What is CNC Routing?
CNC routing is a subtractive machining process similar to CNC milling where the workpiece is fixed to the bed and a cutting tool moves in 3 axes to remove material. With CNC routing, large shallow parts can be made out of plastics, soft metals, and wood.
Applications
Benefits of CNC Routing
Produces parts to very tight tolerances, ensuring consistency and high quality.
Can produce a wide variety of complex shapes and designs from different materials.
Automated process reduces the time it takes to produce parts compared to manual milling.
Once set, the machine can create multiple identical parts without variance.
Quick changeover between designs makes it ideal for both high-volume production and custom jobs.
Over time, reduces labour costs and material waste, making it economically beneficial for many businesses.
Grades Available:
Baltic Birch
Description:
Engineered wood made by layering thin wood veneers, known for strength and flexibility.
Description:
Plywood sheets bonded with a protective layer, enhancing durability and appearance.
Description:
Medium Density Fiberboard, a smooth, engineered wood product made from wood fibers and resin.
Grades Available:
5052, 6061
Description:
Lightweight, corrosion-resistant metal widely used in aerospace and packaging due to its versatility.
Description:
Durable plastic renowned for strength, impact resistance, used in automotive and consumer goods.
Description:
Clear, sturdy plastic known for optical clarity, common in displays and barriers.
Description:
Colored acrylic is durable plastic infused with pigments, offering a range of hues for decorative and functional uses, maintaining acrylic’s strength.
More materials available upon request
Description:
Durable synthetic fiber resistant to wear, used in textiles, ropes, and plastics.
Description:
Rigid plastic with low friction, suitable for mechanical parts and precision components.
Description:
Description:
Tough, transparent plastic valued for its impact strength, used in eyewear and protective barriers.
Description:
Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene, a robust, wear-resistant plastic for demanding applications.
Description:
High-Density Polyethylene, a strong, chemical-resistant plastic common in packaging and containers.
More materials available upon request
Maximum part size: 96″ (2400mm) x 48″ (1200mm) x 12″ (300mm)
This is the maximum part size router can accommodate.
Minimum cutting tolerances: 0.01” (0.254mm)
This is the maximum precision of any dimensions on the part.
Inside corners
When designing parts with inside corners on the XY axis, it is important to consider the size of the endmill. As the cutter removes material by spinning, the sharpest corner possible is equal to the radius of the end mill. A smaller endmill reduces the size of the fillet at the cost of extra machining time, whilst a larger endmill can reduce machining time and thus cost. If a round fillet would cause interference, a possible solution is a dogbone corner, where additional material is removed at the corner to create space where the corner would be
Fillet generated by round cutter:
Dogbone corners:
Deflection
As the tool cuts through the billet, it can be pushed slightly out of the way of the material. Whilst the effects of this can be almost negligible, it may cause a poor surface finish on very thin walls as they vibrate from the tool’s movements. To accommodate for this, parts should be designed with thicker walls or shorter thin walls.
Tool length
When cutting deep channels, a longer endmill must be used to clear any high walls. This can cause more extreme deflection and thus worse tolerances and surface finish, to avoid this the cutting speed is reduced significantly adding additional cutting time and cost.
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