Mastering CNC and Digital Fabrication II: From Curiosity to Competency in 200+ Questions about CNC Routing, Laser, Plasma, Waterjet, 3D Printing, and Welding

The 200-Question Knowledge Companion for Routers, Lasers, Plasma, Waterjet, 3D Printing, Welding, and Hybrid Workflows

The questions you ask at midnight.
The answers that save your shop at sunrise.

You already know how to run your machines.

Now you need to understand why they behave the way they do… and how to fix them when they don’t.

This is not another beginner CNC book.

This is the missing companion to Mastering CNC and Digital Fabrication, built for real-world makers, shop owners, fabricators, and engineers who are already running machines, breaking tools, pushing materials, and trying to get consistent, reliable results.

Because this is where things get expensive.

Scrap.
Chatter.
Burning.
Broken tools.
Bad finishes.

And the worst part?

Not knowing why it happened.

What Makes This Book Different

Most CNC books teach what to do.

This book teaches:

• Why it works
• Why it fails
• And how to fix it fast

Every section is built in a practical Q&A format so you can:

• Diagnose cut quality problems before they ruin parts
• Tune feeds, speeds, stepover, and tool geometry with confidence
• Reduce scrap, chatter, burn, and broken tools
• Improve accuracy, surface finish, and production speed
• Build reliable hybrid workflows across multiple machines
• Make smarter upgrade and investment decisions

No filler. No theory padding.
Just answers that save time, material, and frustration.

Built From 200 Real-World CNC Problems and Solutions

Inside are 200 carefully selected, shop-proven questions that target the exact problems, tuning decisions, and workflow challenges that show up once you move beyond hobby-level cutting.

This book is your:

• Troubleshooting bench mate
• Setup checklist
• “Why did it do that?” decoder
• Production-grade knowledge amplifier

Inside You Will Learn

This volume delivers 200 deep-dive, shop-tested questions organized by machine type:

CNC Routers (30) – tool geometry, vibration, spoilboards, vacuum workholding, tramming, nesting, aluminum routing, dust control, jigs, retrofits

Waterjet (30) – kerf control, abrasive tuning, taper compensation, pump maintenance, micro-cutting, composites, environmental handling

3D Printing (30) – layer strength, enclosures, warping, multi-material strategy, firmware upgrades, production optimization

Plasma (30) – arc voltage, consumables, dross control, gas selection, water tables, precision upgrades

Laser (30) – focal length, engraving depth, beam alignment, acrylic edge finish, rotary systems, emerging tech

Welding (30) – joint prep, filler selection, distortion control, automated welding, inspection standards

Hybrid Workflows (20) – combining CNC, plasma, laser, waterjet, welding, and 3D printing into efficient production systems

Plus reference charts and troubleshooting indexes.

Who This Book Is For

• CNC shop owners and operators
• Makers and digital fabricators
• Production managers and engineers
• Furniture, signage, and metal shops

Book 1 vs Book 2

Book 1 gets you cutting.
Book 2 stops you from wasting time, material, and tools.

This is not theory.

This is production knowledge.

Jonathan, founder of CNCROi.com, brings decades of experience in custom fabrication - bridging the digital and physical worlds with precision and creativity.