The Impractical Machinists

Brad Jacob from Maple Lane Machine and Tool joins Patrick and Cameron as guest host for this episode.
They catch up on what has changed at Brad’s shop, how the VF-2 is working out, and why he has been considering a different CAM system. That leads to an honest discussion about software support, unexpected updates, five-axis programming, cutter compensation, modeling around tolerances, and the amount of work you can lose when you leave a system containing years of programs and models.
The second half is built around stories submitted by machinists. There is a new machine that supposedly needed nine tons of concrete—but actually needed one setting changed. A young programmer who thought he had nothing left to learn. Perfectly good threaded parts rejected by questionable gauges. A rush job made from material the customer later admitted was wrong. Four long shafts, sixteen-hour days, and a baby due at any moment. And a batch of good parts rejected because the inspection room was too hot.
We’d like to hear how other shops handle these situations. Have you ever switched CAM systems, challenged a rejected part, or accepted a rush job you later regretted? Share what happened—and what you learned from it—in the comments.
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Connect with the hosts on Instagram:
Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN
Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool
Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel

Thanks for listening!!!

Every machine shop runs into the same challenges sooner or later. Cash flow gets tight, tooling costs keep climbing, and deciding when to invest in new equipment is never easy.
In this episode of the Impractical Machinists Podcast, Pat, Cam, and Brad answer questions from the Practical Machinist community and share how they'd approach some of the biggest decisions shops are facing today.
What would you do? Let us know in the comments.
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Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum.

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Connect with the hosts on Instagram:
Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN
Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool
Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel

Thanks for listening!!!

Taylor Jenkins didn't start out wanting to be a machinist. He wanted to fly planes.

Then COVID hit, his plans changed, and he ended up in a composites program working with carbon fiber instead, chasing the same hands-on itch he'd had since high school building RC gliders and racing drones. From there he landed a job as a CNC operator in southern Utah almost by accident, just because he could already read a blueprint.

A few shops, a few good mentors, and one really bad boss later, Taylor ended up running his own shop, Lone Wolf Precision, completely solo. No crew, no robots, just him, two Brother mills, and an auto saw he's genuinely proud of.

In this episode, we get into:

- His path from drone racing and RC planes into machining (it's a weirder story than you'd think)
- The probe crash that almost killed his new Brother machine, and what it taught him about automation actually eating your "free time" instead of giving you more of it.
- The aerospace shop that trained him right, including learning the CMM inspection feedback loop the hard way
- The bad coworker situation that finally pushed him to leave that job for good
- The six weeks he had to buy a machine and make a brand new production contract work, after turning down a job offer to do it
- How he finds new work (hint: it's not LinkedIn), and why he fires customers who aren't worth the headache
- The saw stop he designed because every shop bandsaw stop he's ever used has been garbage

If you're running your own shop, thinking about starting one, or just like hearing how somebody actually built theirs from the ground up, this one's worth the listen.
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Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum.

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Connect with the hosts on Instagram:
Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN
Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool
Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel

Thanks for listening!!!

Ron Gobbels, CEO of Kam Wire EDM Technologies located in Cambridge, Ontario, Canada, joins the guys for a conversation that covers a lot more than just wire EDM. 
From growing up in the trade under an old school German mentor, to making a scary leap into shop ownership and watching the work dry up almost immediately — Ron shares the real story of building a specialty machining business from the ground up. He also breaks down everything you've ever wanted to know about wire EDM — how it actually works, what it can and can't do, and whether it belongs in your shop.

Timestamps:
0:00 — Introductions
0:49 —Why Ron diversified in 2019
8:26 — Ron's background — from old school tool & die to cowboy to EDM shop owner
11:00 — How Kam Wire EDM started and the scariest month of his life
16:31 — How Ron connected with Ian Sandusky
22:15 — What is wire EDM and how does it actually work?
28:16 — Crashes, floods and EDM horror stories
36:47 — Fixturing and cutting different materials
44:51 — Tolerances and what affects accuracy
51:40 — Should you have a wire EDM in your home shop?
55:25 — What to look for when buying a wire EDM machine
1:05:54 — The thickest and thinnest parts Ron has ever cut
1:09:20 — Can EDM replace grinding and milling?
1:11:42 — Do they take walk-ins?
1:16:46 — Ron's impractical tip: never stop innovating
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Connect with the hosts on Instagram:
Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN
Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool
Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel

Thanks for listening!!!

Eddie Riddell runs Steele Co Engineering out of Perth, Australia — one of the most isolated cities on the planet, about 12 hours from the nearest place. He started with a fabrication business, got it up to four employees, then walked away from all of it to do what he actually wanted: run a one-man CNC machine shop on his own terms.
In this episode, Eddie breaks down why he made that call, how he pulled off buying a brand-new mill turn as a one-man shop, and what it actually takes to build a lean, profitable business by yourself.
We also get into:
Why he introduced a minimum charge and how some clients stayed, some didn't — and why he's fine either way
How his terms and conditions let him walk down to a customer's house with an angle grinder — and why the customer paid immediately after
What it's like sourcing machines and materials from the most isolated industrial city in Australia
His goal to get down to working 3 days a week — and the mindset shift that made it possible
Why he chose to stop having employees and never looked back
Eddie's approach to business is simple: know your worth, keep your overheads low, and don't let anyone treat you like a bank.
🔔 Subscribe, Rate, and Review to never miss an episode. Your feedback helps us bring you the content you love!

Drop your comments or topic ideas in the forum.

Or listen to our podcast on YouTube

Connect with the hosts on Instagram:
Patrick Mcclintock: IG or PM@Job Shopper TN
Cameron Graves: IG or PM@Machiningiscool
Bradley Thomas: IG or PM@Marvel

Thanks for listening!!!