Machine tool maniac

Machine tool maniac Machine Tool Maniacs Podcast. Where machining, fabrication and entrepreneurship collide.

05/30/2026

Machining is the invisible trade. Nearly everything around us exists because of CNC machining and manufacturing, yet most people have no idea what a machinist does. I recently sat down with David Turner on the Rapid Fire Manufacturing podcast to talk about my journey through the industry, lessons learned along the way, and why manufacturing remains one of the most important and overlooked careers in the world. Check out the episode and give the podcast a follow for more stories from the people building the products we rely on every day.

05/29/2026

I've used ChatGPT enough that I'm starting to have CNC hallucinations. Next thing you know I'll be trying to run constant surface speed on a vertical mill. All jokes aside, AI is a powerful tool for machinists and CNC programmers, but you still need to know when it's confidently wrong.

05/28/2026

Every CNC machinist has seen it. One guy hangs 12 feet of unsupported bar out the back of the lathe thinking it’ll be fine… then halfway through the cycle the bar starts whipping like a helicopter blade. The whole machine starts shaking, alarms go off, everyone in the shop turns around, and chaos begins. Support your bar stock before your CNC lathe turns into a demolition derby.

05/27/2026

Anybody can sell you the dream CNC machine when everything is running perfect. The real question is who answers the phone when the control is lit up with alarms and your machine shop is behind schedule. Before buying CNC machines or machine tools, make sure you’re not just buying the machine. You’re buying the distributor, the service department, and the support behind it.

05/23/2026

Shout out to Brett at BRC Metalworks for bringing attention to this. I understand the need to protect sensitive information and secure the supply chain, but CMMC compliance is something every CNC machine shop and job shop needs to start paying attention to now. The concern is that the cost and complexity of compliance could hit small manufacturers the hardest. If your shop does defense work or wants to in the future, this is no longer something you can ignore.

05/19/2026

Every CNC machine shop has that one guy that can crash a machine, scrap parts, miss dimensions, and still somehow blame everybody else. CNC machinists and machine shop owners know exactly who I’m talking about.

05/15/2026

PSA: CNC programmers just ranked #7 on the AI adaptability list. Engineers everywhere are celebrating because they can finally design impossible parts again without hearing “that’s not manufacturable.”

Meanwhile machinists are realizing the engineers were right all along. We really are just button pushers. CNC machining and manufacturing might be finished.

05/14/2026

If you’re in the Mountain West CNC machining and manufacturing community, come join us June 10th, 2026 at the Hartwig showroom in Salt Lake City for our Pre IMTS Tailgater event. We’re bringing together machinists, CNC programmers, shop owners, engineers, local machine shops, and industry partners for live machine demos, networking, and a chance to see some of the latest machining technology before IMTS 2026.

If you register and attend the event, you’ll also have a chance to win a trip to IMTS 2026 this September. Check Hartwig Inc. for registration and raffle details.

05/11/2026

CNC machinists, CNC programmers, and manufacturing run on caffeine, coffee, and energy drinks.

05/04/2026

Spent the day cleaning a coolant tank and now you want a recap. This is the side of CNC machining nobody posts. Machinists CNC programmers and shop owners know the smell the sludge and the reality of coolant maintenance. It is not glamorous but it keeps the shop running.

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