A Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine is, as its name suggests, a computer-controlled machining device for creating things. Chances are, you own a product that was either made by or prototyped with a CNC machine. Here’s how they work.
What Is a CNC Machine, and How Does It Work?
If you own a car or tablet, have flown in a plane, or have any medical implants, CNC machining made all that technology (and much more!) possible and available to you. A CNC machine is, at a fundamental level, a cutting tool controlled by a computer. They vary in size, shape, and type of material they can cut.
To understand how a CNC machine works, imagine how a 3D printer works, then reverse the process. Instead of extruding layers of plastic to build up an object, a CNC machine moves a cutting tool to remove material from an existing object. Here’s a timelapse of a CNC cutting a guitar body out of a slab of wood:
It’s a bit like sculpting, but on a very tightly controlled level. You place your material (like wood, metal, or foam) into the machine, and then a cutting device carves away at it. And much like with a 3D printer, you create a 3D representation of what the final product should look like, along with adjusting several settings to help you get there (how much material to remove at once, etc.).
The benefits of a CNC machine are time and repeatability. CNC machines work quickly (compared to a human), and can make the same cut accurately multiple times. That level of accuracy and precision is essential when it comes to mass-producing a particular shape or item the same every time.
The downside is, just like with a 3D printer, if you don’t have your settings correct and your 3D file’s geometries accurate, things can go horribly wrong.
How exact a CNC machine works varies based on its cutting method.
The Three Common Types of CNC Machines
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