Alternatives to the Printrbot Simple - 3D Printing: Build your Own 3D Printer and Print your own 3D Objects - page 195

Figure 10.9 Objects created in wood by a CNC machine.
CNC machines come in all shapes and sizes, from small, shoebox-size milling ma-
chines to garbage-truck-size machines. Some of them operate only in the three ba-
sic axes (X, Y, and Z), whereas others bring additional features, such as the capab-
ility to cut while the object spins (called the fourth axis) like a lathe.
And what about a laser cutter? The name should give you some very obvious clues
about what it does. It uses a high-wattage laser beam to cut out objects. This work
is done in only two dimensions (X and Y). Although creating flat objects to be cut
out is much easier than designing a 3D object, laser cutters are still considerably
more dangerous to operate than a 3D printer. Laser cutters can damage eyes and
skin if not used properly, and there's also always the risk of fire because of the
high heat of the laser beam being used on raw material.
Again, I mention CNC machines and laser cutters only to give you additional tools
to research and discover. Just as there are websites and forums devoted to 3D print-
ing, you'll find matching resources available for CNC and laser cutters.