Machine Tool Maniacs

In this episode of the Machine Tool Maniacs podcast, Will and I sit down ahead of IMTS 2026 to talk about what we’re actually expecting to see at the show — and whether trade shows like IMTS are still as valuable as they once were. Machine tool builders continue to make massive investments in IMTS, while companies like DMG MORI have taken a different approach by putting more emphasis on private sh...

AI isn’t just changing how we program parts anymore. It’s changing what shop owners and manufacturers can build for themselves. In this episode of the Machine Tool Maniacs Podcast, Jon Cheney and I talk about how AI can be used to create tools that make a business more efficient, streamlined, and capable. We’re talking about building your own ERP systems, CRM systems, machine monitoring tools, int...

In Part 2 with Brett from BRC Metalworks, we pick up with a look inside his current shop setup and what it took to get his building up and running. We also get into some of the modifications he’s made to his Haas TL lathe and how he’s continued to refine his equipment around the kind of work he actually wants to do. A big part of the conversation centers around something Brett has learned as a one...

In part one with Brett from BRC Metalworks, we talk about a path into CNC machining that I think a lot of people in this industry can relate to: cars. Brett’s passion for automotive and hot rods eventually led him to machining when he realized that instead of buying parts, he could learn how to make and customize his own. He started with an 18th century lathe and worked his way up from there. Ever...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Donnie Carr, we pick up where the last episode left off. Donnie explains why he stepped away from Street Car Fabrication, what he learned during his time in machine tool sales, and how those experiences ultimately led to the launch of Pappy's Tool. We get into what it actually takes to build a distribution business from the ground up, how you earn the trust o...

Every machinist has a story, and Donnie Carr's is one built through hard work, networking, and taking advantage of opportunities. In Part 1 of this two-part Machine Tool Maniacs Podcast series, Donnie shares how he got his start in manufacturing, worked his way through multiple machine shops, and used the relationships he built along the way to accelerate his career. That journey eventually le...

CNC machinists and fabrication shops are the most known unknowns in modern life. In this episode of Machine Tool Maniacs, Matt sits down with Will Mund to break down why CNC machines are far more than just tools, they are the backbone of manufacturing, product development, and global infrastructure. From a guy in a garage building knives to companies pushing aerospace and space exploration forward...

In Part 2 of our conversation with Austin Haslam, we take a deeper dive into CMMC and why cybersecurity is becoming a critical issue for machine shops supporting the defense industry. We discuss how industrial espionage isn't just something that happens to Fortune 500 companies. Even small and mid-sized manufacturers can become targets when they're producing sensitive components and intell...

In Part 1 of this two-part series, Austin Haslam joins Machine Tool Maniacs to discuss his journey from CNC machinist to Applications Engineer at Hartwig. We dive into what applications engineering actually looks like behind the scenes, how the role differs from life on the shop floor, and why some of the best applications engineers come from a machining background. We also discuss CMMC and what t...

In this episode of Machine Tool Maniacs, Matt sits down with David Petrich and Brendon Ralph of Machinable Innovations, joined by co-host Will Mund. The conversation covers David’s path from Air Force machining training to building Machinable Innovations, the challenges of learning the trade, buying and rebuilding used equipment, and what it takes to grow a machine shop from the ground up. David a...

We continue our conversation about what it’s like being on the distribution side of the CNC machining and manufacturing industry. It’s not all roses on this side either. In part two, Will Mund and I dive deeper into the realities of machine tool distribution, customer expectations, service challenges, applications engineering, shop relationships, and the pressure that comes with keeping manufactur...

From the shop floor to the distribution side of CNC machining and manufacturing. In this episode of Machine Tool Maniacs, Will and I break down our backgrounds in the industry, what led us into applications, service, and sales, and why helping machine shops solve problems became our passion. Real talk on CNC machines, manufacturing culture, and the people keeping this industry moving.

