31 MXS Airmen make the cut

Master Sgt. Kyle Eickhoff, 31st Maintenance Squadron Metals Technology section chief, prepares a computer numeric control machine for use, July 27, 2016, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. A CNC machine uses a computer program to make precise cuts and drills holes in metals. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cary Smith/Released)

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31 MXS Airmen make the cut

Master Sgt. Kyle Eickhoff, 31st Maintenance Squadron Metals Technology section chief, selects a machining clamp, July 27, 2016, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Clamps are used in computer numeric control machines to hold metal in place before it’s cut. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cary Smith/Released)

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31 MXS Airmen make the cut

Computer numeric control machining clamps sit inside a toolbox drawer, July 27, 2016, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Clamps are used in CNC machines to hold metal in place before it’s cut. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cary Smith/Released)

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31 MXS Airmen make the cut

Master Sgt. Kyle Eickhoff, 31st Maintenance Squadron Metals Technology section chief, clamps a metal part into place in a computer numeric control machine, July 27, 2016, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. A CNC machine enables the metals technology Airmen to make precise cuts in metal parts. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cary Smith/Released)

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31 MXS Airmen make the cut

Master Sgt. Kyle Eickhoff, 31st Maintenance Squadron Metals Technology section chief, selects a computer numeric control machine drill bit, July 27, 2016, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. A CNC machine cuts and drills parts for Airmen to build metal structures for base operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cary Smith/Released)

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31 MXS Airmen make the cut

Master Sgt. Kyle Eickhoff, 31st Maintenance Squadron Metals Technology section chief, programs a computer numeric control machine to cut a metal part, July 27, 2016, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. Eickhoff used the CNC machine to cut parts for a radar mount. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Cary Smith/Released)

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31 MXS Airmen make the cut

Published July 29, 2016
By Airman 1st Class Cary Smith
31st Fighter Wing Public Affairs

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy -- Airmen from the 31st Maintenance Squadron Metals Technology section repair and build metal structures, at Aviano Air Base, Italy. The Airmen cut, grind and weld everything from aircraft parts to radar mounting equipment. The shop can also conduct heat stress tests and fabricate parts using computer numeric control machines.