Podcasts

I vs We in business Dave Precise:  “The best decision is the one that will let you make the next decision faster” AI vs search engines 5 axis work Vapor honing

Over on his YouTube channel the vivacious [Stephen Hawes] tells us that we never need to buy solder stencils again! A big claim! And he is quick to admit that …read more

Today on Talkin’ Shop — the podcast where we dive into the realities of business ownership, manufacturing, and building with precision.  On today’s episode, we’re joined by a special guest: Jeff Hill, CEO of Oneida Air Systems. Episode Chapters: (0:00) Intro  (0:23) Open Customer Questions / Comments:  (4:27) 1. The Dust Dock takes too much time, why would anyone want to use that?  (9:35) 2. Why spend the money on a more expensive dust collector when you can just buy something from China or Amazon?  (15:57) 3. When selecting Dust Collection solutions, what is the right way to determine HP? (20:17) Main Topic: Let’s talk about Oneida Air Systems (50:40) Motivational Quote of the Week (51:40) Rapid Fire   Follow us for daily CNC content on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopsabre Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopsabre X/Twitter: https://x.com/ShopSabreCNC TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopsabre LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shopsabre-cnc/ 

Although firmly entrenched in the cultural zeitgeist now, the skateboard wasn’t always a staple of popular culture. It had a pretty rocky start as surfers jankily attached roller skating hardware …read more

Let’s be real—every shop says they make quality parts. But doing it consistently? That’s a whole different game. In this episode of the MakingChips Machine Shop MBA series, we break down what it actually takes to build—and sustain—excellence in quality control. From quoting parts you can actually make, to in-process inspections, to how your shipping paperwork could delay your cash flow, this episode covers the full spectrum. We dive into real-world strategies for building quality into every step of the process—from the first RFQ to the final shipment. We talk about ownership, team structure, risk-based IPC strategies, final inspections, and how a simple $100 reward created a culture of accountability on the shop floor. Whether you’re building your first quality system or tightening up an already dialed-in process, this conversation will challenge you to think beyond just tolerances and calipers. You’ll hear how quality isn’t just about measuring—it’s about quoting smarter, communicating across departments, and building a shop culture where excellence is everyone’s job. This episode is packed with sharp insights and real-world stories from three shop leaders who know what it takes to deliver consistent, swit-level quality. Segments (0:50) Get excited for Top Shops 2025! (1:14) Why listening to MakingChips is SWIT (2:40) Why quality starts in quoting—before a chip is ever made (4:36) Aligning your manufacturing plan with your quality plan (6:35) Why you should track which tool cuts which feature (7:23) Probing vs. offline inspection: finding the right balance (8:27) Should quality report to operations? (Organizational insights) (11:41) Why balloon drawings still matter—and the tools to make it easier (14:30) Incoming and outgoing inspections for outside processing (16:48) When (and why) to keep quality in-house (17:41) First articles, first parts, and final inspection clarity (20:18) Grow your top and bottom line with CLA (20:57) Should machines sit idle during inspection? Risk vs. throughput (22:47) Calibration musts: Why you can’t trust dropped tools (24:08) Catching bad tolerances before they hit the floor (26:00) Deviation requests: When it’s worth asking (27:00) Rotating inspection plans and in-process strategies (29:53) Building inspection frequency around quantity and value (30:35) Peer checks and the $100 bill that changed everything (32:05) What “final inspection” really means at Hill Manufacturing (36:02) When paperwork mistakes delay payment—and damage quality ratings (37:37) Systematizing delivery to meet each customer’s expectations (39:16) The bottom line? Quality is everyone’s job (40:21) 3 reasons to check out Buy the Numbers Resources mentioned on this episode Get excited for Top Shops 2025! Grow your top and bottom line with CLA High QA Lights Out Automation Trap Series Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube

Laser-engraving a cylindrical object usually requires a rotary attachment, which is a motorized holder that rotates a cylindrical object in sync with the engraver. But [Samcraft] shows that engraving all …read more

Build your own mobile clamp wall to organize 54 parallel clamps and more. Perfect for any workshop and easy to move. The post You Need This! (Probably) | Mobile Clamp Wall appeared first on The Wood Whisperer.

CNCs come in many forms, including mills, 3D printers, lasers, and plotters, but one challenge seems universal: there’s always a project slightly too large for your machine’s work envelope. The …read more

What if your CAM software could learn from every part you’ve ever programmed—and make your next one faster, smarter, and easier? At Hexagon Live, we sat down with Ryan Pembroke to explore how ESPRIT EDGE is doing exactly that. As Hexagon’s Product Manager for cloud-based production software, Ryan shares how this next-gen platform is helping shops streamline programming, automate workflows, and scale smarter with every click. If you’ve ever wished your CAM system could remember what worked, eliminate repetitive programming, and accelerate your path to the spindle, this is the episode for you. Ryan explains how Hexagon’s new Nexus Cloud ecosystem—including tools like Hexagon Copilot and ProPlan AI—is designed to empower programmers, reduce onboarding time, and unlock serious productivity gains. From intelligent feature recognition to machine-aware automation and real-time learning, ESPRIT EDGE is all about putting past experience to work for future success. You’ll hear how shops are reclaiming 75% of their programming time, how Swiss machining is finally getting the Edge treatment, and why the platform is built not to replace your team—but to amplify their talent. Whether you’re programming complex parts or scaling new workflows across your machines, Hexagon’s vision is clear: give users control, reduce the mental load, and continuously learn from what’s already working. ESPRIT EDGE doesn’t just help you make better parts—it helps you build a smarter shop. This is what automation looks like when it starts with the user. Segments (0:00) Intro from Hexagon Live and some Vegas fun (2:06) Meet Ryan Pembroke and learn about his role at Hexagon (2:45) What Nexus Cloud is and how it works with CAM (3:38) Modular access to apps—scale your tools, not your cost (4:21) Ryan’s origin story in manufacturing (5:27) The evolution of ESPRIT EDGE for complex machining (9:53) Automated part copying across tombstones and setups (11:03) How user feedback drives product development (13:51) What excites Ryan today—The application of Hexagon Copilot & ProPlan AI (16:28) Listen to the Lights Out podcast to scale your shop the smart way (16:56) Continuous learning and real-time tool adaptation (19:45) How Espree Edge optimizes for tool changes (21:30) Vision for Nexus: cross-platform, connected manufacturing intelligence (23:13) Eliminate redundant work to unlock your team’s creativity (24:38) How ESPRIT EDGE helps new users get up to speed quickly (25:29) Customer training, updates, and user support forums (27:45) Leverage the Nexus community forum (28:45) Cutting programming time and increasing utilization Resources mentioned on this episode ESPRIT EDGE Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn Nexus User Community CoPilot and Pro Plan AI Connect With MakingChips www.MakingChips.com On Facebook On LinkedIn On Instagram On Twitter On YouTube