Selecting the Right CAM System A CAM systems administrator outlines the top considerations involved in choosing computer-aided manufacturing software. August 16, 2005
Shopping for a CNC for the Small Shop CNC for the small shop has come a long way in recent years, as this conversation demonstrates. There are many excellent options on the market, and many factors to consider. January 3, 2012
Two Workers on One CNC? Is two men on a CNC machine one man too many? Here's a long, informative discussion on improving labor productivity with CNC equipment. October 25, 2007
The Importance of G-Code Does a machine operator need to know G-code? Or are modern machines smart so we don't have to be? Opposing sides raise some dust in this thread from the CNC forum. August 30, 2005
Troubleshooting CNC Crash Issues This thread never gets to the bottom of the problem, but the conversation about why a CNC is repeatedly crashing does shed a lot of light on programming and mechanical issues with CNC control.May 26, 2011
The Take on Tooling Advances in tooling technology are helping to change the face of the cabinet and furniture industry. This reprint from Fine Woodworking magazine rounds up the latest news on progress in tooling manufacture, and outlines how improved cutters are bringing diverse new capabilities to CNC-equipped shops ......
Standard Layer Setups in AutoCAD A consistent SOP for organizing the layers in your CAD files can help keep your work organized. Here, several pros show how they routinely manage layers. January 14, 2008
Slow-Opening CNC Program Files CNC owners troubleshoot a case of excessive lag time when opening program files. January 14, 2008
What Opportunities Does a CNC Router Open Up? A shop owner who is considering an entry-level CNC investment learns about how the machine's versatility might help his business diversify. May 15, 2014
Shop-Built Vacuum Pod Solutions Here's a detailed discussion of making your own vacuum hold-down pods, with a side discussion on laser positioning and router control. February 19, 2013
Understanding Vacuum Hold-Down When shopping for a vacuum pump for a CNC, it's helpful to know how vacuum works. February 13, 2009
Using DXF Files as CNC Control Input The latest generation of CNC control software can accept some AutoCAD-generated DXF-format files directly and use them to cut parts, without the need for secondary processing by a post-processor. January 27, 2008
Vacuum Techniques for Holding Hardwood Parts Here's a collection of power-user tips for setting up your vacuum table to hardwood stock down to the CNC table when machining. October 16, 2012
Shopping for a CNC Router Solid generic advice on getting the right machine for what you do at the right price. July 13, 2010
Troubleshooting a Tool-Change Software Hang Manually changing a tool can make some CNC machines stop working because of a software issue. Here's how to troubleshoot and fix. March 4, 2009
Shopping for a New CNC Think carefully about what capabilities you do and don't need, and take a close look at the vendor's tech support system. October 13, 2008
Tool Control Tolerances for Routing a Hole CNC pros try to figure out why a CNC router is making lockset holes out of round. The culprit may be a problem with tool compensation in the lead-in and lead-out routine. September 24, 2006
Troubleshooting Router Errors -- Hardware or Software? A CNC tech thought his machine's bad behavior was caused by mechanical adjustment problems, but it turned out to be bad numbers in the controller. Lesson learned. April 10, 2008
Upgrading the Controller on an Older CNC Device It's hard to upgrade old equipment to a new computer, but here are some suggested workarounds for getting the most out of an outmoded setup. January 4, 2014
Should a Small Cabinet Shop Switch to CNC Equipment? Do too many people invest in CNC routers for emotional reasons, asks a small shop owner? In response, CNC users try to zero in on a rational basis for the choice. November 25, 2005
Screwing Down a Spoilboard Here's a detailed discussion of whether, and how, to screw a spoilboard down to a phenolic CNC table when vacuum isn't doing the job. November 27, 2012
Scarf Joinery on a CNC Router CNC pros show how they machine scarf joints for continuous pieces like stair stringers and yacht hull planking. December 27, 2008
Tool Touch-Off CNC operators discuss their preferred methods for touching off tools. November 12, 2005
Spoilboard Material and Vacuum Strength Variability in MDF material may result in problems with consistent vacuum hold-down. Here's advice on how to compensate. September 8, 2007
Troubleshooting a Morbidelli Tolerance Error When the controller reports a tolerance error, the cause is probably mechanical. Pros get the details and probe the mystery. July 1, 2005
Whether to Buy A Larger-Table CNC Small table sizes can be limiting. Here, CNC owners offer various reasons for investing in a 5x12 table. March 4, 2009
Troubleshooting Bit Breakage in Hardwood Pros investigate a bit breakage problem. This time, it seems the downshear bit was packing chips into the work. June 17, 2009
Suitable Bits for Cutting Thick Solid Hardwood High speed steel (HSS) outperforms carbide in solid wood because of heat issues. But HSS is getting hard to find. How about a carbide spiral fluted hogger instead? January 3, 2012
Using Algebra Functions in CNC Woodworking A discussion of how algebraic functions can be useful in CNC work, along with some specific mathematical code expressions. June 17, 2009
Spindle Fan Failure Headaches Spindle cooling fans can be a weak point on CNC equipment, causing expensive and time-consuming breakdowns. Here, pros commiserate and offer advice. January 27, 2008
Universal spoil boards Making universal spoil boards for different machines. January 15, 2003
Setting Up CNC Equipment Advice on managing the setup and shakedown process for a new CNC router. May 28, 2010
What Size CNC Table Should I Have? Larger tables offer versatility and material savings for a moderate increase in the investment. February 19, 2011
Small parts on P2P Using a spoilboard to solve problems of no suction with small parts. March 20, 2001
Think before you take the CNC plunge WOODWEB technical advisor Brian Personett offers some food for thought to those thinking about purchasing CNC equipment. November 15, 2000
Supporting Traveling Dust Collection Ducts Here's a good look at several shop-rigged solutions for bringing dust collection ducting to CNC equipment under low ceilings, with freedom to match the equipment's travel. August 15, 2011
