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• 113 min
#17 Chips and Tips — Kevin Schneider
Chips and Tips Podcast
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Kevin Schneider has spent more than two decades building the tools many of us run every day. In this Chips and Tips episode, we trade stories from mold shops and flight simulators to the launch of Inventor R1, then dig into Autodesk Fusion updates, modeled threads, and why listening beats talking in product work. If you care about CAD, CAM, and making, this one hits both the shop floor and the roadmap.
Kevin Schneider of Autodesk episode summary
Kevin Schneider on Autodesk Fusion and the craft of making
Kevin joins us from White Salmon, Washington, where he leads with perspective earned over 26 years at Autodesk, including the last 15 focused on Fusion. He steps through a career spent inside the manufacturing group, spanning early drawing standards work through product leadership on the tools that power our shops today. The conversation is relaxed, practical, and packed with real stories that will resonate with anyone who cuts chips or ships software.
From mold shop lessons to Inventor R1
Before Fusion, Kevin helped ship Inventor R1 at the tail end of the 90s, when the CAD world moved fast and the competition moved faster. He recalls the release cadence and the intensity of those “CAD wars” years that shaped his product instincts. That context matters for modern workflows because it explains why he puts such a premium on clarity, speed, and getting out in front of customer problems.
Building products by listening first
Kevin talks openly about time in technical marketing, where he learned to sharpen stories, say less, and let the correct facts carry the day. It is simple advice that many of us need to hear more often, especially when we are fighting for attention in a room full of busy machinists. His point is not theory; it is a habit that applies to quoting, to programming, and to leading teams.
You learn storytelling, you learn when to shut up. Like, what’s the fewest possible words you need to say to make your point? And then stop talking.
Fusion features that unlock momentum
We get into modeled threads for 3D printing and why hybrid and real-time modeling make fast concept work feel natural. Kevin also nudges to join Fusion Insider, noting improvements to how parts and assemblies work and how recent constraints updates make it easier to bring skills from other systems into Autodesk Fusion. If your shop has been on the fence about trying Fusion for assembly design or for quick iterations, this segment is worth a listen.
Shop culture, safety, and learning from mistakes
The episode is both human and technical. Kevin explains why mistakes signal healthy risk-taking and how one careless comment became a career lesson in choosing words with care. He lightens the mood with an angle-grinder rule and a safety-glasses reminder that every fabricator will recognize. It is the blend of humility and pragmatism that makes this conversation stick.
Generally, I like mistakes. I think if you’re not making mistakes, you’re not taking risks and, well, learning.
Why this one matters for your shop
If you lead quoting, program CAM, or mentor new hires, you will find takeaways you can apply today. From GD&T and PMI awareness to practical product decisions that shape Autodesk Fusion, Kevin’s perspective connects the digital model to the physical part. As always, our goal at Toolpath is to close the productivity gap by turning data into decisions your team can trust, from estimate to machining, faster and with less friction.
