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 showrooms, technology centers, and direct customer experiences. With YouTube, livestreams, and online machine demos making new technology easier to see than ever, we talk about what still makes walking the IMTS floor valuable for machine shops and manufacturers.

We also get into where the real innovation in manufacturing may be happening right now. Are we going to see major changes in CNC machine tools themselves, or is most of the progress happening around the machine through automation, robotics, machine monitoring, inspection, software integration, and AI?

With defense, aerospace, reshoring, and domestic manufacturing continuing to grow, we also talk about whether those industries are starting to influence the technology machine tool builders are prioritizing.

And before we head to Chicago, we ask one simple question:

What would we have to see at IMTS 2026 to walk away thinking something in manufacturing is genuinely changing?

A straightforward pre-IMTS conversation about CNC machining, machine tools, automation, AI, defense manufacturing, and where the industry may be headed next.

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, internal databases, workflow tools, and other software designed around the way your shop actually operates.

The biggest shift is that you no longer need to be a programmer to start building these things. If you understand the problem you’re trying to solve, you can sit down with AI, talk through the process, refine the idea, and work your way toward a functional tool.

That also means AI isn’t just a young person’s game. Experienced machinists, shop owners, engineers, and manufacturing professionals may actually have one of the biggest advantages because they already know where the problems are. They know where time gets wasted, where information gets lost, and where existing software falls short.

If you choose to look at this technology as a tool instead of the boogeyman, manufacturing could be entering a pretty interesting Renaissance.

Tune into this episode of the Machine Tool Maniacs Podcast with Jon Cheney, and check out GenAIPI.org if you’d like to learn more or reach out to Jon directly.

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-man machine shop: sometimes spending more money on better tooling and technology is really about buying back your time. When you’re handling everything yourself, where you choose to spend your time can have a huge impact on what you’re able to accomplish.

We finish the episode talking about goals and the constantly moving goalpost that comes with always wanting to build the next thing, improve the shop, or take on another project. Brett shares some perspective on learning to occasionally stop and enjoy what you’ve already built, and how doing that can take just as much intentional effort as chasing the next goal.

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. Every new machine and every new capability brought another challenge, another lesson, and another reason to keep learning.

That progression eventually took Brett from basic manual machining all the way to CNC machining and a 5-axis UMC in his own shop. We get into the machines, the projects, the mistakes, and the learning process that helped him build the skills and confidence to keep taking on more complicated work.

If you’re into CNC machining, machine shops, manufacturing, metalworking, fabrication, hot rods, custom cars, or making your own parts, there’s a lot in Brett’s story that will sound familiar.

This is Part 1 of my conversation with Brett from BRC Metalworks.

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 of manufacturers, why choosing the right product lines matters, and the realities of representing companies in an industry built on relationships. If you've ever wondered what goes into becoming a distributor in this industry or what life looks like on the other side, this episode offers an honest look at the challenges and opportunities behind building a business in manufacturing.

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 led to the creation of Street Car Fabrication, where he began manufacturing turbo flanges and proved that you don't need the newest CNC machine to build a successful business. Armed with a Fadal, determination, and a willingness to learn, Donnie laid the foundation for everything that followed. Tune in next week for Part 2 as we cover the next chapter of Donnie Carr's career, the growth of his new venture, and how he continued evolving through the machining industry.

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, none of it happens without precision machining. Inspired by the story of Josh Smith and Montana Knife Company featured on The Way I Heard It with Mike Rowe, this conversation digs into how CNC machining turns ideas into real products, enables businesses to scale, and quietly powers everything around you. If you’ve ever wondered how products actually get made, or why machining is still one of the most important industries in the world, this episode connects the dots.

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 intellectual property. Austin also introduces CodePod, a solution he has been developing to help shops simplify CMMC compliance, secure their manufacturing data, and reduce the complexity of meeting evolving cybersecurity requirements. Whether you're a shop owner, manager, or machinist, this episode offers practical insight into where manufacturing security is headed and what you can do to prepare.