Some here know I own a small cabinet shop. Last week, we took delivery of the coolest tool I've ever seen. It's a CNC (computer numerically controlled) router. It's a 3 axis machine which means it will cut in all three dimensions. We use it to cut cabinet parts, but other businesses use them to make carved signs, orthotic inserts, rifle stocks, etc. If you're familliar with milling machines, this is basically a 4' X 8' CNC mill.
We ran our first job on it yesterday (a small kitchen) and it did what used to take us about 50 hours in 4. Yahoo. Needless to say, prices are going down and profit margins are going up!
It's pretty cool to watch, so I posted a video of it running a sheet on youtube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PEoIKtA8zlA
One of the more amazing aspects is the way the material is held down to the work table. In the vid, you'll see a 15hp vacuum pump that is used to suck the work piece down to the table. The amazing thing is that the vacuum is pulled straight through a 3/4" thick piece of MDF. No holes, no nuthin. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.
Once we get basic operation down, I'll be graduating to goofy hobby projects on the weekends. Ought to be fun.