Taylor Jenkins of Lone Wolf Precision is proving that small shops can run at a high level by combining smart automation with practical systems. In this episode of Machine Tool Maniacs Podcast, we break down how he is using Toolpath Labs AI programming along with Gimbal automation to streamline production on his Brother Speedio CNC machines. Taylor shares how AI driven toolpaths, efficient workhold...

In this episode of the Machine Tool Maniacs podcast, Will Mund and I break down the rise of humanoid robots in manufacturing and what it means for CNC machining, machine shop owners, and machinists. We discuss how robots like Figure are already working thousands of hours in real production environments, why humanoid robots fit into machine shops better than traditional automation, and how this cou...

In this episode, I sit down with Eric Schneiter to talk about his path from running a golf course to diving deep into CNC machining. What started as a drive to build his own invention led him to discover that CNC is at the core of manufacturing. Along the way, the invention took a backseat and a real passion for machining took over. Eric shares how he taught himself to retrofit machines, continues...

In this episode of the Machine Tool Maniacs podcast, I sit down with Bailey Shenk from Pizza Boy Metal Works. Bailey shares how he started his machine shop in his parents’ garage, building parts for the car community and turning his passion for cars and machining into real work. We talk about using social media to grow his brand, the challenge of quoting prototype and custom parts, and the realiti...

In this episode of the Machine Tool Maniacs Podcast, Will Mund and I sit down with Aaron Morrill, better known online as CNC Repairman. Aaron shares how he got his start repairing CNC machines, why he began creating repair videos for the machining community, and how that effort led to developing practical tools that help machinists diagnose problems and keep their CNC machines running. Make sure y...

In this continuation of our Machine Talk series, Will Mund and I set out to cover multiple components and ended up going deep on one of the most critical parts of any CNC machine: the spindle. Whether it’s spinning the cutter in a mill or spinning the part in a lathe, the spindle is what makes material removal possible. We break down what separates a good spindle from a great one, what impacts pre...

In this Machine Talk episode, Will Mund and I break down the next layer of CNC machines by focusing on motion. After covering machine foundations in the last episode, we get into what actually makes a CNC move, including box ways vs linear guideways, what “hand-scraped” really means on box ways, and how all of it affects rigidity, speed, and long-term wear. We also dive into ball screws, preload,...

In this episode of the Machine Tool Maniacs Podcast, I sit down with Brandon Atkinson of Elevation Machine to talk about our history growing up in manufacturing and how we both leapfrogged through different shop environments to end up where we are today. Brandon breaks down how Elevation Machine helps manufacturers buy and sell quality used CNC machines and fabrication equipment through a consignm...

In this episode, Matt and his wife Nicole break down how machine shops, CNC machinists, and product-focused entrepreneurs can start using short-form content to market what they offer. We cover why simple videos are enough to begin, how to show up consistently, and why perfection is not required. In today’s market you don’t have a real choice, if you plan on running a successful business, you must...

In this episode, Will Mund joins to break down predictions for manufacturing in 2026: tariff impact on U.S. supply chains, workforce challenges, and how desktop/entry-level CNC machines could expand training pipelines for new machinists. A quick listen for CNC machinists, shop owners, and anyone watching the future of American manufacturing.

In this end-of-year wrap-up episode, Will Mund and I break down what actually mattered in manufacturing in 2025. We cover the launch of Machine Tool Maniacs, Will’s progress with Greenlight Machinery, key industry moves, and how AI is already affecting CNC programming, quality, and customer engagement. If you’re a CNC machinist or machine shop owner, this is a quick look back at the trends that sh...

Get ready to sit down with Kelly Rus of Precision Machine and Repair to break down how he built a machine shop from the ground up in just a few short years. Kelly started by buying out a one-man shop and shipping it to a small town in Georgia, then setting up in the corner of a dump truck company with manual machines doing repair work. What really changed the trajectory was committing to a 24-hour...

In this second part of my conversation with Chris Lamb from Triple Axis Manufacturing, we get into the real nuts and bolts of running a small machine shop. We talk about his actual equipment setup from near free machines to inspection gear, how he finds work without chasing every job online, and why networking has been the biggest multiplier for his business. We also dive into building and selling...