--- title: CNC Machining Blog | Hurco CNC Machine Tools | CAD/CAM / Post Processor description: CAD/CAM / Post Processor | Welcome to the Hurco CNC machine tool blog. Subscribe for weekly posts on high-speed and 5-axis machining, workholding, the latest control technologies, plus Hurco tips-and-tricks…just to name a few. --- # CNC Machining Blog - Tips and Tricks for Machinists Welcome to the Hurco CNC machine tool blog. Subscribe for weekly posts on high-speed and 5-axis machining, workholding, the latest control technologies, plus Hurco tips-and-tricks…just to name a few. Browse by All Manufacturing Industry Insights CNC Control & Software Milling WinMax Conversational Programming 5-Axis Machining NC / G-Code Programming CAD/CAM / Post Processor Hurco Turning Lathe Tooling Mill Tooling control technology High Speed Machining Mold Making Tool & Die Prototype Machining Workholding Automation Aerospace & Defense Hurco History cnc lathe turning center cnc machining entrepreneur history of machining 3d dxf Automotive Gerald Roch Hurco50 Indiana business Mr. Roch US Navy USS Indiana Vintage Hurco conversational cnc control conversational programming customer dxf dxf transfer hurco cnc indy inventions inventor manufacturing history 2-axis shearing machine 2d dxf 3D Import AI Artificial Intelligence COVID-19 Circle Segment Cutters Compu-cut Coronavirus Ed Humston Energy Hurco 50th Anniversary Hurco US Navy IRS Make48 Medical NHRA PRI Show Purdue Polytechnic Anderson Youth in Manufacturing autobend cnc mill depreciation federal income tax future history of Hurco how its made indycar racing rigid robust section 179 smart machining tax deduction vmx y-axis ## Posts about CAD/CAM / Post Processor: ![Is Conversational Programming Dead in Modern Machining?](https://blog.hurco.com/hubfs/Hurco-WinMax-CNC-Control.web.jpg) [WinMax Conversational Programming](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/winmax-conversational-programming) [NC / G-Code Programming](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/nc-g-code-programming) [CNC Control & Software](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cnc-control-software) [Hurco History](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/hurco-history) [CAD/CAM / Post Processor](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cadcam-post-processor) [Hurco](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/hurco) [conversational cnc control](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/conversational-cnc-control) [conversational programming](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/conversational-programming) During my 35+ years in manufacturing, I have worked at several shops and visited hundreds more. In the vast majority of these job shops, there has been at least one CNC machine with some type of conversational programming; in many of these shops, they used conversational programming for most of their work. ![Importing Solid Model STL File as Stock Geometry in WinMax Software](https://blog.hurco.com/hubfs/Capture-1.jpg) [CNC Control & Software](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cnc-control-software) [Manufacturing Industry Insights](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/manufacturing-industry-insights) [CAD/CAM / Post Processor](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cadcam-post-processor) [Hurco](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/hurco) The ability to import an STL file for stock geometry is a Hurco WinMax feature I'm excited to discuss. Although many people have this feature on their controls, they either aren't aware of it or don't know how to use it. I thought it was worth a quick blog post and video.  ![5-Axis Machine Purchasing Considerations: Size Does Matter](https://blog.hurco.com/hubfs/Action-VM10Ui-Mount-Part-5axis.jpg) [Aerospace & Defense](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/aerospace-defense) [5-Axis Machining](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/5-axis-machining) [CNC Control & Software](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cnc-control-software) [Manufacturing Industry Insights](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/manufacturing-industry-insights) [Workholding](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/workholding) [CAD/CAM / Post Processor](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cadcam-post-processor) There are several things to keep in mind when you are in the market for a new [5-axis machining center](https://info.hurco.com/en-us/5-axis-cnc-machining-5-sided-full-5-axis-with-hurco?utm_source=Catch-All-Vanity&utm_medium=URL&utm_campaign=5-Axis&utm_content=Unleash-Your-True-Potential). To be successful, you must make sure that the machine will fit all of your needs, not just your current one. Often times the purchase of a 5-axis machine is driven by a particular job or part, and sometimes shops fail to consider the other work they could run on the machine. Remember, size does matter. ![Is High-Speed Machining Right For My Shop?](https://blog.hurco.com/hs-fs/file-19474181-png/images/hsm_2.png) [NC / G-Code Programming](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/nc-g-code-programming) [Milling](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/milling) [CNC Control & Software](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cnc-control-software) [Manufacturing Industry Insights](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/manufacturing-industry-insights) [CAD/CAM / Post Processor](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cadcam-post-processor) [High Speed