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Brent Donaldson Editor-in-Chief
Brent Donaldson is Editor-in-Chief for Modern Machine Shop, where he is oversees the brand’s writing staff as well as day-to-day management of editorial operations. Brent also serves as a columnist and feature writer and reports regularly about his travels to machine shops, trade shows and conferences around the country and internationally. Brent is also co-host, producer and editor of Modern Machine Shop’s documentary-style podcast, “Made in the USA.”
Before joining Gardner, Brent was editor-in-chief of Northern Kentucky University Magazine — the same university from which he received his journalism degree in 2005. Brent previously served as associate editor for Cincinnati Magazine, and is the recipient of two Ohio Excellence in Journalism awards for feature news writing, Cincinnati Society of Professional Journalists awards, and more than 40 individual awards from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education for writing and editorial.
Fun fact: Brent was the last journalist ever to interview Evel Knievel.
How One Machine Shop Adopted (and Defined) a Four-Day Work Week
In an industry facing perennial shortages of skilled labor, shop owners must leverage every competitive advantage at their disposal in their efforts to attract talent. One small shop in Bridgewater, Massachusetts is experimenting with a new staff schedule that the owners say is already reaping major benefits: a four-day work week.
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How I Made It: Erez Speiser, “The Machining Doctor”
Erez Speiser has devoted his entire professional life to the world of machining, most notably his 20-plus years in senior management positions at cutting-tool manufacturer Iscar. When the Covid pandemic struck, Speiser began building his “Machining Doctor” website that not only provides technical information for CNC machinists, but also launched a new and unexpected phase of life for him — and a new career.
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Community, Machines and the Open Road: A Tribute to Barry Rogers
Machine tool industry stalwart and friend Barry Rogers will be remembered for his passion, kindness and community spirit. A reflection on Barry’s remarkable career and the impact he had on countless individuals.
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How I Made It: Amy Skrzypczak, CNC Machinist, Westminster Tool
At just 28 years old, Amy Skrzypczak is already logging her ninth year as a CNC machinist. While during high school Skrzypczak may not have guessed that she’d soon be running an electrical discharge machining (EDM) department, after attending her local community college she found a home among the “misfits” at Westminster Tool. Today, she oversees the company’s wire EDM operations and feels grateful to have avoided more well-worn career paths.
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The Intersection of CMMC and Small- to Mid-Sized CNC Job Shops
The decision to gain or retain status as a defense supplier by pursuing CMMC compliance is especially difficult for small- to mid-sized machine shops, and the complexities and misperceptions tied to the program certainly aren’t helping. To break down those complexities, here are five key issues that small- and mid-sized job shops need to know about CMMC.
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5 Stages of a Closed-Loop CNC Machining Cell
Controlling variability in a closed-loop manufacturing process requires inspection data collected before, during and immediately after machining — and a means to act on that data in real time. Here’s one system that accomplishes this.
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Leveraging Data to Drive Manufacturing Innovation
Global manufacturer Fictiv is rapidly expanding its use of data and artificial intelligence to help manufacturers wade through process variables and production strategies. With the release of a new AI platform for material selection, Fictive CEO Dave Evans talks about how the company is leveraging data to unlock creative problem solving for manufacturers.
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The Intersection of Work, Play, Technology and Independence
The February issue dives into digital technologies that not only streamline production, but make a tangible difference in people’s lives.
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Machining Vektek Hydraulic Swing Clamp Bodies Using Royal Products Collet Fixtures
A study in repeatable and flexible workholding by one OEM for another.
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How I Made It: Doug Schulte, Select Machining Technologies
Doug Schulte was introduced to machining as a young child, often visiting his father at the LeBlond Machine Tool company where he worked in Cincinnati. Here, Schulte — who ended up dedicating his entire career to the industry — shares some of the key insights he’s discovered along the way.
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Artificial Intelligence, Origin Stories, Machining Strategies, and the Wild Ride Ahead in 2024
The January 2024 issue of Modern Machine Shop contains several firsts. From new features to new topics and presentation styles, the debut issue of the year reflects not only a changing landscape of machining strategies, but also the stories behind the people who innovate them.
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An Open Letter to Kids About Machines and the World of Making Things
This is an open letter to middle- and high-school students about choices they’ll soon face. It is also an introduction to Career and Technical Education (CTE), the world of CNC machining, and a reminder that there are options outside of the traditional four-year college path.
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