#16 Chips and Tips — Pallet Load or Part Load? (Michael Gimbel, Gimbel Automation)
When it comes to CNC automation, should you invest in pallet loading or part loading? In this episode of Chips and Tips, Justin sits down with Michael Gimbel of Gimbel Automation to unpack the tradeoffs, myths, and hidden challenges behind each approach.
Michael shares insights from his own journey—starting as a job shop owner frustrated with inefficiency, to building innovative spindle grippers and modular systems designed to make automation simpler, cheaper, and more accessible. Along the way, he and Justin discuss:
• The real differences between pallet and part loading
• Why chips usually aren’t the problem machinists expect
• How spindle grippers can change the game for small shops
• The leap from one-op to two-op automation (and why it matters)
Whether you run a small shop or manage large-scale production, you’ll come away with practical frameworks for evaluating automation strategies—and a clearer picture of how to unlock more spindle time without breaking the bank.
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1:15:00
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1:15:00
#15 Chips and Tips — Dr. Yavuz Murtezaoglu of ModuleWorks
This week Justin sits down with Dr. Yavuz Murtezaoglu, the mind behind ModuleWorks, whose toolpath algorithms quietly run inside most CAM systems on the planet. From hacking five-axis machining on a 486 processor in the ’90s to leading a 400-person company at the cutting edge of CAD/CAM and AI, Yavuz has seen it all.
They talk about the wild early days of “visual collision control” (spoiler: if it crashes in the sim, don’t run it), why mesh vs. NURBS still matters, how deburring became a sleeper hit, and where automation and AI might take manufacturing next. It’s a conversation full of history, humor, and big ideas about the future of making things.
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57:35
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57:35
#14 Chips and Tips — Good Part, Then Fast Parts (w/ Chris Zappettini)
Justin is joined by the one and only Chris Zappettini of Zappettini Consulting for a dive deep into one of their core mantras: “First we make good parts, then we make fast parts.” The duo explores how this principle has shaped their businesses, their code, and their cutting strategies.
From the long evolution of Chris’s Asana-based systems to the quirks of quoting, automation, and job shop workflows, they break down how chasing optimization too early can sabotage progress, and how building something solid first paves the way for meaningful speed later. Along the way, they touch on:
• Why premature optimization is the enemy
• Lessons from job shops, turnkeys, and aerospace brackets
• The surprising power of templates and standardized quoting
• The real goal: fast throughput, not just fast cycle time
• AI’s role in matching parts to templates
Whether you’re running a machine shop, writing code, or just trying to build a better system, this episode delivers a punchy reminder: reliability before speed, clarity before cleverness, and good parts before fast ones.
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56:23
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#13 Chips and Tips — Template My Template
Garrett Wade joins Justin to break down how smart use of Fusion 360 templates, container methods, and zero-point workholding can save hours on every job. From soft jaw strategies to avoiding Z-crashes—and even a peek at Toolpath’s AI-driven future—this episode is packed with practical CAM wisdom for shops that want to move faster and safer.
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1:19:13
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1:19:13
#12 Chips and Tips — Tyler Bonde from Mitsui Seiki
Join me on the Chips and Tips Podcast as I chat with Tyler Bonde from Mitsui Seiki in episode #12. This episode marks my return to podcasting after recovering from a neck and back injury. Tyler and I dive into his fascinating journey from growing up in Minnesota to his current role in North Carolina. We explore his diverse career path, including his early interest in automotive trades and his transition into machining. Tyler shares insights into his work at Mitsui Seiki, where precision and reliability are key. We also reminisce about our first meeting at a go-karting event, highlighting our shared passion for racing. Tune in for an engaging conversation about the machining industry, personal stories, and the importance of building relationships in sales.
We’re the Toolpath Customer Success Team, here to chat about all things Toolpath, Autodesk Fusion, and the machining community. Check out the Chips & Tips blog for extra details on each episode. https://toolpath.com/chips-and-tips
New Zealand