Although he certainly achieves that, more or less, automating the classic toy is just the hook for a thorough lesson in CNC machine building ... like how relays work and why you might need to ...

Looking to add a small CNC machine to your garage or hackerspace’s arsenal of tools? Like any tools — China has you covered for the cheap options — but the question is, is it worth it?

Above: An adaptable CNC work-holding fixture utilizing ferrofluid and a magnetic array to hold a thin-walled part for precision machining. One challenge facing the manufacturing industry is the time ...