Spoilboard Choices CNC owners discuss the options for spoilboard material and dimensions. October 1, 2005
Solutions for a Curling Spoilboard You can flip the spoilboard when it curls and flycut the other side, or you can fasten it down at the perimeter with nylon screws. March 28, 2010
Vacuum Capacity, Spoilboards, and Hold-down Effectiveness A nested CNC owner wonders if his vacuum pump has enough horsepower. Others chime in with observations about spoilboards, gaskets, and assessing vacuum pump performance. February 13, 2006
Spoil Board Thickness A discussion of the fine points of choosing a spoil board material and thickness. January 19, 2011
Why CNC Routers Crash CNC owners list the programming errors, operator errors, and other snafus that can crash your CNC router. May 14, 2006
Windows-based CAD on a Macintosh It's not hard to get Windows and Windows-based programs, including CAD, on a new Macintosh computer. November 23, 2008
Tool Change Calibration Methods From fully automated to eyeball-and-caliper manual adjustment, there's more than one way to get tools dialed in. January 19, 2012
What Tools Will My New CNC Replace? A cabinetmaker contemplates buying a CNC, and thinks about how to make room for it on his floor. November 26, 2007
Spreadsheet to G-Code? Yes, there are ways to rig a spreadsheet application to generate simple G-code for controlling CNC equipment. It's an interesting approach, but has practical limitations. May 23, 2007
Vacuum Fixturing - Part 1 of 3 Tom Galzin, a principal of New CNC Router, provides a technical description of vacuum hold-down equipment and explains how it works. (Part One) June 1, 2012
Vacuum Sizing Issues This discussion of vacuum pump needs includes a nice explanation of the principles of vacuum pressure, and some tips on ganging multiple pumps to the same hold-down table. May 4, 2011
Unmanned CNC Can you safely allow a CNC router to run unattended? August 22, 2013
Vacuum Pod Tips Techniques for achieving good hold-down for machining small parts on CNC equipment. December 6, 2006
To Nest or not to Nest? A spirited discussion on which is more productive: nest-cutting parts with a CNC router, or using a beam saw and point-to-point machining center. June 30, 2005
Troubleshooting Slipping Router Bits A thread from the CNC forum discusses the factors that could be causing router bits to slip off the collet on a CNC router. March 21, 2006
Troubleshooting Tool Marks in MDF A CNC process leaves circular tool marks in an MDF substrate that telegraph through the pressed finish lamination. Unfortunately, this may just be in the nature of the materials. August 29, 2005
Sliding Table Versus Gantry Pros discuss which type of CNC equipment is better, units with a sliding table or units with a moving gantry. July 21, 2006
Variables in Parametric Programming Forum participants guide a user through programming customization techniques for an Andi CNC with a Fanuc 18I controller. January 24, 2005
Sizing CNC Vacuum Pumps Advice on sizing the vacuum pump to the CNC and its usual tasks. November 24, 2008
Value of Laser Projection Systems If improved accuracy setting small parts will help you, a laser guide system for your CNC might be a good long-run investment. September 24, 2006
Smooth Surfacing of MDF Using CNC Equipment Material choice and cutterhead selection affect the smoothness of a CNC-profiled MDF surface. CNC sanding is also possible. May 16, 2005
Tooling for Machining Richlite Advice on CNC tooling that can cope with Richlite, a paper-based fiber composite material. January 21, 2010
Troubleshooting Breakage of Bits CNC operators help a colleague figure out why his 1/4-inch bits keep breaking in 3/4-inch-thick hardwood. August 29, 2006
Supporting the Dust Collection Hose for a CNC Router Here are some proven solutions (with photos) for supporting the dust collection ducting for a CNC router, while allowing the hose to move freely. December 29, 2008
Troubleshooting Tearout on End Grain A furnituremaker gets advice on avoiding tearout when machining Maple end grain with a roundover bit. October 19, 2014
Vacuum Pump Exhaust Setups Thoughts on how to exhaust a vacuum pump outside the shop, in order to reduce heat buildup. December 2, 2011
Troubleshooting Inaccurate Cutting with Dual Tables Mechanical backlash or a control problem could be causing performance flaws in a dual-table CNC setup. Here are tips of finding the source of trouble. May 16, 2005
Thrown CNC Tool -- What Happened? When a tool slips out of the collet while the machine's running, it's dangerous. Here, pros troubleshoot a case. November 26, 2007
Two-Head CNC Router Choices Several suppliers make CNC routers with two independently operating heads and advanced control capabilities. January 14, 2008
When a Spindle Won't Let Go Tool spindles can be finicky, and sometimes fail to release a tool properly. Here's one example, and a discussion of what could be causing the trouble. January 27, 2008
Simple Radial-Ray Wood Carving Toolpaths A CNC owner gets tips on creating the toolpaths to reproduce a set of simple sunburst decorative carvings. January 21, 2010
Square Corner Problem with CNC The owner of a Shoda router with a Fanuc control asks for advice on making true square corners while maintaining fast operation of the equipment. December 31, 2012
Vacuum Fixturing - Part 2 of 3 Flow and pressure are the key parameters in choosing a vacuum pump for a hold-down system. The two qualities are inversely related. (Part Two of a technical explanation by Tom Galzin of New CNC.) June 1, 2012
Vacuum and Part Size A question about how to relate vacuum requirements to minimum part size. January 2, 2012
Uneven Wear on CNC Racks and Gears Here's a thoughtful look at the causes of various wear patterns on CNC equipment, and appropriate maintenance measures. June 17, 2009
Starter CNC for a Guitar Maker A guitar maker gets advice on an entry-level CNC setup that will let him make time with artistic electric bodies. August 24, 2008
Tear-out on raised panel corners Eliminating corner tear-out on raised panel cabinet doors when using CNC equipment. November 7, 2000
Vacuum Hold-Down with Rough Materials Advice on how to achieve a strong working vacuum when holding down rough sheet stock on a CNC router table. April 29, 2006
V-Grooving for a Miter-Fold on a CNC Cutting a V-groove with a CNC's rotary bit has inherent limitations because of bit speed. But there are solutions. March 25, 2007
What Transducers Do On CNC equipment, transducers are used to record actual machine motion for feedback to the controller, improving accuracy and preventing error. July 21, 2006
