CNC machining, short for Computer Numerical Control machining, refers to the control of machines by a set of commands issued by a controller. The commands issued by the controller are typically in the form of a list of coordinates, known as G-code. Any machine controlled by such codes can be referred to as a CNC machine, including milling machines, lathes, and even plasma cutters.
The movement of CNC machines can be defined by their axes, including the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis, with more advanced machines also incorporating the A-axis, B-axis, and C-axis. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis represent the primary Cartesian vectors, while the A-axis, B-axis, and C-axis represent rotational axes. CNC machines typically utilize up to 5 axes.