That works fine for the 'Occasional part' but not so well for any type of volume. We have done most of this the hard way, line by line programming.
Several times a year we get a part that requires relatively simple 3D machining, Cones, Spheres, odd sized radial grooves etc.
That being said 90% of what we do is relatively simple, holes, pockets and largely 2D. We are a small manufacturing company that does largely prototypes, small productions runs, gages, fixtures and some automation.
