In this episode of the Machine Tool Maniacs Podcast, Matt sits down with Rocky Parkerton, founder of AZ3DPrint and RegolithForge. Rocky shares his journey from serving in the U.S. Army to becoming a CNC machinist, programmer, and ultimately a shop owner.

In the first half of the episode, Rocky talks about the challenges of transitioning from military life to the machining world — starting from humble beginnings, working his way up through the ranks, and eventually leading teams and shops before striking out on his own.

Rocky also dives deep into how the discipline, leadership, and structure learned in the military directly shaped his approach to machining and business. He explains how those same principles helped him build strong shop culture, develop effective processes, and empower others within his company.

It’s an inspiring conversation about leadership, perseverance, and the drive to create — both in service and on the shop floor.

In this episode of Machine Tool Maniacs, Matt sits down with Josh and Brad, sales engineers with Hartwig, to talk about their journey into the manufacturing world and the lessons they’ve learned helping shops level up. From guiding shop owners through the decision to move from used machines to new equipment, to emphasizing why the team behind the product matters just as much as the product itself — this episode dives deep into the human side of machine tool sales.

Whether you’re running a growing job shop, thinking about upgrading your equipment, or just want to hear how top-tier sales engineers approach helping customers succeed, this conversation is packed with insight on reliability, relationships, and long-term shop growth.

Josh and Brad can be reached at https://www.hartwiginc.com/ if you're interested in getting a hold of them.

In Part 2, Will from Greenlight Machinery and I wrap up our talk on CNC controls. This time we dig into Mazak’s MAZATROL, Okuma’s OSP, Mitsubishi, and a few other systems you’ll likely cross paths with on your manufacturing journey. Whether you’re a seasoned machinist or just getting started, we break down what makes each control unique, the quirks you’ll run into, and how they shape day-to-day life in the shop.

In this episode I sit down with Will from Greenlight Machinery to kick off our conversation about CNC controls and the history behind them. We start by talking about the three main controls you’re most likely to see out in the wild - HAAS, FANUC, and Siemens.

We keep it real and talk about where each one came from, what type of shops tend to run them, and how each brand built its reputation over the years. This isn’t a how-to episode - it’s the start of a bigger conversation about what makes these systems different and why it matters if you’re a machinist, a shop owner, or anyone around CNC equipment.

This is Part 1 of a multi-part series where we’ll break down the world of machine controls, the people behind them, and how the industry has evolved over time.

Listen to Machine Talk for real conversations from machinists who live and breathe this trade every day.

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In this episode of the Machine Tool Maniacs Podcast, we sit down with Cody Ruud, the founder of Dynamic Machine, to dive into his inspiring journey from humble beginnings to running his own CNC shop. Cody shares what it took to take the leap-starting his shop right in his backyard-and the challenges and lessons learned along the way.

We also dig into how his creative approach to branding and marketing has set him apart, making it easier to attract the right work and build a name for his business in a competitive industry.

Whether you’re thinking about starting your own shop, or looking for inspiration on how marketing can change the game in manufacturing, this conversation with Cody is packed with insights and motivation.

What do you do when you can’t afford the tools you need to make a living? For John McNerney, the answer was simple - you build them yourself.

Starting as a farrier, John’s need for quality tools pushed him into blacksmithing, where his talent eventually landed him on the hit show “Forged in Fire.” That same drive led him into the world of CNC machining, where he now runs Yukon Forge - a scrappy, fast-growing shop known for its strong culture and products that sell almost as fast as he can make them.

In this episode of Machine Tool Maniacs, John shares his journey from humble beginnings to building a modern CNC shop, with insights on shop culture, marketing, and staying hands-on every step of the way. If you’ve ever wondered how grit and creativity can forge a business from the ground up, this episode is for you.

Welcome back for part two with Brady from O.P.A. Industries!

In this episode, we wrap up Brady’s story - diving into how he’s grown O.P.A. to where it is today. We talk about how he leverages platforms like Xometry to maximize spindle uptime and keep his shop flexible with capacity. Plus, Brady shares some of the ways he gives back through his philanthropic efforts.

Tune in to hear valuable insights on running a modern machine shop and the mindset behind building a sustainable business in manufacturing.

In this episode of Machine Tool Maniacs, I sit down with Brady Pickett, owner of O.P.A. Industries, to talk about his journey through the world of machining. Brady shares his introduction into the trade and his background as an applications engineer before taking the leap to start his own shop—not once, but twice.

We dive deep into the trials, setbacks, and lessons learned along the way, and explore how Brady has optimized his shop with smart systems to get the most out of every minute and every spindle.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where Brady breaks down how he keeps his machines running and profits flowing by leveraging innovative strategies to maximize spindle uptime and shop efficiency.

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In this Machine Talk episode, Matt sits down with Will Mund to break down the world of small 5-Axis CNC machines — from entry-level benchtop setups to larger machines you could actually fit in your garage. Whether you’re a hobbyist looking to take your first step into machining or curious about scaling up, this conversation covers the real pros, cons, and possibilities of bringing 5-Axis machining into a compact space.

In this episode of Machine Tool Maniacs, I sit down with Drew Mortensen, the founder of Gem State Machine in Idaho Falls. Drew shares his journey from machinist to shop owner, the leap of faith that launched his business, and the unexpected challenges along the way. We dig into the realities of buying new vs used equipment, building shop culture, marketing a startup shop, and where he hopes to take Gem State Machine in the future. Whether you’re dreaming of starting your own shop or just curious about what it takes, this is an honest look at the grind of building a machine shop from the ground up.

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