Trade Fab

Where Innovation Meets the Machine Shop Floor

The New CNC Machines Debuting at IMTS 2026 This Week

Sarah Chen • 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...

Automation

Cobot Welding vs Traditional Automation

Mike Thornton • 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

Mike Thornton • 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

Mike Thornton • 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

Mike Thornton • 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

Mike Thornton • 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...

CNC

Best CAM Software for Small Shops in 2026