Tooling for MDF Doors on CNC Getting set up to profile one-piece raised-panel MDF doors on a CNC shouldn't break the bank. December 11, 2012
Troubleshooting CNC Controller Errors When a CNC device makes an unexplained move or cut, how can you isolate the source of the glitch? September 3, 2010
Spoilboard Advice for Routing CDX Plywood Holding down CDX plywood requires a strong vacuum and a good spoilboard, because of the plywood's voids and warping. August 17, 2006
Vacuum Lifters for Melamine Sheets Advice on shopping for shop equipment that takes the heavy lifting out of loading melamine onto the CNC table. July 15, 2014
Static Cling Problem When Routing Melamine Advice on eliminating the static charge that causes dust to cling to workpieces when machining melamine panels on the CNC router. July 10, 2009
Troubleshooting Vacuum Pressure Advice on locating the air leak in a CNC vacuum hold-down system, starting with the pumps and moving on to connections and spoilboards. February 16, 2014
Vacuum Pump Oil Temperature Control Ideas for shop-rigged solutions to warm the oil in an outdoor vacuum pump at startup on cold days. September 3, 2010
Whether to Invest in a Small CNC Machine Even a small CNC machine can be highly productive. But a small shop has to think through whether it will suit their volume, workflow, and schedule. July 11, 2007
Understanding Chip Load Explaining the term "chip load" --what it means, and why it matters. June 19, 2005
Tool Holder Handedness and Safety For peace of mind, use tool holders that are tighened, not loosened, by the direction of rotation of the tool. April 17, 2009
Why CNC Machines Slow Down on the Curves Actual feed rates are slower than the programmed rate when the cutter has to trace a curve. Pros in the know explain why. June 28, 2005
Spindle Load Meter Fluctuations For various reasons, spindle load meters may display momentary very high readings during normal operations. March 28, 2008
Where to Put the Vacuum Pump Some CNC owners find their vacuum pumps perform better when located in a space that communicates with the outdoors. May 16, 2005
Tooling for Marine Grade Plywood The glue in marine plywood can tear up cutting bits quickly. Here, three tooling suppliers suggest some tougher tooling. October 26, 2011
Which Parts to Cut with a CNC Setup A shop owner has just bought a CNC machine, and wants to know what he should use it for. Short answer: "Everything." August 30, 2005
Unfolding and Flattening CNC Design Options Is there software out there for creating a design to be machined on a flat surface, then wrapped around a 3D shape? Here are some suggestions. January 27, 2008
Buying Second-Hand CNC Equipment People who have been there and done that describe the trouble they've been through with used CNC gear — and the payoff. March 21, 2006
Estimating and Measuring Tool Deflection Troubleshooting slop in the cut, a CNC owner wonders: How much do toolbits actually bend? Hey. You do the math. February 19, 2013
First CNC for Furniture Production While considering his options for a first CNC, an owner asks colleagues for their recommendations. February 25, 2005
Hoses Failing on A Second-Hand CNC An incorrect choice of lubricant may have caused hose failure on this previously-owned machine. April 15, 2013
Is CNC Equipment Practical for a One-Man Shop? A long and thorough analysis of the value of an investment in CNC equipment for the small shop, this thread should be read by anyone considering the upgrade to CNC. August 23, 2006
Introduction to CNC This conversation, triggered by a simple open question, amounts to a nice overview of the decisions and experiences involved in transitioning a shop to CNC production. October 20, 2013
Microvellum Users Assess New Version An extensive and detailed look at the powerful drawing-to-cutlist integrated application's traits and quirks. August 29, 2005
G Code Trick Writing code that repeats itself at different xy locations. June 4, 2004
Post-Processor Runs Amuck While Tracing Fonts When you CNC draws crop circles while trying to cut out sign lettering, you know you've got troubles. Here, pros do some detective work and zero in on the buggy code. November 10, 2006
Linking Spindle RPM to Travel Speed CNC owners discuss the feasibility of tweaking their control systems to couple bit speed with gantry travel velocity. July 16, 2008
Hand-Coding G Code for a Curved Handrail Lacking software to automate the job, a CNC operator wrote the code for a complex handrail job on a 5-axis CNC router himself. Here's an extended discussion, with photos, including input from people who prefer the automated route. July 29, 2012
Managing Long CNC Carving Operations Thoughts on how to handle situations when a complicated carving process may run for more hours than your shop is usually open. December 14, 2009
Is a Drill Block Worth It on a CNC Machine? Including a drilling capability on the CNC can save time and reduce material handling requirements. But depending on your volume, it might not be a cost-effective choice. October 26, 2011
Flat-Table CNC Versus Pod and Rail or Beam Saw What starts out as a question about energy usage of various equipment turns into a detailed discussion comparing CNC equipment with other choices in terms of efficiency and output. January 23, 2012
Moving to CNC: Worth the Investment? A small-shop owner is considering whether to invest in a CNC router. In this thread, experienced pros help him evaluate his options. July 24, 2005
Expected Service Life for a CNC Spindle How long should a CNC spindle last before it needs replacing? That depends on many operating conditions, including tool sharpness, type of cooling system, and ramping parameters. August 24, 2008
Engraving a Book Cover in Wood: CNC or Laser? A very unusual project proposal (thousands of book covers engraved in plywood) leads into a discussion of laser engraving versus CNC engraving. August 16, 2012
Improving Bit Life and Performance Cutting Melamine on the CNC This discussion of bit choices and characteristics also delves into how you can fine-tune your operational settings to suit the machine as well as the material and the tooling. March 13, 2014
Performance of Resharpened Bits CNC router bits should take several resharpenings before performance drops off. October 18, 2005
Phase Converters for CNC-Equipped Shops If you need 3-phase power for a CNC machine as well as other equipment, you should consider your phase converter choice carefully. The wrong setup could damage your equipment. July 9, 2007
