NestWorks C500

A computer numerically controlled (CNC) milling machine cuts precise parts from solid materials by following a digital blueprint, like a robotic sculptor working from a blueprint. CNCs that can cut hard metal typically weigh thousands of pounds and start around $50,000. Compare that to the NestWorks C500 milling machine, which sells for $6,000 and is compact enough to fit on a tabletop, shaping titanium and stainless steel a third the width of a human hair. The machine also performs delicate preparations that would take years for a human to master, such as selecting tools and lining up each cut. "We've reimagined each of these steps so users aren't limited by their own machining experience," says Henry Lin, project lead at NestWorks.