CNC plasma cutters fully automate the shape production process. Early cnc machines used a tape with small holes punched through to provide instructions to a primitive (by today's standards) computer.

Today's CNC units use either expensive limited production computers made specifically for running burning machines, or personal computers adapted to run the machines. While the latter group lack some of the refined features of the 0,000 and up machines, such as automatic shape nesting and automatic tip height control, they provide the same cut quality and production speed.

In CNC plasma cutting, you arrange your shapes on the computer screen and cut them automatically, without having to touch the material.