Machining](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/high-speed-machining) When we hear the term high-speed machining (HSM), most people associate it with mold making. What people fail to realize is that this technology is being used effectively by shops of every kind to positively impact the bottom line — and isn't that what everyone wants? ![5-Axis CNC Programming: Rotary Angles or Tool Vectors?](https://blog.hurco.com/hs-fs/file-205217120-jpg/images/tool_vector_10.jpg) [5-Axis Machining](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/5-axis-machining) [WinMax Conversational Programming](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/winmax-conversational-programming) [NC / G-Code Programming](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/nc-g-code-programming) [Milling](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/milling) [CNC Control & Software](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cnc-control-software) [Manufacturing Industry Insights](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/manufacturing-industry-insights) [CAD/CAM / Post Processor](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cadcam-post-processor) When programming in [5-axis](https://info.hurco.com/en-us/5-axis-cnc-machining-5-sided-full-5-axis-with-hurco?utm_source=Catch-All-Vanity&utm_medium=URL&utm_campaign=5-Axis&utm_content=Unleash-Your-True-Potential), we have two distinct options that we can use to command rotary moves and positions. We can output the data using either rotary angles or tool vectors. Although each one has its pros and cons, I prefer to configure a postprocessor to output these rotary commands as IJK tool vectors, instead of the more common ABC-axis rotary angles. ![Restart Program Where You Left Off with Hurco Recovery Restart](https://blog.hurco.com/hs-fs/file-68389356-jpg/images/auto_set_restart_marker_1.jpg) [WinMax Conversational Programming](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/winmax-conversational-programming) [NC / G-Code Programming](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/nc-g-code-programming) [Milling](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/milling) [CNC Control & Software](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cnc-control-software) [Manufacturing Industry Insights](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/manufacturing-industry-insights) [CAD/CAM / Post Processor](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cadcam-post-processor) Have you ever had to abruptly stop your machine in the middle of running a program and wished there was a way to restart the program exactly where you left off, even if you were in the middle of all that code? With [Hurco’s Recovery Restart feature](https://www.hurco.com/en-us/support/FAQ_Documents/Using-Recovery-Restart.pdf), you can! ![Using Subprograms: A powerfully simple tool](https://blog.hurco.com/hs-fs/file-49127543-jpg/images/subprograms.jpg) [WinMax Conversational Programming](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/winmax-conversational-programming) [NC / G-Code Programming](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/nc-g-code-programming) [CNC Control & Software](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cnc-control-software) [Manufacturing Industry Insights](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/manufacturing-industry-insights) [CAD/CAM / Post Processor](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cadcam-post-processor) I was asked by a reader to post an article about using subprograms. Although this is a pretty simple subject, it made me realize that not everyone is familiar with the use of subprograms and subroutines. I will also touch on the use of [Hurco’s conversational NC Merge](https://blog.hurco.com/blog/bid/194602/hurco-s-nc-merge-the-best-of-both-worlds) capability, which is powerfully simple and very useful! ![Improve Surface Finish, Reduce Cycle Times with Hurco UltiMotion](https://blog.hurco.com/hs-fs/file-32017651-jpg/images/ultimotion-can-save-you-30-percent-in-time.jpg) [WinMax Conversational Programming](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/winmax-conversational-programming) [NC / G-Code Programming](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/nc-g-code-programming) [Milling](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/milling) [CNC Control & Software](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cnc-control-software) [Manufacturing Industry Insights](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/manufacturing-industry-insights) [CAD/CAM / Post Processor](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cadcam-post-processor) [High Speed Machining](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/high-speed-machining) Previously, I posted an [article explaining the CNC motion control system](https://blog.hurco.com/blog/bid/231550/The-CNC-Motion-Control-System-Simplified) and how it works. In that article, I tried to keep it very simple and break down a quite complex piece of technology into an easy-to-understand analogy. Today, I want to discuss it in a little more detail and point out some exciting advances in motion control technology. [ Prev ](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cadcam-post-processor/page/0) [1](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cadcam-post-processor/page/1) [2](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cadcam-post-processor/page/2) [ Next ](https://blog.hurco.com/topic/cadcam-post-processor/page/2) ### Subscribe to the Machinists Blog Copyright © 2026, Hurco Companies, Inc. ![](https://secure.pass8heal.com/222100.png)