Many modern products are manufactured using computer numerical control (CNC) machines, which automate machine operations in factories. However, operating these machines often requires advanced knowledge of computer-aided design (CAD) software, making them inaccessible to many users. A team of researchers, including those from the University of Tokyo's User Interface Research Group, has developed a system called Draw2Cut to simplify this process. The research is published in the journal Proceedings of the 2025 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Draw2Cut aims to democratize digital fabrication by allowing users to draw their designs directly onto the material they want to cut or mill, eliminating the need for complex CAD modeling. Project Assistant Professor Maria Larsson explains that the inspiration came from traditional carpentry, where craftsmen often mark wood before cutting. The team created a vision system coupled with an intuitive workflow to interpret these drawings and generate 3D CAD plans for CNC machines. To use Draw2Cut, users can sketch their designs using a specific set of color-coded markers. Purple lines define the paths to be milled, while red and green marks instruct the machine to make vertical cuts or create gradients, respectively. Once the design is complete, the material is imaged by the system, which translates the drawing into a detailed CAD plan. The CNC machine then processes the material according to these instructions, potentially working with various materials, including wood and metal. The development of Draw2Cut presented several challenges. One of the main hurdles was creating a drawing language that could be interpreted unambiguously by the machine. The researchers carefully assigned meanings to symbols and colors to ensure clear instructions. Another significant challenge was setting up the camera and calibrating the system to achieve precise cuts, within about 1 millimeter. While Draw2Cut may not yet match the quality of items produced by experienced professionals, its primary goal is to make digital fabrication more user-friendly and accessible to a wider audience. Larsson and her team involved both novice and expert users in the design and refinement process, finding that even children could effectively use the system. Expert users also benefit from the ability to quickly express their design intent. Future developments include expanding the range of stroke patterns and symbols, as well as allowing customization of the color language for different projects. The source code for Draw2Cut is open-source, enabling developers to adapt it to their specific needs. Industry insiders praise Draw2Cut for its potential to lower the barriers to digital fabrication, potentially revolutionizing DIY projects and small-scale manufacturing. The system's intuitive interface and straightforward workflow make it a promising tool for education and prototyping, allowing more people to engage with and benefit from advanced manufacturing technologies. The University of Tokyo's User Interface Research Group is known for its pioneering work in human-computer interaction, and Draw2Cut continues their mission to make technology more accessible and user-friendly.