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Making Sparks

Making Sparks

By: Matthew Nix and Casey Voelker
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Matthew Nix and I, Casey Voelker, are here to speak to the welding and fabrication industry. And just like MakingChips, we want to equip and inspire while attracting the next generation. Everyone will have some takeaways from MakingSparks.2024 Career Success Economics
Episodes
  • Should You Really Buy That Laser? The Hidden Math Behind Modern Fabrication, #62

    Should You Really Buy That Laser? The Hidden Math Behind Modern Fabrication, #62
    Jun 17 2026
    Fiber lasers have completely changed what's possible in metal fabrication, but here's the part nobody puts on the brochure: speed alone doesn't make a shop profitable. In this episode I'm joined by Mike Peterson, owner of Critical Laser and Spire Ranges, for an honest conversation about what it actually takes to run a successful laser cutting and sheet metal business in 2026. Mike's story goes all the way back to 1992, when Critical Laser brought one of the first lasers into Utah, a 1,600-watt Mitsubishi CO2 machine that felt more like magic than manufacturing. Since then he's watched the industry move from slow CO2 cutting to high-powered fiber that can turn an hour-long job into a 15-minute run. But as Mike explains, that kind of speed creates a whole new set of problems around labor, material flow, pricing, training, and capacity. What I appreciated most is that we didn't just geek out on machine specs. We got into ownership lessons, family business dynamics, the pricing mistakes that quietly bleed a shop dry, and the danger of making decisions based on revenue instead of profit. Mike shares how simply understanding his own numbers helped Critical Laser double its net margin without buying a single new machine. We also dug into the big question a lot of manufacturers eventually face: when does it actually make sense to bring laser cutting in-house? Mike's answer might sting a little, but it's the kind of honest advice that can save a business from buying an expensive problem wrapped in a shiny enclosure. If you're outsourcing fabrication, thinking about buying your first laser, or just trying to figure out where your shop is really making money, this one is packed with sparks worth catching. Covered in this Episode (0:00) Switching from 3,500W CO2 to 10,000W fiber cut sheet time from 70 minutes to 15 minutes(1:06) Introducing Mike Peterson and Critical Laser and Spire Ranges(7:11) The ownership evolution: from 5 original owners to Mike becoming the sole owner(9:46) Here's why you need to join us at IMTS 2026!(10:39) The danger of equal ownership: Why a single decision-maker matters for banking, equipment purchases, and major operational moves(14:14) The impact of taking over the books and updating customer pricing(18:12) How fiber lasers changed labor: CO2 needed one operator per machine; fiber requires a team just to unload(22:41) Pierce-to-pierce time: why shuttle time matters as much as cut speed when pricing a job(24:24) Beam-on time goals: Critical Laser targets 80-85% laser utilization across every 10-hour shift(25:30) Daily standup tactical meeting: 15 minutes every morning assigning every team member to specific work centers(27:14) Training young hires with formalized machine certifications, checklists, and hands-on tests(31:25) Hire MFG Leaders(33:40) Certification-based pay: each machine adds $0.25/hr; full certification can stack $10-12/hr in raises(36:10) Spire Ranges: gun range equipment manufacturing acquired March 2020; government, commercial, and private work(40:10) The $1M outsourcing threshold: do not buy your own laser unless you are already spending that with your vendor(45:56) The window well neighbor: why you shouldn't buy a cheap laser(48:53) Fiber laser maintenance is costly, which most people don't know(51:35) Why experienced laser buyers qualify on service first and machine specs second(54:57) Gross revenue vs. net margin and the Inconel job that crushed their cash flow(58:31) Why Critical Laser explains hourly rates and overhead to the whole team(59:29) Factur(1:00:34) How Spire and Critical are growing with government contracts and local relationships(1:07:18) Mike's philosophy of running a shop where everyone works with each other Resources Mentioned Why you need to join us at IMTS 2026!BySoft SendCutSendSendCutSend and the Future of ManufacturingHire MFG LeadersFactur Connect with Mike Peterson Connect on LinkedInEmail: mike@critical-laser.comCritical LaserSpire Ranges
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    1 hr and 8 mins
  • From Curiosity to Career: How SparkShop is Building the Next Generation of Makers, Episode #61

    From Curiosity to Career: How SparkShop is Building the Next Generation of Makers, Episode #61
    May 6 2026

    What if the biggest challenge in manufacturing isn't technology, but timing? In this episode of MakingSparks, host Brendon DiVincenzo sits down with Shonali Ditz, co-founder and executive director of SparkShop, to explore a powerful idea: we're trying to solve a talent pipeline problem far too late.

    Shonali's journey from engineering student to nonprofit founder started with a realization that many in the industry share—there simply aren't enough people entering manufacturing and engineering. But instead of focusing on recruiting at the college or job level, she and her team went upstream… all the way to elementary school. What they've built is a hands-on, curiosity-driven approach that introduces kids to engineering before they ever decide what they "are" or "aren't" good at.

