In this episode, Justin Gray (CTO at Toolpath) sits down with James Dyer (Accurate Dial and Nameplate) and Jon Rabinowitz (The Shop Inc.) to talk about the painful, confusing, and occasionally hilarious world of quoting CNC jobs.

This one’s for the machinists who:

• Feel like every quote they write is a shot in the dark

• Have been burned by material costs, missed features, or surprise inspection demands

• Use slitting saws, glue and tape, or even manual mills to solve wild quoting puzzles

• Are trying to raise prices without losing customers (or their minds)

We get real about:

• Quoting mistakes (and the weird lessons learned)

• Setup strategies for weird parts—including a $2,000 block of PEEK

• Expediting nightmares, tooling tricks, and the soft jaw rabbit hole

• Whether automation, zero-point systems, or tape-and-glue workholding actually change how you price jobs

• When to send a “go away” quote—and when it backfires

Plus: the story behind Toolpath’s “question mark bracket,” how to keep a part flat with a spider crane and rollers, and the surprising math behind quoting scrap.

Ben sits down with Pete, Toolpath’s Head of Product, for a wide-ranging conversation on what it really takes to build great CAM software. Recorded after a rare in-person team meetup in Ohio, this episode blends thoughtful reflection with on-the-ground anecdotes—from bowling alley mechanics and surprise chip welds to shipping deadlines and tap-related disasters.

They break down the three major internal product initiatives—Project Golden, Project Otter, and Project Armadillo—and how each is shaping the future of CAM automation. Expect behind-the-scenes insights, Red Bull-fueled roadmap rewrites, the value of empathy for machinists, and a full demo of Toolpath’s new Tool Recommendation Engine.

In this episode of Chips and Tips, Tim Paul from Toolpath sits down with the legendary Mark Terryberry of Haas Automation—yes, the “Tip of the Day” guy.

Mark shares how he went from changing clutches as a teen to shaping the machining world with his educational videos and decades of hands-on experience.

We cover everything from:

• The real story behind the first-ever Haas Tip of the Day

• Why hearing protection in the shop matters (and Mark’s personal connection)

• Mark’s DIY mechanical origins and career pivot from payphones to programming

• The unexpected power of educational content, mentorship, and just getting started

• How AI and automation are shaping the future of CAM and manufacturing

• Favorite Haas machines, cool projects, shop hacks, and Mark’s thoughts on workholding, tooling, and quoting

With stories from the garage, the shop floor, and the classroom, Mark drops wisdom for machinists young and old—plus some hot takes on CAM software, 3D printing, robotics, and why every kid should own a tool set.

Whether you’re a shop rat, a student, or a machinist dreaming big, this one’s packed with practical tips and real talk from someone who’s lived it.

Get ready to go deep. In this episode, Tim breaks down everything he’s learned over 25 years about cutting parameters—from chip load and flute count to horsepower limits and tool geometry. It’s nerdy, it’s practical, and it’s full of “aha” moments for anyone working with CNC machines or CAM software. If you’ve ever wondered why your calculator settings don’t match real-world results, this one’s for you.

Tune in to hear Dylans story on how he got into manufacturing, running his own shop, and the challenges that come with it.

Welcome to the very first episode of the Chips and Tips Podcast! We’re the Toolpath Labs Customer Success Team, here to chat about Toolpath, Fusion 360, and the machining community. Expect updates, expert tips, and real talk on all things CAM.