In woodworking shops, a CNC router turns jobs that take hours by hand into minutes and makes every part identical. So what exactly is it used for? Defining what you will produce before choosing a machine is the first step to the right configuration.
Furniture and cabinet making
- Nesting: All parts to be cut from a sheet are arranged in software with minimum waste and cut in one run. Holes, grooves and hinge recesses can be machined in the same operation.
- Kitchen and cabinet doors: Profiles, grooves, patterns and handle recesses on MDF doors.
- Carcass parts: Shelf pin holes, connector recesses and back panel grooves.
Doors and panels
- Interior door panels and patterned door faces
- Decorative wall panels and 3D surface textures
- Perforated or patterned panels for radiator and ventilation covers
Carving, relief and art
With a long Z stroke and the right tools, relief, carving, names and logos can be machined in solid wood. Fine-tipped (V or ball-nose) tools and precise axis motion matter in this work.
Signs, advertising and decor
- Wood and MDF signs, letter cutting
- Shop fittings and display elements
- Gift and decorative products
Patterns and models
Casting patterns, templates and prototype parts can be made from wood and model materials.
Which feature for which job?
| Application | Key requirement |
|---|---|
| Nesting | Large table, strong vacuum, ATC, high spindle power |
| Door machining | ATC, precise Z axis, good surface finish |
| Carving / relief | Long Z stroke, precise motion, small tools |
| Signs / letter cutting | Clean edges, compression/downcut bits, good vacuum |
Getting started: Write down the three jobs you do most and the sheet size you use. The machine configuration should be defined around those three jobs; a machine suited to your work is more efficient than one that "does everything".
Contact us to discuss which jobs in your workshop a CNC router can speed up.