Founded in 1996 in Durham, North Carolina, ShopBot Tools Inc., designs, manufactures, and distributes computer numerical controlled (CNC) routers for milling, drilling, and cutting of wood, metals, plastic, and other materials. ShopBot pioneered affordable CNC oriented to use by individuals. ShopBot's digital fabrication tools are carving out the future of prototyping, production, manufacturing, grassroots ‘making,’ and education. Today almost 6,000 ShopBots are at work in shops worldwide used in signmaking, cabinetmaking, woodworking, manufacturing high-tech housing, and even producing stealth fighters.