Reflecting on TLC: Why Toolpath Exists

I had a great time joining the TLC Chat podcast with Tom Kurfess, Dr. Lonnie Love, and Dr. Cyber Kyle. It was a fun, fast-moving conversation, and it gave me a chance to reflect on why we started Toolpath and where we’re going.

Here are a few thoughts from the episode.

1. Rethinking CAM with AI
At Toolpath, we’re building AI that flips the CAM experience. Instead of users doing all the work and asking the software to calculate something, the AI makes decisions and the user guides it. Think of it like setting the rules of a game. You tell it what it must, may, and must not do, and it plays the game of machining to win.

This is about empowering the machinist, not replacing them. AI is here to remove the boring parts, not the brainpower.

2. Every Shop is a Snowflake
Shops are unique. Tooling, setups, parts, processes—they all vary. So instead of chasing one-size-fits-all automation, we’re focused on helping each shop be great at their process. Let’s remove the friction so you can run more parts with fewer headaches.

We’re not learning from your data. We’re simulating the game internally and letting you constrain it with your own tools and machines. It’s fast, smart, and predictable.

3. It’s About Productivity, Not a Skills Gap
I’ve said this before and it came up on the podcast again: let’s stop talking about a skills gap. We have a productivity gap. The goal is not to replace skilled people—it’s to give them superpowers. AI helps you make better decisions faster. That means fewer mistakes, less scrap, and more time spent optimizing instead of firefighting.

You can try Toolpath now at toolpath.com. Upload a CAD file, try it with our sample tool libraries, and see how the system responds. If you’re ready to plug in your own tools, even better. That’s where the real power comes in.

Big thanks again to the TLC crew. It’s always energizing to be in a room with people who love manufacturing and want to push it forward.