When the great American pioneer Eli Whitney invented mass production, little did he know that more than 200 years later his ideas of uniform parts and production efficiency would still hold true. Through his innovations and inventions (he also invented the first milling machine) he helped spark the industrial revolution.
Today, in the information age, the computer is changing everything, including manufacturing, as we know it. Computer Numerical Control machining centers (CNC) have made smaller operations more profitable with less manpower and with better quality than ever before. CNC machines are not new to machine shops; many shops have been using them for years. But, is it a must have machine tool or is it a luxury item that most shops don