scope:

This commercial item description (CID) covers computer numeric control (CNC), horizontal-spindle, flatbed lathes and turning centers intended for turning, boring, drilling, reaming, tapping, and facing of workpieces of cast iron, steel, titanium, aluminum, brass, graphite epoxy, and composite materials for use in Aircraft Metals Technology Shops across the Air Force. The equipment identified herein shall be manufactured in the United States of America.

CNC lathe machining is an automated machine process used to manufacture engineering parts by selectively and progressively removing material from a workpiece. Material is removed (milled) using a rotating multi-point cutting tool and computerized controls (i.e., CNC). CNC-milled parts are most practically manufactured using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software. CAD enables the development and design of a part. CAM programs are used to generate manufacturing tool paths and automate the manufacturing processes. CAM converts the CAD model into an executable CNC program (NC) that the machine uses (via "G-code") to manufacture the physical part.

G-code, per Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA) RS-274, is the required programming language; it describes geometric paths using a simple command structure of the letter "G" followed by a numeric value.