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• 81 min
#23 Can Devin Bodony Control the Chaos with Automation?
Chips and Tips Podcast
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Automation can transform a shop, but only when the process behind it is strong enough to carry the load. In this episode, Justin sits down with Devin Bodony of Lichen Precision to unpack the decisions, fears, and practical realities behind adding either a new spindle or a robot to a high mix workflow. Devin’s shop runs at the edge of complexity, and the two walk through what automation really demands in terms of skill, tooling, consistency, and mental bandwidth. This sets the stage for a candid discussion about the work that must happen long before a pallet changer ever shows up at the door.
In Ep. 23, Justin joins Lichen Precision founder Devin Bodony for a grounded conversation about capacity planning inside a high mix, high pressure job shop. Devin’s workflow relies heavily on a Brother M300 mill turn machine that carries most of the shop’s complex prototyping and aerospace work. The catch is that this machine also represents the bottleneck. Justin pushes on a simple but difficult question. Should Devin invest in a robot or in a second spindle, and what would it take for his shop to truly capitalize on either path?
“A robot reduces the amount of work you have to do and an extra spindle increases the amount of work you have to do.”
— Justin, [00:38:00]
They start by contrasting theoretical output with the realities of tight tolerance, low quantity work. Devin explains that many of his recent jobs sit right at the edge of the team’s skill level and the machine’s capability. Features with plus or minus five tenths, expensive materials, and limited stock leave almost no room for scrap. Automation promises more throughput, but only if the shop can trust a process that runs unattended. Justin challenges Devin to examine the assumptions behind that fear, because those same weaknesses would also limit the value of a new spindle.
“Every job you're changing at least a few tools, pretty much.”
— Devin, [00:57:00]
The conversation moves into tooling and the mental load that surrounds it. Lichen Precision builds tools for nearly every job, and the team rarely experiences a setup that requires no tool swaps. Even with tight processes, human error still slips in. A holder might be wrong, stick out might be off, or a tool number may break the shop’s internal conventions. Running lights out amplifies every small detail that normally gets caught by instinct. Justin proposes a more resilient approach. Build up more permanently assembled tools, validate them offline, and tighten the library into something the machine can trust.
“It is one of those things where it's like, okay, no one talk to me for the afternoon, I'm going into this land.”
— Devin, [01:14:00]
Justin and Devin also dig into the deeper issue behind any automation effort. It is not just hardware. It is mental capacity. Automation demands strong macros, predictable offsets, and a process that does not rely on tribal knowledge. Devin admits that writing macros still takes real effort for him, and it requires uninterrupted time that rarely exists in a busy shop. Justin pushes back by suggesting a different kind of investment. Bring in help, buy the expertise, and clear the mental clutter before scaling capacity. Sometimes the best upgrade is not a machine, but the breathing room to improve the system around it.
By the end of the episode, both agree that automation is not a magic fix and a second spindle is not a safe shortcut. Each amplifies the strengths and weaknesses already present in the shop. For Devin, the path forward is about building a wider plateau that can support either choice. More standardization, more robust tooling practices, and more predictable processes will open the door to future automation that runs confidently day and night. This episode gives every shop owner a clear reminder. You cannot automate chaos. You have to tame it first.
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