Maintaining the Direction of Routs on Mirrored Parts Here's a discussion of the control code that can prevent a CNC controller from introducing climb cuts where you don't want them when cutting out mirrored parts. December 31, 2012
Parametric Programming Versus CAD and CAM Toolpath Creation A request for help in defining a shape mathematically for machine code leads into a discussion of situations where hand-coding and math are better than working in higher-level drawing and toolpath programs. February 19, 2013
Machining Matching Male and Female Ellipses There's many a slip twixt the cup and the ellipse. Here's a long and informative thread on the problem created when trying to program CNC equipment to cut two similar ellipse shapes of slightly different sizes. October 12, 2007
Is a Vacuum Bed Necessary? CNC owners discuss the types of work that benefit from vacuum-table equipment, and describe other methods for holding parts down. November 8, 2007
Making the Best of an Underpowered Vacuum A better vacuum pump isn't in the budget, so a CNC owner asks for advice on improving hold-down performance with spoilboard improvements and other workarounds. November 5, 2013
Rounding Over Part Edges on a CNC A long discussion of how to set up a CNC router to round over furniture part edges after cutting the shape. September 15, 2011
Router Bit Accuracy Router bit dimension variations may be one limit on CNC machining accuracy. Here are thoughts on why bits may not be consistent sizes, and what operators can or should do to compensate. May 27, 2008
HPL Inlay Production Tips This thread on routing inlay patterns in high-pressure laminate includes a good lesson about Cutter Radius Compensation, which lets the operator make allowances for tool wear without re-coding the program. October 3, 2011
Routing Deeper than a Tool's Allowed "Usable Length" Creative programming lets a CNC user rout progressively deeper into thick material, working around software restrictions on a given tool's maximum depth of cut. August 29, 2006
Remote Control Cutoff for CNC Equipment Ideas for solving a unique problem: shutting off a CNC router while programming and observing the machine remotely. August 21, 2006
Measuring Resharpened Tools Tips and tricks for finding the true measurements of CNC cutter bits after sharpening. December 6, 2006
Improving Spoilboard Vacuum Advice on ways to improve your spoilboard for better vacuum and better hold-down of parts. January 7, 2010
Exporting CAD Files for a CNC Controller Creating CAD files that a CNC controller will recognize can be a very complex puzzle. Here's one example, with a few lessons learned. June 30, 2007
Getting to Know Aggregate Tools A newcomer to CNC asks for a basic explanation of what aggregates are and how they work — and gets one. April 10, 2008
Exporting CAD-Drawn Curves to CNC Software Considerations on the problem of getting CNC software to understand curved paths (ellipses, splines, arcs, and so forth). July 29, 2007
Fragile Points on Textured MDF High-density fiberboard may be better than medium-density fiberboard for sculpting a contoured surface. September 28, 2009
Flame-Polishing Acrylic Edges A router may leave scalloped chatter marks on the edge of acrylic pieces, no matter what bit you choose. But a quickly-applied hot blue flame can leave the edge glass-smooth. June 26, 2006
Equipment to Make Carved Mouldings Is it worth it to buy a CNC or a specialized carving machine for making egg-and-dart mouldings or other carved moulding details? March 26, 2009
Positive Tech Support Experiences Mission-critical high-tech CNC gear is as good as the company that backs it up with parts, service, and support. March 26, 2009
Machinery Dilemma: CNC or Beam Saw? Which machine is right for a given shop? The answer depends on both the volume and the variability of the work.
Routing Through an Edgebanded Edge Tips and techniques for routing into an edgebanded panel edge without tearing the edgebanding loose. February 17, 2006
Holding Down Small Parts on a CNC Making vacuum work: details on gasket, pod, and custom spoilboard techniques for holding small workpieces down on a CNC table. February 1, 2015
Melamine Chipping and Drill Bit Selection Chipping problems encountered while drilling shelf holes on CNC equipment could be fixed by changing to carbide bits, or could be related to panel quality. March 26, 2009
Getting Initial Vacuum CNC operator with a spoilboard installed has trouble getting the machine to suck plywood down when first placed for cutting. Pros offer advice. September 24, 2006
Extending Bit Life in Laminates Some HPL laminate panels are extremely rough on CNC tooling. Here are suggestions for choosing bits that will last longer. January 31, 2012
MDF Spoilboard Effect on Vacuum Performance Variations in panel porosity can affect the suction through your spoilboard, but other things could also be happening. July 29, 2012
Protecting the Pods During Cuts Some point-to-point equipment leaves hold-down pods exposed to damage during cutting. Here are ideas for minimizing the problem. February 8, 2008
Making MDF Doors on the CNC Good quality MDF is one key to success when machining raised-panel door shapes onto MDF. September 18, 2012
Hand-Coding to Engage CNC Vacuum In case the operator forgets to turn on the vacuum, you can code to have the machine do it automatically. November 11, 2006
Making Your Own Vacuum Pods Lots of CNC owners have successfully machined or molded their own hold-down pods. Here are some detailed explanations and photos. October 26, 2011
Flush Dowel Joints Using a CNC Edge doweling accurate enough to allow flush joining of panels edge to edge is problematic on CNC equipment. November 10, 2006
Is a Drill Block Worth the Investment? CNC owners discuss how a drill block can improve production, and whether that benefit justifies the up-front cost.March 13, 2014
Machining Scallops or Flutes into MDF Panels With CNC equipment, you can machine any kind of regular or irregular scallops, waves, or flutes into MDF — but it can be pricey, and makes a lot of dust. January 26, 2008
Managing Computer Obsolescence with Old CNC Equipment Microsoft has stopped supporting the Windows XP operating system, but some CNC equipment still relies on it. What are the practical workarounds for machine owners? April 18, 2015
How to Change a Collet Some collets are unusually sticky and stubborn. Here is how to reason with them. April 30, 2009
Routing an Irregular Outline Woodworkers compare a pin router to a CNC as the device for cutting the outline of a map or other irregular object. February 19, 2013
