Chung Yuan Christian University’s Department of Interior Design has further enhanced its professional teaching facilities with the addition of a new large-scale CNC machine. Generously donated by alumnus Chih-Kang Fu of Lu Feng Interior Decoration Engineering Co., Ltd., the four-process CNC cutting machine, SY-Y2000-2 Song Yu, officially arrived at the Department’s woodworking workshop on August 13, 2026, following nearly a year of planning and coordination. Hands-on training began immediately after installation.
The new CNC equipment significantly strengthens the Department’s capabilities in woodworking practice and digital fabrication education. It also provides students with a more comprehensive learning environment in which they can take projects from design conception and digital modeling to material processing and physical fabrication, further bridging creative design with hands-on production.
Bringing a large-scale machine into a classroom is no small undertaking. Given the size of the equipment, every stage—from transportation and handling to disassembly, installation, and final positioning—required careful planning to accommodate the existing layout and access routes of the woodworking workshop. In addition to donating the machine, alumnus Chih-Kang Fu actively assisted with transportation arrangements, while technicians from the manufacturer provided on-site support for installation and operational training. Through close collaboration among all parties, the long-awaited equipment was successfully installed and is now ready for teaching and hands-on learning.
During the installation process, Professor Ching-Hui Huang of the Department of Interior Design played an active role in coordinating logistics and on-site operations, while Professor Wen-Chin Chen and alumnus Han-Chieh Niu also provided valuable assistance. With the joint efforts of alumni, faculty, students, industry partners, and technicians from the manufacturer, the large-scale equipment was successfully moved into place and installed. The process highlighted the strong collaboration among CYCU Interior Design’s alumni, faculty and students, and industry partners.
Professor Chun-Yu Hsieh, Chair of CYCU’s Department of Interior Design, noted that the addition of the CNC machine represents more than an upgrade to the woodworking workshop. It marks an important step in the Department’s continued efforts to strengthen hands-on learning and digital fabrication education. By integrating the equipment into the curriculum, students will be able to move more seamlessly from design concepts and digital modeling to material planning, fabrication, and final production, creating a more integrated connection between design and making.
As the design industry advances toward digitalization and smart manufacturing, the ability to translate creative ideas into precisely fabricated outcomes has become an increasingly important professional skill. The new large-scale CNC machine enables accurate fabrication based on digital design files and will support a wide range of applications, including interior design coursework, model making, furniture components, spatial elements, and material experimentation. Through hands-on use of the equipment, students can deepen their understanding of material properties, fabrication processes, and design details while strengthening their ability to integrate conceptual development with physical production. The equipment will also provide faculty with expanded possibilities for teaching and research.
Professor Chun-Yu Hsieh emphasized that bringing a new piece of equipment into the classroom represents much more than an investment in facilities. It reflects the collective commitment of alumni to supporting the next generation, faculty dedication to professional education, and close collaboration between the University and industry. Through alumnus Chih-Kang Fu’s generous contribution, students now have the opportunity to work with industry-standard equipment while still on campus, helping bridge the gap between classroom learning and professional practice and further embedding industry–academia collaboration into everyday teaching.
Chung Yuan Christian University’s Department of Interior Design has long emphasized a learning-by-doing approach, cultivating students’ design thinking and aesthetic sensibilities while continuously strengthening their professional capabilities in materials, construction methods, fabrication, and digital tools. The Department will continue to integrate alumni and industry resources to enhance its professional learning environment and ensure that advanced equipment is fully incorporated into coursework, research, and student-led projects. In this way, the facilities can serve as an important platform for students to explore design ideas, test concepts, and refine their hands-on skills.
From traditional woodworking craftsmanship to digital fabrication, the launch of the large-scale CNC machine marks another important step forward in CYCU Interior Design’s teaching environment. By integrating traditional making techniques with digital tools, students will be able to build stronger connections between design and production, expand the possibilities of creative practice, and further advance the Department’s efforts in talent development and digital fabrication education.
