The CNC router turns a drawing on a computer into a carved part. A spinning cutter moves over the workpiece under computer control, cutting profiles, pockets, holes, and 3D reliefs with a precision and repeatability that’s hard to match by hand. It’s the tool for anything flat-ish that needs to be exact: enclosures, brackets, signage, inlay, jigs, furniture joinery, and parts for other machines.

Materials: hardwood, plywood, MDF, plastics like HDPE, acrylic, and Delrin, and, with care and the right cutter, aluminum and brass.

Workflow

Design the part in a CAD program. Carbide Create is free and simple, and handles most 2D work. FreeCAD (open source) and Fusion 360 (free for personal use) add full 3D modeling and more control over toolpaths. Our members include people who literally wrote the CAM software, so help is available.
Generate toolpaths (the cutter’s route) and export G-code.
Set up the stock on the machine, home the machine, zero the cutter to the workpiece.
Run the job and watch it. Never walk away from a running cut.

Training

Training is required before solo use. It covers workholding, choosing cutters and feeds, homing and zeroing, and what to do when something goes wrong (hit the stop, then ask). Expect about an hour, plus a first supervised job. Eye protection is mandatory in the CNC area, and long hair, loose sleeves, and gloves must be secured or removed before the spindle starts.