In this episode, host Beau Wigington chats with Adam Heffner (Hero Machine Co.) about his unconventional journey from a third-generation butcher to ironworker to fabricator, and why many small shops hit a tipping point where a 2 kW fiber laser on single-phase power outperforms plasma for cost, time, and quality. Recorded at FABTECH from the Hero Machine Co. booth, Adam breaks down real numbers on consumables, cleanup time, and when to make the jump from plasma to laser.
Key Topics Covered:
Business is a trade, too: why fab skills need business skills to turn into profit.
From side hustle to shop: working “7-10s” for three years to de-risk going full-time.
Insurance realities: how coverage limits push new shops toward non-critical work early on.
Plasma → Laser math: the break-even window around 40–55 cutting hours/month.
Consumables & cleanup: plasma (~$30/1,000 pierces + ~1 hr cleanup per cutting hour) vs. laser ($6 lower lens/week + ~5 minutes cleanup per cutting hour).
Power & air you already have: running a 2 kW laser on 220V single-phase with a standard ~10 HP compressor + dryer.
Cut capacity: 2 kW fiber laser cutting 5/8" mild steel—and why power isn’t the whole story.
Build vs. buy: lessons from DIY presses and tables, and why support/QC matter.
Supply chain + QC: avoiding bait-and-switch by inspecting at the source.
Winning architectural work: translating “pretty” drawings into constructible submittals, staying on schedule, and protecting margin when delays escalate.
Systems that scale: MRP, workstations, and process flow so the shop runs on rails.
The “Hero” idea: giving small shops a superpower that lets them price competitively and win bids.
Memorable Quotes:
“Business is a trade, just like metal fabrication.”
“If you’re cutting more than ~40–55 hours a month, you really should have a laser.”
“You can unplug your plasma table and be cutting 5/8" mild steel on a 2 kW fiber laser, on single-phase 220V.”
“My mantra was: make the means of production.”
“I didn’t want to die with a dream.”
Learn more Hero Machine Co.
Website - https://heromachineco.com/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61574579615110
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/heromachineco
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3LhWJjQrF4bmbdffkSbE8A
Connect with Beau Wigington
Instagram: @beaudiditwelding https://www.instagram.com/beaudiditwelding
E-Mail : beauw@weld.com
