Chatter Joins Toolpath: A New Era for Connected Manufacturing

Watch the announcement

Chips and Tips Ep 2: What's The Chatter About Chatter?

Chatter user story

The manufacturing industry is evolving, and at the core of that evolution is the need for more intelligent, more connected workflows. With Toolpath's acquisition of Chatter, we’re taking a significant step toward achieving true closed-loop manufacturing, where insights from the shop floor actively improve estimation, programming, and machining.

Today, we are announcing our packaged pricing, but this is just the first step. The complete integration of Chatter and Toolpath will happen in phases, ensuring a smooth user transition.

🔹 Step 1: Give existing Chatter customers access to Toolpath.
🔹 Step 2: Phased rollout of Chatter to new and existing Toolpath customers.
🔹 Step 3: Implement a shared login between both platforms.
🔹 Step 4: Fully integrate Chatter’s machine connectivity into Toolpath.

In the short term, users must log into both systems separately with unique credentials. The first step toward integration will be a shared login, and the final step will bring all Chatter functionality into Toolpath for a seamless experience.

Why this matters: Closing the communication gaps in manufacturing

Manufacturing has faced a fundamental challenge for too long: critical information is passed along in fragmented, one-way handoffs.

➡ Estimators hand off quotes with limited detail
➡ Programmers adjust the process without feeding changes back to upstream sources
➡ Operators tweak settings based on real-world experience, but that knowledge is rarely captured for future jobs

This lack of communication slows innovation and creates inefficiencies. I firmly believe:

“The speed of innovation is limited only by the speed of communication.”

With Chatter joining Toolpath, we’re closing that loop. Toolpath will not just record real-world machining data—it will actively use it to improve future programming and business decisions.

Automation is not a replacement; it's a multiplier

A key part of this vision is how automation should empower machinists rather than replace them. The analogy? Autopilot for pilots.

“Autopilot didn’t eliminate pilots. It freed them to focus on navigation. The same should be true for machinists. Pilots can now focus on navigating a round weather patterns to provide an improved passenger experience. Likewise, machinist will be able to focus on critical tolerances and finishes to provide better customer satisfaction with the parts they deliver”

We aim to automate the mundane, reducing unnecessary clicks and manual inputs so that programmers and operators can focus on higher-level decisions like tolerances, fixturing, and setup strategies. Shops using Toolpath will win more of the right work, increase efficiency, and scale without adding unnecessary complexity.

What this means for current Toolpath and Chatter customers

We’re committed to ensuring our existing customers benefit immediately from this acquisition. Here’s how:

For existing Toolpath subscribers

• Toolpath subscriptions started after 1st November 2024 will receive 2 Chatter machine connections at no additional cost.
• To honor legacy agreements with our Early Adopters, they will have 5 Chatter machine connections included with their Toolpath subscription.

For existing Chatter subscribers

• 🚀 Access to Toolpath
  The first step in this transition is ensuring all Chatter users get access to Toolpath so they can benefit from our estimating and CAM automation. That means you will have access to one user and two machines.

• 🔂 Go back in time & lock in 50% off
  To welcome Chatter customers to Toolpath, we’re giving you the opportunity to "go back in time" and take advantage of the same 50% off offer that Toolpath subscribers received last year.

Keep an eye out for an email with a personal link giving you access to this opportunity!

Introducing the "FREE" User Type

With the introduction of Chatter, we are also rolling out a new “FREE” user type. Administrators of any paid team can invite as many free users as they wish. This makes bringing more of your team into Toolpath easier without additional cost.

What Free Users Can Do:
✅ Upload CAD data
✅ View DFM (Design for Manufacturing) results
✅ View tool lists and operation plans
✅ Access all machine dashboards

What Free Users Can’t Do:
❌ Create toolpaths
❌ Generate detailed estimates
❌ Export toolpaths

This means shop owners, estimators, engineers, and machine operators can stay connected, review critical data, and contribute to the workflow—without needing a full paid seat.

Looking Ahead: The Future of Toolpath + Chatter

With Chatter now fully part of Toolpath, here’s what you can expect in the near future:

1. A single platform – One login, one place for estimating, CAM automation, and machine connectivity.
2. Smarter automation – Machine data that actively improves programming instead of just being stored.
3. True closed-loop manufacturing – Ensuring that real-world insights improve every future job.

When I joined Toolpath as CEO, I had a vision to revolutionize the CAM industry. With Toolpath as the foundation of that vision, I knew we had something special to build upon. As I work amongst this team of engineers, mathematicians, scientists, sales, marketing, and operational experts, I continue to be amazed by the talent surrounding me. Our progress in the past nine months is undeniable and astounding. But there's a long, long way to go to achieve the vision.

Chatter is just one arrow in a quiver that will be filled with technological breakthroughs and the addition of more incredible team members - constantly raising the bar and continuing to work closely with our customers as we 'Define AI for CNC, together.' Stay tuned for more...