Between machines and art: The impact of CNC technology on artistic creation

This study shows how a hybrid workflow based on a Style-GAN-3 (with 256 × 256 pixel resolution) together with a €185 open-hardware plotter reframes authorship by uniting algorithmic invention with material execution. Specifically, it focuses on the development of a low-cost CNC machine, named ‘Goros...

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Main Authors: Marcelo Fraile-Narváez, Mihaela I. Chidean
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Array
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590005625000931
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author Marcelo Fraile-Narváez
Mihaela I. Chidean
author_facet Marcelo Fraile-Narváez
Mihaela I. Chidean
author_sort Marcelo Fraile-Narváez
collection DOAJ
description This study shows how a hybrid workflow based on a Style-GAN-3 (with 256 × 256 pixel resolution) together with a €185 open-hardware plotter reframes authorship by uniting algorithmic invention with material execution. Specifically, it focuses on the development of a low-cost CNC machine, named ‘Gorosito’, which includes various customisation elements, such as the ability to interchange drawing tools to suit the operator/artist. Experimental validation of Gorosito is performed using images generated with generative AI and also including a comparison of the results with those produced by a commercial CNC machine. Results reveal precision of 0.045 mm and a 34% cost saving comparing with other commercial solutions. Our findings also show that each artwork, derived from the same digital file, acquires a unique expression, which leads to a redefinition of authenticity in digital art and provides a renewed perspective on the interplay between technology, artistic creation and cultural perception. The study thus positions Gorosito as an open and reproducible framework that any creative-code laboratory can adopt, bridging machine learning research with low-cost digital fabrication.
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spelling doaj-art-d9643190dcb84bb4998952ee614a8bb72025-08-20T03:31:40ZengElsevierArray2590-00562025-09-012710046610.1016/j.array.2025.100466Between machines and art: The impact of CNC technology on artistic creationMarcelo Fraile-Narváez0Mihaela I. Chidean1Architectural Graphic Expression, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Fuenlabrada, 28942, Madrid, Spain; Corresponding author.Signal Theory and Communications, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Fuenlabrada, 28942, Madrid, SpainThis study shows how a hybrid workflow based on a Style-GAN-3 (with 256 × 256 pixel resolution) together with a €185 open-hardware plotter reframes authorship by uniting algorithmic invention with material execution. Specifically, it focuses on the development of a low-cost CNC machine, named ‘Gorosito’, which includes various customisation elements, such as the ability to interchange drawing tools to suit the operator/artist. Experimental validation of Gorosito is performed using images generated with generative AI and also including a comparison of the results with those produced by a commercial CNC machine. Results reveal precision of 0.045 mm and a 34% cost saving comparing with other commercial solutions. Our findings also show that each artwork, derived from the same digital file, acquires a unique expression, which leads to a redefinition of authenticity in digital art and provides a renewed perspective on the interplay between technology, artistic creation and cultural perception. The study thus positions Gorosito as an open and reproducible framework that any creative-code laboratory can adopt, bridging machine learning research with low-cost digital fabrication.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590005625000931Development of low-cost CNC machineGenerative artificial intelligenceHuman–machine creative - collaborationDigital art materialisationMaterial variability in digital fabrication
spellingShingle Marcelo Fraile-Narváez
Mihaela I. Chidean
Between machines and art: The impact of CNC technology on artistic creation
Array
Development of low-cost CNC machine
Generative artificial intelligence
Human–machine creative - collaboration
Digital art materialisation
Material variability in digital fabrication
title Between machines and art: The impact of CNC technology on artistic creation
title_full Between machines and art: The impact of CNC technology on artistic creation
title_fullStr Between machines and art: The impact of CNC technology on artistic creation
title_full_unstemmed Between machines and art: The impact of CNC technology on artistic creation
title_short Between machines and art: The impact of CNC technology on artistic creation
title_sort between machines and art the impact of cnc technology on artistic creation
topic Development of low-cost CNC machine
Generative artificial intelligence
Human–machine creative - collaboration
Digital art materialisation
Material variability in digital fabrication
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2590005625000931
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