planning, education tracks, emerging technologies, and student engagement. This year's theme, "Achieve the Impossible," paired with the campaign message around "Six Days," reflects what IMTS is really about: momentum. It's not just about buying a machine this year. It's about seeing where the industry is heading five years from now. We explore how exhibitors should define ROI, why attendees need a strategy before walking the floor, what's new in 2026 (including the Industrial AI Arena and the 20th anniversary of the Emerging Technology Center), and how young people — including our own kids — can get plugged into manufacturing through Smartforce and the Student Summit. Whether you're an exhibitor, an attendee, or still on the fence, this episode is a practical roadmap for how to get the most out of IMTS — and why it matters more than ever in today's manufacturing climate. Segments (0:00) Live from Chicago: Exhibitor Workshop energy and early IMTS planning (2:17) Hennig's evolving booth strategy and bringing real machines to the floor (3:43) Why you need to be at the MFG Meeting 2026 (4:38) Introducing Michelle Edmondson and Bonnie Gurney from IMTS (7:04) The power of long-term partnerships and IMTS' impact on careers (8:58) Defining ROI for exhibitors: Setting measurable goals before the show begins (11:16) Planning IMTS as an attendee: short-term shopping list vs. long-term vision (13:21) IMTS 2026 theme: "Achieve the Impossible" and the Six Days campaign (14:52) How real visitors shape the ad campaign and messaging (16:07) Student Summit and engaging the next generation (17:40) Family business, succession, and getting kids into manufacturing (21:55) Common exhibitor mistakes — territory gatekeeping and lost opportunities (23:48) Factur: Building consistent pipeline systems for manufacturers (24:54) Behind the scenes: how IMTS develops its theme and campaign strategy (29:25) 20th anniversary of the Emerging Technology Center (30:04) Launch of the new Industrial AI Arena and AI conference (30:59) Education tracks, co-located conferences, and specialized programming (33:56) MakingChips live podcast studio plans at IMTS 2026 (35:47) Rockford IMTS summer party and nonprofit partnership (37:35) Smartforce, Student Summit, and how schools can get involved (39:12) What visitors should be doing right now to prepare (41:19) Housing deadlines and avoiding scam hotel vendors (43:24) Hire MFG Leaders: Recruiting leaders who understand manufacturing (43:52) Will IMTS 2026 be the best show ever? Why optimism is high (45:53) Young founders in manufacturing and the entrepreneurship tailwind Resources mentioned on this episode Connect with Michelle Edmondson Connect with Bonnie Gurney IMTS 2026 IMTS Smartforce Student Summit IMTS Show Planner USMTO Report Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Launching a CNC shop young comes with no shortage of advice — but not all of it comes from experience earned the hard way. In this episode, we bring in Larry Robbins to speak directly to the next generation of shop owners. Larry has spent decades building companies, leading teams, and navigating growth, failure, and reinvention inside manufacturing. Instead of talking tools or tactics, this conversation focuses on the fundamentals that actually last. Larry shares lessons on planning before you leap, learning from mistakes without repeating them, and why humility, honesty, and relationships matter more than any single machine or strategy.  Along the way, we explore how younger founders can use modern tools like AI without losing the human side of business, why budgeting and organization are non-negotiable, and how building value means thinking beyond short-term wins. This episode serves as a reset for anyone starting early — or starting over — in manufacturing. If you're thinking about ownership, leadership, or legacy, this one is worth slowing down for. Segments (1:44) Why we're launching the Generation CNC highlighting founders under 30 (3:02) Larry's first piece of advice: Leverage older generations as resources (4:45) Why writing a real business plan matters, even if you're not borrowing money (6:03) Learning by doing, making mistakes early, and why experience compounds over time (9:00) Imposter syndrome, asking questions, and why no one should aim to be the smartest person in the room (10:23) Truth, integrity, and why lies always cost more in the long run (11:14) Mark your calendars and meet us at IMTS 2026! (12:06) How modern tools like AI can help young founders build better business plans (14:21) The power of networks and how relationships open doors (18:25) Holding yourself accountable as a business owner (20:49) Staying organized, building systems, and why chaos is optional (28:24) What's Your Method? Transitioning manual machinists to CNC (35:47) How Factur can help you build consistent sales pipelines through targeted outreach (36:49) Humility, passion, and why you shouldn't build a business around something you don't care about (39:21) Generational businesses, entrepreneurship inside family companies, and carrying the torch forward (44:15) Giving back, mentoring younger leaders, and why relationships outlast transactions (50:30) Why AI can't replace networks and never will (55:48) What's happening with workholding that you need to pay attention to (1:06:09) Why an investment in ProShop ERP is an investment in your business (1:07:45) Final reflections on leadership, legacy, and building something worth passing on Resources mentioned on this episode Mark your calendars and meet us at IMTS 2026! Check out Methods Machine Tools and connect with Jleflore@methodsmachine.com Get a free report of opportunities in your industry from Facturmfg.com/chips  Why an investment in ProShop ERP is an investment in your business BOOK: Die with Zero Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube