Born out of the rise of the first computer systems at the end of World War Two, computer numerical control (CNC) machining has become a crucial tool in the world of manufacturing for its ability to fabricate parts from solid material in a highly automated fashion.

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Whether it be wood, plastic, metal, ceramic or a composite, CNC machines can drill, bore or cut their way to precise components. If it weren’t for CNC machines, 3DPrint.com nor this author would not be where we are today.

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Some early 3D printers (and some modern models) were made by retrofitting print heads onto CNC machines. Most additive manufacturing (AM) systems are designed using similar machine architecture and tool path code as are found in CNC equipment. It is in part these technologies’ shared histories that led to the evolution of hybrid manufacturing , in which CNC and AM operations are performed within […]

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