CNC machine
Computer numerical control (CNC) is the automation of machine tools by means of computers executing pre-programmed sequences of machine control commands. This is in contrast to machines that are manually controlled by hand wheels or levers, or mechanically automated by cams alone.
It’s no secret, most of us here love to see high-quality machine work and industrial robots are now capable of extreme precision at high speed. Guided by 3D software, they go to work on metal and turn it into whatever design is loaded in the computer.
The machine simply turns the workpiece around to get access to every conceivable spot and the end result is an intricate and precise piece with all of the detail you could possibly expect. There was obviously some excellent programming involved, but once done, this type of work could be repeated over and over with equal precision.
Some of our readers see work like this every day, but most of us find this amazing. As I’ve said before, once you have a piece in a computer in digital form, there’s no reason for it to ever go out of production again. If you need one, you just make one, sort of like printing on demand in the world of books. Very cool.
