There has been a lot of change in woodworking technology over the last few decades. While some new technology comes out every year or two, many older techniques are well established and have been around for many years. One of the most revolutionary machines developed during the 1970’s is the router, which uses spinning wheels to create a circular motion that kneads and smoothes wood surfaces.
Router wheels today are usually made of cast aluminum or steel with an internal heating element to avoid rusting. They are available in different styles to suit different woodworking applications. Routers can be stationary or portable and come in various sizes to accommodate different projects. The stationary variety can be used in a backyard garden shed or garage workshop or as part of a set up in a commercial production facility. Portable models can also be easily moved from one location to another.
CNC machines are also on the rise. A CNC machine is computer controlled and can perform many different woodworking operations much more precisely than human craftsmen. If you have a piece of wood and want it cut into the perfect shape for your veneer or furniture project, then you would use a CNC machine to create a carved table leg, chair leg or even a carved bookshelf. You can also use this tool for the perfect hardwood floor installation. Beautiful and long lasting, hardwood floors are a timeless choice for any room in your home. With a CNC machine, you have the ability to cut out a perfect pattern, sand it down until it is uniform and then put it together like a puzzle. Because the CNC machine sands the wood in various directions, it results in a smoother surface than what could be achieved by a human craftsman.
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Computer numerical control (CNC) is one of the newest forms of woodworking technology today. By using a computer to control the operation of robotic machines, the quality and precision of a piece of wood can be greatly increased, sometimes to the point where human craftsmanship is no longer necessary. Many woodworkers today find that they can increase their production dramatically simply by switching from using a human to using CNC.
Computer numerical control has made it possible to create intricate and detailed three-dimensional projects without the use of hands. It allows a woodworker to draw lines, create patterns and adjust the dimensions of their wood cutting machine along with its moving components with a click of a button. Using this new technology, a woodworker does not need to stand in front of a computer monitor all day to complete a simple woodworking project. All it takes is a few seconds of time to move the machine a bit closer to the desired position, set the depth of the cutter and push the button. Then the project is completed.
Another form of woodworking technology available today is automated in sawing. Machines are now being built that are capable of cutting each piece of wood in several different cuts so that the project can be completed in multiple pieces instead of one or two. This eliminates wasted material as well as saves time when it comes to cutting the wood. As a result, a worker can spend more time working on the project and less time waiting for the machine to finish. An added benefit is that these machines are often powered by electricity rather than compressed air which means that the operator need not be near an electrical outlet. The possibilities with woodworking technologies such as these are virtually endless.
