Master carvers can be traced back many millennia. One of the earliest surviving examples is a statue of a man carved from a solid piece of sycamore. Dated to approximately 4,000 BC, this carving was created during the time of the Great Pyramid of Giza. Today, the statue resides in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. Egypt’s extremely dry climate has allowed wooden artifacts to survive for thousands of years. Many examples exist in the form of wooden mummy cases for humans and animals, incense ladles, bowls, mirror handles and ornately carved furniture.
The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City boasts a collection of 286 carved works from all corners of the globe. Their collection includes musical instruments, ceremonial figures, bowls and vessels, animal carvings, furniture and relief panels. These works cover a time period from around 300 BC to the late 20th century.
Master carvers are still creating pieces of timeless beauty today. Many years of training go into perfecting the fine art of woodcarving. Because of this, these works of art have typically been beyond the reach of the average citizen. Beginning in the 1940’s and 1950’s, automation began to change this. The earliest CNC machines received operating instructions from punched tape. Today, computer technology that allows for quick, efficient production of multiple, identical pieces has brought beautifully carved works within the financial reach of the middle class.
How CNC (Computer Numerical Control) Works
CNC (computer numerical control) is available for a number of cutting, milling, and sanding machines. Machines are available not just for wood but metals, plastics and even stone. Chances are, if you have a stone kitchen countertop, it was cut and polished with a CNC machine. These manufacturing tools are control by specialized operating software, often referred to as CAM (computer aided manufacturing). An original design created on a CAD (computer aided design) program is uploaded to the operating software (CAM) of the CNC cutting machine. The operating software (CAM) translates the design into a set of instructions, or G-code for the CNC machine.
Once the machine receives these instructions (G-code), the operators, highly skilled craftsmen, engage and monitor the process of producing hundreds of units in a mere fraction of the time it would take to produce them by hand. The operating system also allows the creation of one-of-a-kind pieces with the same efficiencies.
Whether you need a 3D wooden sculpture, an engraved plaque, or a specially milled frame, CNC custom cutting services in PA area is the answer. Professionals are equipped to handle a multitude of carving and routing tasks, along with laser engraving on woods and metal.
