Jesse Hayes is the co-founder of a video game company, S2 Games, and owner of Puzzlebox Entertainment, but he’s also an artist and maker when it comes to movie props.

The premiere of a new Star Wars movie (and perhaps a new generation of fans) will be here in just a few months. While the intergalactic story has always held a special place with me, I was one of the many fans that felt let down by George Lucas’ butchering of the first three episodes of the saga. Since my childhood (when the CGI-ridden prequels were in full swing), I have hoped for the return of animatronics and puppeteers to Star Wars, and add a sense of gritty realism back into the story.

Video game company co-founder and Tormach PCNC 1100 owner Jesse Hayes of Rohnert Park, California just put the finishing touches on a project a year in the making—an all-aluminum re-build of R2-D2. Documented on his R2-D2 build blog and with the help of AstroMech.net, an R2-D2 builders club, Hayes answered a few questions about his CNC background and experience as well as a few other projects he’s currently working on.