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CNC Milling
TOOLS & TECHNOLOGYintermediateCNC
Definition
Computer Numerical Control (CNC) milling uses a computer-directed cutting tool to carve shapes from blocks of material — timber, foam, stone, or metal — with high precision. Unlike laser cutting (which is 2D), CNC milling can produce complex 3D surface geometries.
Example
The carved stone cladding panels of Zaha Hadid Architects' Opus Tower in Dubai (2020) were CNC-milled from solid stone blocks to achieve curved surfaces that would be impossible by hand.