In the final lesson of chapter 3, Jake explains how different types of machines impact your CAD designs and what each is capable of. Building on the “material + machine = reality” concept, this lesson focuses on the second half of that equation, the machines that actually bring your parts to life.

• Jake breaks machines into three main categories: 2-axis, 3-axis, and 3+ axis:
• 2-axis machines, like fiber lasers, CO₂ lasers, waterjets, and tube lasers, move only in the X and Y directions and are great for 2D cuts through flat or tubular materials.
• 3-axis machines, such as CNC routers, add the Z axis, allowing cuts at varying depths and more complex shapes.
• 3+ axis machines, including 5-axis CNC mills, add rotational movement, giving even greater flexibility for machining complex, multi-sided parts.

The lesson also covers how machine capabilities limit or expand your design options, for example, partial-depth features can’t be made on 2-axis machines, and the maximum part size depends on the machine’s working envelope. Jake wraps up by pointing to SendCutSend’s online process guidelines, which list current capabilities for each cutting method.

What You’ll Learn:

• How different machines (2-axis, 3-axis, and 3+ axis) affect your CAD designs
• The key differences between laser cutters, waterjets, routers, and CNC mills
• Why machine movement and orientation define what features you can design
• How part complexity and size depend on machine capability
• When to match your design features to the right type of cutting process