Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining is a manufacturing process in which pre-programmed computer software dictates the movement of factory tools and machinery. The process can be used to control a range of complex machinery, from grinders and lathes to mills and CNC routers. With CNC machining, three-dimensional cutting tasks can be accomplished in a single set of prompts. 

Vectophone Practice

Polybox

The third and final cutting attempt. The board was too shallow so the bit cut straight through instead of cutting through with tabs to hold the box in place. This caused the box to slip and get gauged by the bit, which you can see by the first image. If it hadn't been stopped the bit would have gouged straight through the box and flung it, so it had to be stopped and removed from the plate as another failure. My box has now failed three times, with only one of those times being my fault. It stopped at 80%, and at this point I give up. We don't have enough wood and I don't have enough will for a fourth attempt that, because of the way things have been going, will fail.

CNC Product: Spinosaurus

For the product I decided to cut one of my favorite dinosaurs, the Spinosaurus. To create this I used the import bitmap option and imported a silhouette, then cut around the outside edge with a 1/16 inch bit, making sure to add tabs.