P2P Origin Placement Best postitioning for running gables on a point-to-point router. March 14, 2004
Problems Holding Down Thin Sheet Stock Suggestions for vacuum hold-down solutions when cutting small parts out of thin stock on the CNC router. October 1, 2010
Holding Small Cut-Outs in Place Tiny cut-out pieces created when profiling CNC grill-work can pop out, land on the panel, and cause trouble. Here are some tips on keeping those small pieces in place or controlling where they end up. June 30, 2007
Hold-Down and Cooling Problems Cutting Metal Cooling solutions tend to make the table slippery and interfere with vacuum holding ability. Here are some tips for working with metal on the CNC. April 16, 2009
How Useful are Zones on a CNC Machine? An owner shopping for a CNC wonders whether he needs to be able to zone the machine's hold-down and operations capability. March 13, 2014
PVC Machining Tips Advice on bit choice, speeds, and RPMs for cutting PVC sheet goods with a small, low-powered CNC router. December 8, 2010
Phase Converter for a 20-HP CNC Machine owners share experiences with finding ways to supply three-phase power in sufficient quantity and quality. June 17, 2010
Keeping CNC Tables Clean CNC owners describe onion-skinning, second passes, and other inventive methods to manage dust in router operations. December 8, 2010
Machining Polypropylene on the CNC Without Melting Cutting polypropylene and similar soft plastics on the CNC is tricky. To avoid melting the plastic, you need the right bits, RPM, and feed speeds. Here is more info. November 29, 2014
Holding Down Nested Plywood Parts Vacuum alone may not hold parts in place well enough, but there are many ways to get around the problem. Here's an assortment of tips and techniques. July 24, 2005
Noisy Vacuum Pump Is loud operation a trouble sign with a vacuum pump? May 6, 2009
Locating the CNC on the Shop Floor Loading, unloading, workflow, and air supply are considerations when fitting a new CNC into the shop. August 21, 2012
Machining a Giant Chess Set on CNC A CNC owner shows off an unusual custom project: Carving giant chess pieces based on 3D scans of small pieces. October 15, 2009
Feed Rate and RPM for Bamboo on the CNC Struggling to eliminate chatter when cutting bamboo, a CNC operator gets advice on tooling and settings, as well as on specifying tool paths. April 17, 2009
Pin Indexing for Two-Sided Drilling Here are some ideas for quick, accurate positioning of panels when you need to drill holes from both sides. October 26, 2012
Making Pocket Holes with a CNC Router Depending on the job, setting up the CNC device to rout and drill pocket holes may be faster than using a dedicated pocket-hole machine or jig. July 24, 2005
Holding Veneer Flat on a CNC Table A CNC operator finds that veneer tends to "bubble up" off the vacuum spoilboard in random spots. Here, he gets advice on holding the material down so he can cut inlay pieces out of it. June 30, 2007
Machining aluminum Determining the feed speed and other details for machining aluminum. July 24, 2001
Feed Speeds, RPMs, and Bit Life "Make chips, not dust" — chips take heat off the tool, so to make bits last, set feed rates and RPMs to cut large chips. May 23, 2007
Excessive Bit Wear when Cutting HPL A quarter-inch-diameter bit is too small for working with high-pressure laminate, CNC owners advise. January 4, 2014
Limits to Vacuum When Routing Small Parts A newcomer asks what size parts he should expect his vacuum table to manage. Experienced hands discuss his problem. July 2, 2005
Engraving Aluminum in a CNC Router Compared to machining wood, working with aluminum calls for different tooling, speeds, and cooling methods. July 29, 2012
How Much Vacuum Can the Pump Tolerate? Pumps come with protective controls to keep them from being damaged by overwork. Here is some related advice on maintaining adequate hold-down of small parts. October 16, 2012
Machining Fire-Retardant MDF Fire-retardant-treated MDF is much tougher on tools than ordinary MDF. Here's some info and some suggestions for tooling. November 15, 2010
Plywood Offcut Organizing Systems Plywood scraps aren't waste if you use 'em — but keeping them saved and sorted is a challenge. There are basic and advanced systems for doing that. January 27, 2008
Melamine Chipping Is it the bits, the feed rate, the material? Pros troubleshoot a case of melamine chipping on a new CNC unit. June 30, 2005
Maintaining CNC Lube Systems Oil lines and valves need inspection and occasionally have to be replaced. February 12, 2010
Measuring Router Bit Diameter Advice on how to verify whether tooling diameter is correct within proper tolerances. January 12, 2015
Machine Cutting Out of Square A CNC router that cuts out of square may need one of several mechanical adjustments. September 3, 2010
3d Cnc Programming 3D work on a CNC. August 26, 2004
Planing and Smoothing with CNC Equipment Fly cutters and spiral heads can smooth surfaces. Some foreign shops have also developed planer-head CNC tooling. May 16, 2005
Milling Epoxy Tops on a CNC Thoughts on tooling and dust control for cutting inch-thick epoxy on a CNC router. February 12, 2010
Fuzzy Edge Problems with Particleboard Melamine Fuzz from the edges of freshly cut particleboard is gumming up the edgebander. What to do? Here's advice on bits and cutting methods. April 17, 2009
Overheating in Short Cuts Maintaining the right RPM and bit speed gets tricky when the cuts are short. February 28, 2012
Low-End Options for Bleed Board Vacuum A small bleed-board parts hold-down setup for occasional use can be practically powered using shop vacuums. September 3, 2010
Power Lifters for Loading CNC Tables Loading panels onto your CNC equipment can be hard work. Consider lift equipment to save labor (and avoid injuries). November 11, 2006
Left-Hand Tools and Tool Holders Tools that rotate counterclockwise require tool holders that won't loosen from the effect of that rotation. February 20, 2011
Hold-Down Tips and Tricks How to hold down materials that are too rough for a workable vacuum seal. February 12, 2010
Grounding a CNC Router Stray voltage can zap your operator and also fry your electronics. Here's how to ground the machine. January 21, 2007
Preventing Vacuum-Pump Overheating Clean filters, a working bypass valve, and supplemental ventilation will help keep your vacuum pump cool. May 16, 2005
Holding Down Veneer on a CNC Suggestions for holding veneer down when cutting out curved shapes on a CNC. December 11, 2012
How Thin Should You Wear Your Spoilboard? When should you swap out your worn vacuum spoilboard for a new one? CNC operators report their experiences regarding minimum spoilboard thicknesses. May 23, 2007
