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If you've ever pressed the green button on a CNC machine and immediately started praying, this book is for you.
Written by Jonathan Cantin, founder of CNCROi.com, Mastering CNC and Digital Fabrication is your hands-on, brutally honest, and occasionally hilarious survival guide to the real world of custom manufacturing. Whether you're prototyping, producing, or just trying not to set anything on fire, this book helps you work smarter - not just harder.
Forget the fluff. This is a deep-dive into CNC routing, laser cutting, plasma, waterjet, 3D printing, welding, and more-with plenty of shop-floor stories, practical insights, and the kind of wisdom only earned through trial, error, and tool breakage.
Inside, you'll learn how to:
Design for real-world manufacturing (because the part never matches the CAD file) Choose the right material for the job-and survive supplier shenanigans Navigate the differences between CO? and fiber lasers, gantry vs. galvo, FDM vs. resin, and more Optimize for speed, precision, and margin using nesting, tolerancing, and toolpath strategies Avoid common mistakes (like forgetting to turn on the air assist... again) Use synergies between CNC platforms to create seamless workflows Understand the impact of automation, cobots, and AI in modern fabrication shops
What makes this book different?
15 detailed chapters covering every major CNC and digital fabrication process Real-world case studies (like engraving giant oak doors or projects in the Arctic Code Vault) Lessons from the shop floor - what worked, what failed, and why it matters Chapter quizzes + answer keys to help cement what you've learned Appendix packed with cheat sheets, conversion charts, and historical context Glossary of industry terms, demystified in plain language (with a wink)
Perfect For:
CNC operators, shop owners, and digital fabrication pros Product designers, engineers, and educators bridging theory and practice 3D printing enthusiasts and hands-on makers Anyone who's ever yelled at a nesting algorithm, or wondered why a particular bit didn't work well
This isn't a textbook. It's the culmination of three decades in the trenches-plus a welding diploma earned at age 48 just to cross it off a bucket list.
It's written for my son, Simon, and for every maker who knows that building something custom means making it work - not just hoping it does.
Mastering CNC and Digital Fabrication
Because real fabrication is messy, beautiful, and absolutely worth it.
