Reflecting on 2024 and Building at the Speed of Trust in 2025

As we close out 2024, I’ve been reflecting on the incredible progress we’ve made together—both as a team and as a community. At Toolpath, we live by the mantra “building at the speed of trust.” It’s more than a slogan; it’s a guiding principle that shapes every decision we make.

Trust fuels our growth. Many of you have told us that you subscribed to Toolpath because you believe in what we’re building. You trust us to deliver on our vision, and that’s not something I take lightly. Your belief means everything to us.

At IMTS this year, we boldly declared, “Let’s define the future of AI for CNC together.” It’s an exciting time to be alive. A new class of tools is emerging, unlocking unprecedented levels of human productivity and creativity. Even as I write this blog, my AI assistant is refining my thoughts—not just flagging errors but helping me express myself more clearly. It allows me to focus on intent rather than worrying about my dyslexia leading to silly mistakes.

The team asked me to write this blog to reflect on the year and look ahead to 2025. Funny how being a CEO still means doing what the team tells me to do! Since I’m at the keyboard, I’d like to share some personal highlights from 2024 at Toolpath.

Sure, I got a little excited watching our subscriber count tick up in the final days of the year. It might have even distracted me from my son’s birthday for a moment. But subscribers are how we fund the dream. Each one represents a vote of confidence that you believe in what we’re building, and that means the world to us.

What brought me the most joy this year, though, were the personal connections I made with many of you. I think back to IMTS, where I met so many of you who share our vision. I remember visiting EJ’s shop in Oxnard to film a success story. He wouldn’t let me leave until I learned how to TIG weld—a skill I’m proud to have picked up. And I felt an immense sense of pride reading comments on Tim’s videos, thanking him for sharing Fusion and machining knowledge with the community.

I believe the machining industry holds untapped potential, and joined Toolpath because I truly see it as a path to unlock opportunity and improve productivity. Hearing your stories and seeing Toolpath in action is proof that we’re onto something special.

Connecting Propose, Program, and Produce

This year, we took steps to unify the three key phases of CNC machining into a single, cohesive platform:

1. Propose: The initial estimating phase, where feasibility and costs are determined.
2. Program: The programming phase, where insights from estimating are often lost.
3. Produce: The operational phase, where real-time adjustments are made but rarely fed back into earlier stages.

In 2024, we began demonstrating how to connect estimating with programming. We delivered a workflow that helps shops quickly determine if a 3-axis milled part can be manufactured using their available tools. For the first time, the groundwork from the estimate could flow seamlessly into programming.

I vividly remember demo calls where programmers and estimators started with arms crossed, skeptical of what we were building. By the end, they were leaning in, engaging with the product, and sharing ideas for improvement. They could see how connecting these once-disconnected processes could transform their workflows.

One particularly telling moment was when we asked about tool libraries. The reaction from programmers—nervous laughter and reluctant admissions—was like we’d asked them to show us their underwear drawer. Let me assure you, you’re not alone in this! My own tool library for my home CNC router is probably worse than most.

From this, we saw an opportunity to help. We launched PreTool, a free tool to help users organize and clean up their tool libraries, regardless of if they’re Toolpath subscribers. Hearing from you that we’re creating order from chaos is incredibly validating and energizing.

Looking Ahead to 2025

We’ve drawn the first thin red line connecting processes, but there’s still so much work to do. As we enter 2025, our focus is clear:

• Onboard our early adopters.
• Refine the details of what we’ve started.
• Set the stage for fully connecting the Propose, Program, and Produce stages.

It’s going to be an exciting year. We’re at the early stages of redefining digital manufacturing, and I’m incredibly grateful for this amazing community that has chosen to join us on this journey.

On behalf of the Toolpath team, thank you for your trust. We can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together.

Happy 2025!

Al Whatmough
CEO, Toolpath