Trade Fab

Where Innovation Meets the Machine Shop Floor

The New CNC Machines Debuting at IMTS 2026 This Week

Renata Kowalski • Sep 14, 2026 • 11 min read

Eleven Okuma machines, four of them Americas debuts, an Integrex that grinds, and two Index/Traub machines North America has not seen in the metal: IMTS...

Tools

5 Precision Measuring Tools Machinists Overlook

Dave Miller • Jan 19, 2026 • 7 min read

Every machinist knows the trusty micrometer and dial caliper. These workhorses live in nearly every toolbox and get pulled out dozens of times a day....

CNC

5 Axis Machining Shortcuts Pro Shops Use

Dave Miller • Jan 16, 2026 • 8 min read

Five-axis machining represents the pinnacle of CNC capability, but owning a 5-axis machine doesn't automatically translate to maximum productivity. The...

Welding

Plasma Cutting Secrets Pros Use

Nathan Voss • Jan 12, 2026 • 23 min read

Walk into any high-volume fabrication shop, and you'll notice something interesting: the plasma cutting stations run by veteran operators consistently...

Tools

5 CNC Workholding Tricks Pros Use

Nathan Voss • Jan 11, 2026 • 9 min read

Ask any experienced machinist what separates a good shop from a great one, and workholding will come up within the first three answers. While beginners...

Automation

Cobot Welding vs Traditional Automation

Nathan Voss • Jan 7, 2026 • 8 min read

If you're running a small to mid-sized fabrication shop, you've probably noticed that finding skilled welders is getting harder every year. The welding...

Welding

6 Common Weld Defects and Fixes

Nathan Voss • Jan 7, 2026 • 6 min read

Every welder has been there—you flip your hood up, inspect your bead, and spot something that shouldn't be there. Weld defects aren't just cosmetic...

Welding

TIG vs MIG for Stainless Steel

Nathan Voss • Jan 7, 2026 • 7 min read

When it comes to welding stainless steel, the TIG versus MIG debate has been running through fabrication shops for decades. Both processes can produce...

Tools

How to Choose Carbide End Mills

Nathan Voss • Jan 7, 2026 • 4 min read

Choosing the right carbide end mill can mean the difference between a smooth, profitable job and a frustrating cycle of broken tools and scrapped parts....

Business

5 Profitable Niches for New Fab Shops

Nathan Voss • Jan 7, 2026 • 6 min read

Starting a new fabrication shop in today's market can feel like walking into a knife fight. Established players have decades of relationships, dialed-in...

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