    This conversation goes beyond STEM buzzwords and into something more fundamental: identity. How do kids see themselves? Do they believe they can solve problems, build things, or think like engineers? Through real-world examples, classroom stories, and practical insights, this episode reveals how early exposure, hands-on learning, and reframing failure can unlock entirely new pathways into manufacturing.

    For shop owners, leaders, and anyone concerned about the future workforce, this episode is a wake-up call—and a blueprint. Because if you want more skilled people in your shop tomorrow, you may need to start inspiring them when they're ten years old today.

    Resources Mentioned in this Episode
    • (0:00) Building resilience, teamwork, and emotional skills through hands-on learning
    • (1:17) The challenge of explaining manufacturing to kids
    • (2:11) Shonali's background and discovering hands-on engineering through Formula SAE
    • (5:18) Why you need to join us at IMTS 2026!
    • (6:11) Realizing the talent pipeline problem and the origin of SparkShop
    • (9:50) Making manufacturing engaging and relatable for young minds
    • (13:30) Different motivations that draw people into making and problem-solving
    • (16:21) Labor shortages, limiting beliefs, and the need to rethink hiring barriers
    • (20:10) The evolution of modern manufacturing and workforce expectations
    • (22:00) Why we love using SMW Autoblok for workholding
    • (22:43) Inside the SparkShop model: hands-on, teacher-led STEM curriculum
    • (25:41) Learning through failure and building confidence with early exposure
    • (29:46) Connecting manufacturing to the real world students see every day
    • (34:11) Why you need to listen to the Lights Out podcast
    • (34:36) Teacher feedback and increased engagement from all types of students
    • (36:38) Developing teamwork, empathy, and problem-solving skills
    • (39:24) Long-term impact and expanding the pipeline through high school internships
    • (42:41) Preparing the next generation for workplace expectations
    • (43:57) Bridging the gap between industry and young talent
    Resources mentioned on this episode
    • Why you need to join us at IMTS 2026!
    • Why we love using SMW Autoblok for workholding
    • Why you need to listen to the Lights Out podcast
    • Reach out to hello@SparkShop.org to get involved
    Connect with Brendon DiVincenzo
    • Connect on LinkedIn
    • EAGLE Lasers
    Connect with MakingSparks
    • Follow on LinkedIn
    • Follow on Instagram
    • MakingSparks website
    Show More Show Less
    49 mins
  • Passing the Torch: The Next Chapter of MakingSparks, Ep #60

    Passing the Torch: The Next Chapter of MakingSparks, Ep #60
    Apr 22 2026

    Change in manufacturing rarely comes quietly—and neither does progress. In this special episode of MakingSparks, longtime hosts Matthew Nix and Casey Velker take a moment to reflect, rewind, and ultimately pass the mic to the next voice of the show: Brendon DiVicenzo. It's not an ending—it's a handoff mid-stride.

    Matthew and Casey revisit the origin story of MakingSparks, from a short-run idea built around 100x growth to a full-fledged podcast embedded in the MakingChips ecosystem. Along the way, they've built something bigger than episodes—a platform for honest conversations, shared lessons, and a growing community of fabricators willing to pull back the curtain on how they really run their businesses.

    But like any good shop floor evolution, this transition is rooted in focus. Casey leans deeper into storytelling, culture, and video. Matthew explores new opportunities around family business and leadership. And stepping into the spotlight is Brendon—a manufacturing lifer with deep technical expertise, a front-row seat to shop transformation, and a passion for telling the stories that don't always get told.

    As the conversation unfolds, the trio digs into what makes this industry so resilient right now—from the rise of automation and AI to the growing investment thesis around "HALO" (Heavy Asset, Low Obsolescence). Through it all, one thing stays constant: manufacturing is still, and always will be, a people-first business.

    This episode isn't a goodbye. It's a recalibration—and a launch point for what's next.

    Resources Mentioned in this Episode
    • (0:00) The rise of "HALO" investing and why manufacturing is gaining attention
    • (1:42) Matthew and Casey reveal a major announcement
    • (4:38) The "why" behind MakingSparks' creation (and it's growth)
    • (7:15) The impact of storytelling and listener feedback
    • (8:11) Casey shares what's next: culture, marketing, and video
    • (11:00) The value of an outsider perspective on the show
    • (13:32) Brendon's background in manufacturing and engineering
    • (18:43) Why people are the most rewarding part of manufacturing
    • (23:19) How automation and technology is leveling the playing field
    • (25:29) How manufacturing skillsets are evolving (continuous learning)
    • (28:44) Brendon's vision for the future: highlighting people
    • (32:57) Technology enhancing—not replacing—the workforce
    • (35:09) Final reflections and gratitude from Matthew, Casey, and Brendon
    Resources mentioned on this episode
    • MakingSparks: How Technology Drives Innovation on the Other Side of Metalworking Nation, 395
    Connect with Brendon DiVincenzo
    • Connect on LinkedIn
    • EAGLE Lasers
    Connect with MakingSparks
    • Follow on LinkedIn
    • Follow on Instagram
    • MakingSparks website
    Show More Show Less
    40 mins
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