As electronics and semiconductor technology evolved and advanced, more powerful computers in smaller footprints were developed, helping to permit the creation of more sophisticated digital programming. Building off the numerical control foundation, CNC took form and became a more powerful, adaptive, and sophisticated control mechanism that can offer highly repeatable process steps and monitor the quality of the machined workpiece to assure that it meets the dimensional tolerances of the programmed part design.
CNC machining is a manufacturing process that uses computers to automate various machine tools. The CNC machining process typically begins with a computer aided design (CAD) program, which can be used to create specifications for a component, part, or other manufactured product. This design is then turned into a series of numerical values that a CNC machine may use to move and operate a variety of tools. A part may be completed in one CNC machine or it may be moved manually or through robotic means between several workstations with different tools.