When we took delivery of our CNC, I distinctly remember saying to my partner, “This is it. This is the end of the fabrication food chain. We are going to dominate.” We could not see beyond the moment. This was indicative of our management and planning style (or lack thereof). As a matter of fact, I recall saying the exact same thing when we took delivery of our bridge saw, replacing our rail saw.
The shift to the digital method of fabrication actually took place before we took delivery of our machine. Most CNC companies train you for a week at their location before you take delivery, and this was the case with our machine. The manufacturer taught us how to draw and program using CAD/CAM software, how to nest parts on the bed of the machine, troubleshooting, setting up tools, etc. This was an astonishing library of things to remember in one week. At this point in my digital training, I was just learning enough to be dangerous. My nerves were fried, and I felt like I should be getting a first class ticket on a short bus, not a brand new CNC.