Homing a CNC Tool Changer A brief description of the procedure for homing the tool changer in a CNC that has been shut down for too long and forgotten its settings. June 30, 2014
Rotary Lathe and Router Setups for a CNC Here's a quick look at how CNC can incorporate a rotary axis holding the workpiece with a router doing the cutting. July 29, 2014
Nested Side Panels Watch as a CNC router drills and cuts out parts for melamine cabinets. Fine craftsmanship as practiced by gigantic, noisy robot machines. July 12, 2007
Advice on Choosing a CNC Router Here are some detailed thoughts on matching a new piece of CNC equipment to your needs and your budget. October 26, 2011
Cost of running a CNC router Choosing the right CNC machine based on projected capabilities and costs. November 29, 2000
Calibrating Wood Thickness for CNC Part Production A CNC shop needs help figuring out how to achieve consistent thickness on stock before sending it to the CNC for cutting into small parts. The discussion ranges over belt sander accuracy, planer choices, onion-skinning techniques, and more. April 21, 2008
Choosing a CNC Router This long and detailed thread covers a lot of subjects relating to the pros and cons of various CNC characteristics and capabilities. October 19, 2014
Considering CNC Another long thread about the realities of adding a CNC to an already well-equipped shop. April 8, 2008
CAD-to-Production Options Some insights into the ever-changing world of drafting and machining software integration as of Spring, 2007. October 3, 2007
Adding a Rotary Indexer to a CNC Router Detailed thoughts on installing a "fourth axis," similar to a lathe, onto a CNC, to hold and rotate blanks for machining complex pieces. June 29, 2007
CNC Choices: Hardware Versus User Interface Some of the most powerful equipment has hard-to-use controller software. What does that mean for the buyer and operator? April 29, 2012
"Dovetail" Drawer-Box Joinery on a CNC Strictly speaking, this joint may not be a true dovetail. But it functions the same way, and can be efficiently cut as nested parts on CNC equipment. May 7, 2007
Choosing CAD/CAM for Complex Carved Custom Furniture What programs could handle the drawing and machine control requirements for reproducing an intricate, highly decorated, hand-carved piece of custom furniture? April 19, 2011
Chip Load and Tool Diameter Experts and operators discuss the relationship between bit size, chip load, RPMs, and feed speed when machining various materials on a CNC router. August 29, 2006
Coding Curves along the Z-Axis on a CNC Three-dimensional coding is a special challenge. Here, CNC owners discuss how to achieve curves along the third dimension. October 26, 2013
CNC Router Productivity Shop owners evaluate the productivity advantage of CNC equipment, and discuss ways to adapt shop methods and processes to the machine's capabilities. October 2, 2007
Bit Deflection with 3/8-Inch Bits Tiny "nibs" at the entry and exit points of cuts: what's the problem? Could the bits be deflecting, or is there some other cause? October 1, 2010
Chinese Plywood Cabinetmakers complain about the quality of hardwood plywood imported from China. April 13, 2012
CNC pod table Homemade pods and more. (CNC Forum) March 23, 2003
Creating Curves on CNC Equipment Instructions for cutting curved shapes can be hand-programmed, but it makes more sense to draw in CAD and import the shapes to the CNC controller. October 26, 2005
Compensating for Material Thickness Variations Thickness differences between pieces can cause trouble when machining parts out of sheet goods. But a savvy operator can work around the problem. August 29, 2006
Aerotech Router Bit Wear & Tear Is the Aerotech dust-vacuum CNC attachment heavy enough to increase spindle wear? January 2, 2012
CNC Router Bits for Solid Wood If the operation heats up the bits, high speed steel may last as long as carbide. December 2, 2011
CNC for Veneer Marquetry Is there CNC equipment that can do fine work with very thin veneer stock? Here's an in-depth discussion. January 3, 2012
CNC Machine Build Quality A shop owner's considering a CNC purchase wonders why one machine weighs more than a similar competitor. But as he learns, quality construction depends on more than weight. October 18, 2005
Drafting Spirals in AutoCAD LT An early learner's question about AutoCAD LT: how to approach the problem of drafting a three-dimensional spiral shape. July 29, 2012
Converting Splines to Lines and Arcs CNC control software can understand lines and arcs, but not splines. Here's advice on how to convert information into useable form. June 28, 2010
Cleaning Out a CNC Auto-Lube System A shop owner gets help figuring out how to get the auto-lube system on an old, poorly-maintained Biesse Rover up and running again.August 22, 2013
CNC-Routing Aluminum Advice on material selection, tooling up and operating technique for cutting aluminum on CNC equipment. June 26, 2006
Doweling on a Point-to-Point CNC CNC routers can be tweaked for accurate dowel boring, but a dedicated boring machine is a better way to go. August 8, 2008
Dedicated and Gasketed Spoilboards Advice on spoilboard refinements for holding down small parts during CNC machining operations. August 17, 2006
CNC Bit Life in Baltic Birch Baltic birch plywood has hard glue lines and is rough on CNC tooling. Here's a multitude of advice on appropriate tooling and techniques that could help your bits last longer. June 30, 2007
CNC feed rates for melamine Concerns on purchasing a CNC router and software for cutting melamine. August 12, 2001
CNC Productivity and the Purchasing Decision A discussion of machine output versus shop needs, the outsourcing option, and the planning and preparation recommended before purchasing a CNC router. August 29, 2006
Building Your Own CNC Controller Thoughts on the hardware and software challenges involved in custom-building a controller for an older CNC machine. March 28, 2015
Diamond Tooling Versus Carbide Diamond bits are not best for every situation. Among other factors, they usually require slower feed rates. January 2, 2012
CNC Collet and Chuck Choices CNC pros compare the advantages of different tool-gripping technology. November 26, 2007
CNC-Based Workflow Concepts A shop owner who's investing in a new CNC router gets advice on re-organizing the rest of his shop to take best advantage of the new equipment. March 28, 2010
