Toolpath
• 180 min
#4 Chips and Tips - Dylan Jackson
Chips and Tips Podcast
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In this episode of Chips and Tips, Tim Paul welcomes Dylan Jackson, co-owner of Proteum Machining and host of the Within Tolerance podcast, for an insightful deep dive into what drives a modern machinist.
'Flipping the script on Dylan Jackson' episode summary
Dylan’s story doesn’t begin in a shop, but in childhood curiosity. He recalls tearing apart broken RC cars in third grade to make something that worked again, early signs of a builder’s mindset. Fast forward to college, Dylan’s academic journey hit a rough patch. Struggling through engineering courses at the University of Arizona, he was asked to sit out a semester and find his bearings at a local community college.
That twist of fate brought him to Pima Community College’s Machine Tool Technology program. What started as “just an elective” turned into a calling. Dylan found joy and momentum in manual machining, and thanks to a phenomenal mentor, Jay Dver, he quickly accelerated through the program. Jay recognized Dylan’s potential early, challenging him with deeper questions about speeds, feeds, and smarter programming, while his classmates were still finishing basic assignments.
But the road wasn’t without its literal bumps. A serious motorcycle accident sidelined Dylan for a semester and gave him the perspective to take his work and his future seriously. Coming back stronger, he picked up a Craigslist gig at a local shop, sweeping floors until he was offered a paycheck and a shot at proving himself on the machines. The rest, as they say, is chip history.
Today, Dylan not only runs his successful shop but also shares stories that matter through Within Tolerance, helping elevate the voices of other machinists who’ve navigated their own unique paths into the trade.
