60-436 Advanced SIS: Digital Fabrication CNC Projects
10 units, Carnegie Mellon University
"Advanced CNC is an upper-level studio course that explores the applied use of computer-controlled cutting and routing processes within sculpture and installation-based studio practices. Students will work with a range of CNC tools, including a 3-axis CNC motion machine, a Shaper Origin handheld system, and a small-format CNC mill (Nomad 883), to design, prototype, and fabricate precise physical objects from digital files. In this course, students will learn to use Rhino and Adobe Illustrator to generate and prepare files for CNC output, including strategies for vector drawing, 3D modeling, toolpath preparation, and material setup. Emphasis is placed on understanding the technical workflow from digital design to physical fabrication and safe use of equipment. The course is structured around three guided projects with defined prompts. These assignments are designed to build sequentially, introducing increasingly complex machining strategies while requiring students to apply CNC processes to spatial, structural, and material problems. This is not an open-ended independent studio; projects are skill-based and focused on developing technical fluency through hands-on production. As a class, students will explore the iterative nature of CNC fabrication, including testing, revision, and problem-solving through multiple outputs. Experimentation will be emphasized through layering, assembly, and combining machine-based processes with hand fabrication methods. Students will also engage with contemporary examples of artists and designers using CNC tools as part of their regular studio practice. By the end of the semester, students will have developed a strong working knowledge of CNC workflows and the ability to integrate digital machining into a broader sculptural practice. Prior digital fabrication class experience is strongly preferred. "
Prerequisites: none listed
Offered: Fall 2026
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