It has been described as one of the best inventions of the century, a time saver for handymen, a do it yourself super kit, and a companion which the best woodworkers can’t seem to stop loving. CNC has been tagged a lot of things since it became such a big deal at the tail end of the last decade, but pretty surprisingly only a few people know what it truly entails.
That’s why we are here for you, we are here to tell you all about CNC products, what the CNC stands for, where the term originated from, how it works, what a CNC router is, a few cool projects you can handle with CNC, and a couple of other useful tips.
CNC deserves all the love it has been getting, but the fun part here is that you’ll be knowing where such a love tale got birthed. So without further ado, let’s get to the crux of the matter, showing you why CNC is the favorite term of artisans and woodwork creatives all over the world.
About the term CNC
A Computerized Numerical Control is better known around the world as CNC is “a computerized manufacturing process in which pre-programmed software and code control the movement of production equipment”. This tool or machine is used to make the most unorthodox of woodworking projects look so easy, as it used computerized methods to improve accuracy, guarantee speed, promote efficiency, and provide impeccable finishing.
Typically, “CNC machines control a range of complex machinery, such as grinders, lathes, and turning mills, all of which are used to cut, shape, and create different parts and prototypes”.
The main purpose of CNC is to combine all the difficult aspects of woodworking and make them computerized so that you’ll get a worthwhile result in record time. Thanks to computerized numerical control machines, routers, and tools, woodwork professionals have added a new dimension to the equation, as they can now handle things that were almost impossible to sort out, in such little time.
About CNC Routers
CNC Routers are some of the most famous computerized numerical control tools which are reputed to make the lives of workmen, handymen, and do-it-yourself entrepreneurs easier. They are finely equipped to “cut many types of materials, such as wood, plastic, aluminum, and high-density foam”.
CNC routers come in different shapes, sizes, prices, and functionalities. It all depends on the type of work you’re willing to carry out with the router. If you’re looking to carry out a major project, like maybe creating a surfboard, or something similar, then you’ll be needing an industrial CNC router to do the trick.
However, if you’re just looking to create a small gift for a friend, then a little portable CNC router would be perfect for the job. CNC routers are available in just about every woodwork store in the country, as all you need to do is to look properly, know what you want, check out the specifications, and you got yourself a pretty useful tool that’ll serve you for quite some time.
CNC routers typically have three major components, namely the spindle, cutting bed, and drive system. You should ensure that all these components are properly optimized and finely equipped before you go ahead to purchase your personalized CNC router.
Hand-Selected CNC Router Projects
CNC routers are purchased to create, we’ve still not seen a person that purchased a CNC Router to simply serve the purpose of furniture in a residential apartment. There are a million and one things that you could create using a CNC router, and the only limitation you might have is the reluctance to begin in the first place. So here are a couple of artistic creations which can be crafted by using a CNC Router, all of which were created by the woodwork invention of the decade.
A Wooden National Flag
In a time when protests are going on all over the nation, when people are becoming all the more patriotic, and people are getting super busy, the CNC router just had to get involved in the party. The CNC router is the perfect tool to craft a wooden flag, as it serves the purpose of designer, stylist, finisher, and so many more roles, all in one. All you need for this is a small CNC router, a creative plan, and a lot of wood to start shaping to your heart’s content.
Store Signs
Every store needs a sign, how else would potential patrons know that there’s a chow or chill spot in the hood without the necessary signs. Gone are the days when you had to pay handymen a ton of money to craft out a shop sign, as now you can do it in the comfort of your room or house garage. All you need is an advanced CNC router, a significant amount of wood, and the inscription needed on the sign.
Paintbrush Holder
It might surprise you that the smaller woodworks are the hardest to create, we can say that again about the notoriously difficult to craft the paintbrush holder. Paintbrush holders are finely made, and you need to pay close attention to detail to avoid flopping on the project. This can be done with a small, portable CNC router, but you should gather a significant amount of experience before you attempt this creation.
Wall Panel Art
There’s nothing that captivates people like proper art, and it’s even more special when it’s from that special somebody. There’s no need to outsource a wall panel art project when you can handle it in the comfort of your room using a CNC router. This job is a little more advanced than the previous ones, as you’ll need a more sophisticated CNC router to get the gig done, that’s the only way you’ll get the perfect finishing that makes Wall Panel Art truly artistic.
Commemorative Plaques
This is something that could turn out to be pretty profitable for the artisan, as long as you gain a reputation for being top-notch at that you do. Commemorative Plaques aren’t a joke, as they serve as the biggest of awards to deserving members of society. This isn’t something that a rookie should handle, but there’s no harm in trying right? You can perfect a prototype commemorative plaque by creating it on an intermediate CNC router, a router that isn’t too big neither is it particularly small. Remember, the only way you can get a hang of this is if you practice with due diligence.
Final Thoughts
CNC tools, machines, equipment, and routers have been slept on for years, but thankfully they’ve been getting the respect they’ve deserved for so long in recent history. It’s hard to find a woodwork apparatus that ticks so many boxes, allows a user to experiment with such a margin for creativity, and can be used over and over again. The CNC router does just that and more, it’s a blank canvas ready to be exploited and created upon.
If you are looking to buy one, make sure you do your research to get the best for your money. CNC machines and equipment aren’t particularly cheap they’re quite expensive and rightfully so. It’s pretty hard to find similar products or equipment that perform all the tasks that CNC machines can. All that’s left to you to do is to do a little research and get to creating the most artistic of woodworks.