Episode
Lights Out at 20: Inside a One-Man, Multi-Axis Machine Shop with Michael King, Ep #33
- Published
- Jan 30, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3167
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Summary
What does the future of manufacturing look like when it's built by someone who has never known a world without digital tools, automation, or on-demand learning? In this episode of Lights Out, the hosts sit down with Michael King, founder of Munkworks, whose story feels almost implausible until you hear it unfold. Michael bought his first CNC machine as a teenager, owns a five-axis machining center before he's old enough to legally drink, and runs a growing shop almost entirely on his own. But this conversation isn't about novelty. It's about mindset. From early hands-on building and 3D printing to running production parts lights-out overnight, Michael's approach challenges long-held assumptions about experience, labor, and scale in manufacturing. The discussion traces his unconventional path from RC airplanes and additive manufacturing into full-scale CNC machining, contract manufacturing, and automation. Along the way, the hosts explore how content, curiosity, and community replaced traditional apprenticeships, and why automation was never an afterthought for Michael, but the starting point. More than a technical discussion, this episode is a reflection on priorities. Michael is building a business designed around time freedom, family, and stewardship, not just output. It's a candid look at how the next generation may redefine what a successful machine shop looks like, and why lights-out manufacturing often starts with intention, not robots. You will want to hear this episode if you are interested in... (0:00) A 20-year-old shop owner with a five-axis machine (1:02) Meeting Michael King and why his story stands out (3:47) Early curiosity, hands-on building, and RC airplanes (5:09) Running a 3D printer "farm" as a teenager (7:47) COVID-era projects and leading hardware…