CAD/CAM Basics for Beginners Here's a rudimentary explanation of how CAD/CAM processes work, for the benefit of a furniture designer who wants his design produced on a CNC device. March 28, 2010
CNC Routing From PDF Definition of a tap file, and whether or not PDFs provide precision. August 17, 2004
Climb Cutting Versus Conventional Cutting Here's a close look at the difference between climb-cutting and conventional cutting on the CNC, with explanations of how each method affects the quality of cut. October 3, 2011
Cutting Sheet Aluminum on a CNC Router Aluminum plate can be machined on CNC equipment designed for wood. Here, pros discuss the considerations involved (and the alternatives). March 21, 2006
CNC Accuracy - Simple CNC Test Routines How to run a used CNC through its paces to check on the accuracy and repeatability of its cuts and controls. September 3, 2010
Correcting dowel hole runout Finding and correcting the cause of dowel hole runout in CNC-machined parts. November 7, 2000
"Climb Cutting" and Bit Rotation A basic introduction to bit rotation, feed direction, and the meaning of left-handedness and right-handedness in CNC work, with some tips on controlling cutter rotation and feed direction. February 8, 2008
Cutting Stacked Sheets of Quarter-Inch Material A roller hold-down system is a big help for machining stacks of material. But can that capability be added to an existing machine? January 19, 2011
CNC Spindle Rotation Here's a discussion of router spindle control and the reasons to use "conventional" or "climb" cutting paths. January 19, 2012
Considering a CNC Router Purchase A four-man shop wants to bring its CNC work in-house, and gets advice on evaluating equipment options. November 12, 2005
CNC Decimal-Point Quirk CNC controllers may occasionally ignore instructions when the numbers do not include a decimal point. March 28, 2008
Clean Plywood Edge Cuts Bit choice, feed speed, RPMs, and other factors that affect how cleanly CNC equipment will cut routers. June 5, 2006
Dust Control Blower Mod for CNC Here's a look at a shop-rigged dust control modification to a Holz-Her CNC: a blower that drives fine MDF dust out of the cut grooves so that the dust collector can grab it.October 16, 2012
CAD/CAM Software for Curved CNC Work This discussion of software for curved CNC work includes some interesting photos of unique examples. January 28, 2009
Crashing the CNC Machine Accidents will happen, but damaged CNC tables can be repaired with epoxy, and new pods can be machined on the device. March 1, 2006
Building Your Own CNC Machine It won't be a top-end machine — but if you build one, you'll learn a lot. November 27, 2012
CNC Versus Panel Saw Accuracy CNC equipment has a reputation for superior accuracy. Here, cabinetmakers discuss the reasons it may be so. March 25, 2007
Drilling Problem Participants help troubleshoot a "boring" challenge. February 25, 2005
Converting a Point to Point CNC into a Flat Table Here's a discussion of the practicalities involved in modifying a pod-and-rail point-to-point CNC with the vacuum and spoilboard flat table required for cutting parts out of large sheets of material. December 28, 2010
CNC Routing on Thick Hardwood Stock A CNC operator gets detailed advice on bit selection and machining technique for cutting curves into 1.5-inch thick Walnut for a bar top.July 29, 2012
Buying Used CNC Equipment Is a good deal on used iron worth the potential headaches? Pros share opinions and experiences. August 30, 2005
CNC Machine Vibration in 3D Path Cutting Machine controllers may introduce vibration when cutting complex three-dimensional curves. The problem may improve if you lower the acceleration settings. March 12, 2009
CNC Dust Collection Connections Dust collector hose joints that move a lot are subject to wear and failure. Here's some insight into the problem. April 21, 2007
Bar Codin' Blues A Visual Basic script can generate bar codes for inputting CNC instructions. April 10, 2005
CNC Collet Maintenance and Repair Collets should not wear out or fail for many years unless something is wrong. Here's advice on keeping the collets in good shape. April 19, 2011
CNC Vacuum Problem The power you need in a vacuum for hold-down purposes varies depending on your CNC table setup. November 26, 2007
CNC Crash-and-Burn Stories CNC routers can start fires when things get out of control. Here are some photos and some stories. January 19, 2012
CNC Dust Collection Improvements CNC owners discuss ways to boost the effectiveness of CNC dust collection and keep the table and shop clean. March 12, 2009
CNC-Lathe Hybrids It's tricky, but yes — a four-axis CNC can be rigged to operate as a lathe for detailing cylindrical wood elements. August 3, 2009
Compensating for Bit Shape when Touching Off When you "touch off" brad point or V-shaped drill bits, but you want the bit to drill all the way through the material, how do you adjust your settings or programs? June 8, 2008
Cutting MDF on a CNC MDF is rough on bits. Here's a discussion on bit choices and operating techniques. January 13, 2009
CNC Table Size: 4x8 Versus 4x10 CNC shop owners consider the costs and advantages of investing in equipment with a larger table. August 8, 2008
Bit Diameter Auto-Measurement A CNC owner seeks technology to speed up calibration of his equipment when switching among numerous tools with varying diameters. April 17, 2009
Bit Selection for a CNC Router A shop owner gets advice on what bits he'll need for his new CNC router, along with tips on bit care and re-sharpening. August 30, 2005
Boring Into Laminate on Plywood Drilling into laminate-covered plywood poses a special challenge for a CNC router. Here are some tips on bit choice and machine settings. May 27, 2008
CNC Router for Guitar Parts A newcomer to automation gets basic advice about using CNC to make guitar necks and bodies. August 30, 2005
CNC Dust Brush Issues Brush strips around CNC routers may pick up sawdust and chips and drop them during tool changes. Here, equipment owners discuss alternative dust skirt materials. October 1, 2005
CNC Spindle Maintenance and Repair Careless servicing can cost in terms of equipment life. Here's a useful example and a discussion of smart maintenance practices. April 17, 2009
Custom Door Profile: Custom Cutter Versus CNC Solution While searching for a particular profile cutterhead for his shaper, a cabinetmaker learns about a possible way to get what he needs from a CNC-equipped shop. April 29, 2013
After-Market Tool Holder Parts for CNC Equipment CNC owners discuss where to find minor accessories for their CNC gear — and how to fabricate their own parts from plastic, on the CNC itself. March 3, 2009
