Yes, but a drill press is so low tech... Anyway, it&#x27;s a &#x27;right tool for the job&#x27; kind of problem. We see the exact same thing in IT. Learning how to use hand tools properly and efficiently takes time, learning how to use a CAD program properly takes time too. When you&#x27;ve invested your time in the latter without first doing the former you&#x27;ll end up trying to solve all your problems in terms of that particular solution.<p>The proper time to use CNC gear is when:<p>- you need multiple units of something<p>- or you need one single extremely complex workpiece<p>- when the accuracy required is beyond your ability to achieve with a manual tool<p>- when you don&#x27;t have the manual tool<p>For most people you sketched above #3 translates into &#x27;or when you don&#x27;t know how to use the manual tool at all&#x27;...<p>Which is understandable, after all a lathe or a mill are a lot more up close, personal and intimidating than a CNC instrument but it would be a mistake to think the CNC version is safer in the hands of someone that doesn&#x27;t understand what they&#x27;re doing.<p>If you want to make half decent CNC workpieces you <i>have</i> to know the basics and you should be comfortable with the manual version of the shoptools before you graduate to CNC.<p>You&#x27;ll be safer and produce much better work.<p>BTW: I&#x27;m very much not a fan of hold downs that are not made out of steel with a nice T bolt running through it to a solid base but I&#x27;ve seen a fairly powerful rig pull a setup like that apart like it was made out of plastic so even there you&#x27;re not always safe. Turns out the shear forces on the clamp bolts were overcome by the mill, retrospectively it kind of figures (large diameter workpiece, clamps in the center, mill geared down considerably). Under the right conditions anything will give.<p>Vacuum and magnets can be used as hold downs for certain workpieces, it all depends on the setup. 3D printed clamps would probably need to be oversized to get any strength at all negating much of their advantage and with hold downs it&#x27;s much better to be safe than sorry.