In this episode of Talkin' Shop with ShopSabre, hosts Brandon Bombardo and Nick Peters sit down with longtime customer Brad Goodman of Goodman Metal Fab in Mississippi. After seven years running ShopSabre plasma and router machines, Brad opens up about why he invested his own hard-earned money in their 2kW single-phase fiber laser and how it completely transformed his shop. Brad runs a busy aluminum fabrication business serving the racing world (think Street Outlaws and local heroes like Cat Kelly) plus high-volume industrial production parts. He walks through the real differences that matter on the floor: eliminating plasma taper for perfect bolt-ready holes within a few thousandths, slashing post-cleanup time on runs of 200–300 parts, and hitting the tight tolerances his big transformer customers demand. You'll hear why speed, edge quality, and drop-in-the-box parts add up to serious labor and consumable savings that pay for the machine fast. Brad also shares honest laser operator advice that new owners need to hear. It's not plug-and-play, but if you come from plasma you already know half the battle. Learn what focus, duty cycle, air pressure, and nozzle size actually do, why you should run test cuts on your real materials, and how Brad had the machine uncrated, powered up, and cutting the same afternoon it arrived – all because he prepped and studied ahead. The conversation goes deeper than machines. Brad and the guys talk safety (never skip the enclosure), the unbeatable ShopSabre tech support that's always a phone call away, and the fab-community mindset of sharing set points instead of hoarding them. You'll walk away motivated by Brad's no-nonsense take on quality-first business, hard work, right-sizing equipment for where you are today, and why relationships and reputation beat being the cheapest every single time. Whether you're still on plasma, eyeing your first laser, or already running one and want real-world tuning wisdom, this customer story is packed with the kind of practical insight you won't find in a sales sheet. Brad proves that with the right machine, the right support, and the willingness to dial it in, your shop can level up without the headaches. For over 20 years, ShopSabre CNC has built American-made routers, plasma tables, and fiber lasers right here in Minnesota with lifetime tech support and a focus on real fabricators who want to grow. Check out the full lineup at shopsabre.com and join the conversation in the comments – we love hearing what you're building next! [00:00] - Intro to Talkin' Shop & Welcoming Brad Goodman [03:35] - Brad's Business: Aluminum Fab, Racing Parts & ShopSabre Journey [08:17] - Why Upgrade from Plasma to 2kW Fiber Laser? [09:58] - Plasma Taper vs Laser Precision, Tolerances & Cleanup Savings [14:06] - Laser Tuning Tips: Focus, Duty Cycle, Air Pressure & Nozzles [16:15] - Same-Day Setup Story – Machine Running in Hours [27:53] - Why Safety Enclosures Matter & ShopSabre Support [32:53] - Community, Sharing Set Points & Long-Term Business Mindset [47:35] - Future Plans, Rapid Fire Questions & Wrap-Up #ShopSabre #FiberLaser #PlasmaToLaser #CNCLaser #MetalFabrication #AluminumFabrication #LaserCutting #CNCPlasma #FabShopLife #Manufacturing #LaserUpgrade #MadeInUSA #WeldingTips #SmallBusinessGrowth #CNCTips Check out all of our equipment at https://www.shopsabre.com/ Follow us for daily CNC content Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shopsabre Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shopsabre Twitter/X: https://x.com/ShopSabreCNC TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shopsabre LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/shopsabre-cnc/ Like and Subscribe to our YouTube channel for more CNC router and CNC plasma cutting machine tutorials, DIY project builds, and more. We feature cutting in different materials such as wood, plastic, aluminum, and other various steels. For over 20 years, ShopSabre CNC has provided businesses and hobbyists with the best CNC machines at the best value. By focusing on unbeatable customer service and high-quality products built in the USA, we've grown from a single machine built at home to one of the most trusted CNC machine manufacturers in the country. Since building our first machine two decades ago, we now have over 10,000 CNC routers, plasma, and laser engraving machines in a wide variety of industries in over 40 countries. Our success is a result of our commitment to developing a better way to build CNC machines and support our customers. ShopSabre CNC www.ShopSabre.com 21673 Cedar Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044 800-493-6021
