CNC Routing Service
CNC Routing and CNC Cutting
CNC Routing
Briefly: A router is an invaluable Joiner's power tool. It is an electric motor with a cutter mounted on the end of the shaft. The cutter can put a shape onto the edge of a panel, or cut into the face of the panel. Generally, a router is hand-held by the operator. A CNC router is a router which is directed by a computer code to travel round a panel on a designated path and at a designated depth. The path can be almost any shape, and the depth can be varied as well.
Plywood cutting and MDF cutting are the most common uses for CNC routing. Shop fitting and furniture components are most easily formed by CNC routing, particularly where accurate and strong fixings are required, or a "knock-down" approach is required.
CNC Cutting
Our CNC router has a bed size of 3m x 1.2m, and the work piece is held down by vacuum. We have a tool librabry of about sixty tools, and the tool carousel can be loaded with twelve tools at a time, from which the machine selects the one it requires at any particular point in its cycle.
When CNC cutting we can often "nest" components onto standard sheet sizes very economically, so this sizing detail is worth considering in the early stages.
MDF Cutting and Plywood Cutting
Usually the machine is used for MDF cutting and plywood cutting, to produce shaped components. The MDF cutting can be done on plain MDF or veneered MDF. We can also cut acrylic sheet material. However, it should be remembered that the machine is also excellent for CNC cutting shaped work in solid timber.
CNC Programming
CNC cutting of MDF is generally easier than plywood cutting; plywood can have quite a lot of internal tension in the board, and components can twist out of the plane when being cut.
CNC routing is an ideal way to produce accurately cut shaped components. Once the programming is completed, repetition is no problem; it's fast and efficient, and can have huge cost benefits.
Ideally, we would want from you a fully dimensioned sketch or drawing of the shape, and details of the finished component. We can work directly from .dxf files, but we are quite happy to work from dimensioned sketches.