A VMC, or Vertical Machining Center, is a type of CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine that uses a vertically-oriented spindle to remove material from a workpiece. VMCs are used for precision cutting, drilling, and shaping.
The term CNC stands for ‘computer numerical control’, and the CNC machining definition is that it is a subtractive manufacturing process which typically employs computerized controls and machine tools to remove layers of material from a stock piece—known as the blank or workpiece—and produces a custom-designed part.