Branches of CNC machining

CNC manufacturing can be traced back to the 1940s, when the first numerical control (NC) machines started to appear (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_numerical_control), and methods to automate handcrafted fabrication can be traced to three centuries ago. I’m sure you’ve seen videos of these machines perhaps fabricating the engine block for a car or cutting and shaping sheet metal. For all intents and purposes, a CNC machine is a type of robot. It takes stock material (a sheet of wood, a block of aluminum) and turns it into a product ready to be assembled or finished very quickly, very accurately, and, most importantly, repeatedly. CNC machining made fabrication at scale possible.

With the advent of desktop computing, more commonly accessible materials, and smaller, more powerful components, it also became possible to bring CNC machining to the home workshop. Now, anyone with a good guide can put together a robust desk or bench-top...