Explore past newsletters, podcast episodes, and shop-floor insights from the CNC Underground community.

Latest from the Underground

The newest stories and conversations from CNC Underground.

#16 – How VR and AI Are Changing Manufacturing

The latest CNC Underground: Afterhours episode explores why manufacturing is struggling to attract talent and what actually works to fix it. From breaking trade school myths to using VR, AI, and confidence-building, this conversation looks at where the skilled trades are headed.

#44 – The Riskiest Moment in a Turning Cycle

This issue of CNC Underground focuses on one of the most critical moments in turning: sub-spindle transfer, breaking down how to program it safely and consistently to avoid costly mistakes. It also highlights improving efficiency and staying competitive on the shop floor.

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The Underground Archive

Engineering/CAM Communication

7 Ways to Program 5-Axis

One Small Miss, One Big Crash

Finish Tips, Rush Jobs, Terafab

A Near Career-Ending Mistake

7 Ways to Automate CAM Busywork

End Tool Chaos + Smarter Inspection

Rebuilding US Manufacturing

Smarter Roughing, Shorter Cycles

CAM Trends, Tribal Knowledge, & More

That One CNC Button No One Touches

Machine Thin Features Without Chatter

Everyone Saw It. Nobody Stopped It.

Rough Faster Without Breaking Tools

Machine Orders Up, 2026 Outlook

MIT’s New Program & Deburring Tips

Tool Life, Safety Tech, & Ransomware

Boeing, Mitotec & a Killer CAM Tip

Real-Time CNCs & Smart Toolpaths

Hybrid Mfg, Laser Lathes & CAM Tips

Cybercabs, CAM tricks, and CNC Jobs

Microsoft’s Warning to Manufacturers

The CAM Tweak That Fixes Bad Finishes

A Turning Point for U.S. Manufacturing

Is Your Toolpath Fighting Your Machine?

The $6.5B Bet Reshaping U.S. Mfg

Confidence, Auto, & STEM Momentum

AI, Gen Z Recruiting, the Utah Boom

Manufacturing Can’t Shake the Slump

Why the U.S. Just Bought 10% of Intel

MIT’s $500K Manufacturing Club

The Billion-Dollar Manufacturing Shift

Automation, Labor, & Reshoring Crunch

Made in the USA

Fix Multi-Turret Bottlenecks in CAM

What Most CNC Pros Miss

Will AI Replace Your CAM Job?

#1 Mistake Shops Make With Old Files

One CAM Tip Could Save Your Part

CNC-Milled Putter Wins the U.S. Open

Why U.S. Manufacturing Isn’t Back Yet

What AI Knows About Your Toolpaths

The people behind the machines

Voices from the underground

Catch every episode of CNC Underground: Afterhours on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

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