THIS PAPER DISCUSSES THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS THAT MAKE UP A HIGH SPEED MACHINING CENTER. IT COVERS THE BASIC MACHINE COMPONENTS SUCH AS BALLSCREWS AND GUIDEWAYS, ADVANCEMENTS IN CNC CONTROL TECHNOLOGY THAT ALLOW FOR FASTER FEED RATES AND HIGHER ACCURACY MACHINING, AND THE VARIOUS COMPONENTS OF THE HIGH SPEED SPINDLE AND SPINDLE MOTOR. THE AREAS TO CONSIDER BEFORE PURCHASING A HIGH SPEED MACHINING CENTER ARE DISCUSSED.