Dust Collection for MDF Dust Advice on controlling fine dust produced while machining MDF on a CNC. January 14, 2013
Cutting Flutes Without Burning the Wood A discussion of tooling choices and cut path adjustments that may help avoid creating burn marks when machining flutes into solid wood. June 17, 2013
Bit Slippage in Tough Material A CNC owner who's making stair stringers from laminated veneer lumber (LVL) gets advice on good practice for inserting and tightening the bits. September 8, 2007
Boring Block Bit Set-Up Advice on setting up a CNC drill bank for good boring performance. October 12, 2007
CNC Router or Machining Center? For complex work on small parts, a pod and rail machine works best. A router table setup is better for cabinet production. But hybrid machines exist that offer the best of both worlds. March 6, 2006
Dealing with CNC Off-Fall CNCs can rapidly create a huge pile of odd-shaped scrap. Here's how shop owners manage the mess. August 19, 2008
Air Nozzle Control Work-Arounds for CNC Routers Some CNC control systems have code to switch blower-nozzle air on and off, and some don't. If yours doesn't, a simple hardware tweak might help. July 16, 2008
CNC Contour Milling and Bit Breakage Complex milling with lots of direction changes requires some adjustment of bit speeds in order to keep the cutters cool. August 24, 2008
CNC Production Rates A discussion of ballpark numbers: How many sheets will a CNC router cut in a day, and how many before you need a new bit? June 30, 2007
CNC Vacuum Pump Sizing and Elevation Altitude affects the efficacy of a vacuum pump for CNC hold-down applications. Here's some info on how to make the adjustment. May 16, 2005
CNC Table Base Sizes Three out of three doctors agree — bigger is better. Choose 5x12 over 5x8 or 5x10, and you'll be glad you did before too long. July 29, 2007
Cutting Sheet Aluminum without Breaking Bits Bit type and size, feed rate, spindle RPMs, and cooling are the key parameters for success with machining aluminum on a CNC. Here's advice. June 28, 2013
Boring MDF Without Blowout Bit speed, bit material and bit geometry could all be factors if MDF blows out as the drill bit exits the material. November 25, 2005
Calibrating Depths when Changing Tool Bits When you replace an old dull bit with a sharp new fresh bit, how do you compensate for the difference in length of the tool? May 13, 2013
Bit Size for CNC Cut-Out Operations Are there reasons for preferring a 1/2-inch, 3/8-inch, or even 1/4-inch bit for cutting out parts on a CNC router? June 26, 2006
Bit Life in High Pressure Laminate How many sheets should you be able to cut before a bit wears out? Comparing carbide with diamond, and a discussion of feed rates and settings. July 3, 2005
Cutting Techniques for PVC Board A fabricating shop has problems working with expanded PVC foam board. Colleagues share advice on cutter choice, feed rate, and more. July 11, 2005
Cutting Aluminum Composite Sheets Advice on bit choice and techniques for machining aluminum composite panels on CNC equipment. February 17, 2012
Cut MDF in One Pass, or Several? A single pass is faster, but if you have time there might be reasons to make multiple passes. April 20, 2008
Cold CNC Machine Won't Run When a CNC device generates a "too cold" error message after spending the night in an unheated shop, pay attention. March 6, 2006
Bits for Machining Solid Wood CNC pros discuss bits for solid wood machining that will get the job done and last a long time in service. August 14, 2009
Cutting Miters on the CNC Advice on bits and methods for cutting miters and miter-folds on CNC routers. October 14, 2010
Breaking router bits Why are bits breaking while cutting exterior-grade MDF? November 26, 2001
Checking Tolerances on a CNC Router When parts are coming out slightly undersized, start with a few basic troubleshooting checks. October 20, 2013
CNC Tooling for Large Solid Wood Parts Step-cutting with a relatively light bit can break the tool. Instead, rough out with a large, slow helix bit and come back for a light finish pass. September 24, 2006
Dovetails on the CNC The CNC may not be the fastest way to produce dovetail joinery, but if you have spare CNC time available there are ways to do it. Here are suggestions. March 22, 2013
Bit Wear in PVC with Applied Laminate Cutting small parts in hard material can be rough on tooling. Here is advice about feed speeds and RPMs, as well as some thoughts on hold-down methods. June 4, 2012
Duplicating Existing Parts There are simple ways, complicated ways, and software solutions when you need to image a part into a useable CAD/CNC file. July 11, 2005
Complex Shapes on a Flat-Table CNC Router A discussion, with examples, about cutting complex art shapes, bas-relief, curved mouldings, et cetera, on a flat-table CNC. December 11, 2012
Detailing Pre-Hung Entry Doors on CNC A description of what's involved in equipping a CNC router to prep doors for hanging, including cutting to size and mortising for hardware. November 8, 2007
Cutting CDX on a CNC Exterior grade plywood is hard to work with on a CNC router because it won't lie flat. Here is some hold-down advice and some thoughts on bit choice.October 20, 2013
CNC maintenance How can a small shop deal with CNC equipment breakdown, maintenance and repair? January 31, 2001
CNC Modification: Remote Control Cooling Informative video: a CNC owner adds an air blasting hose and nozzle with remote control to his equipment. September 25, 2014
CNC Router Bit Size Pros select why to choose a larger or smaller bit. July 3, 2005
Basic differences, CNC vs. P2P The basic capabilities of these two types of computer-driven woodworking machine are explained. January 3, 2001
Cutting Aluminum-Plastic-Foam Panels Advice on a challenging problem: how to cut composite insulated metal air-conditioner panels. February 23, 2008
Whether to Invest in a CNC Router Here's a long, thoughtful, and detailed thread comparing the advantages of a CNC router to other efficient setups, and considering whether buying a CNC is a good move for a small shop facing cut-rate competition. September 30, 2010
Sanding Problem with Hemisphere Mouldings A woodworker asks for advice about sanding a complex moulding that's coming off the CNC with a rough surface. But the answer turns out to lie with improving the CNC side of things. September 17, 2014
Ways to Machine Radiused Casings Woodworkers discuss various methods of making curved mouldings, including CNC and moulder techniques as well as ways to join segments. December 2, 2006
Square Hole Production Woodworkers brainstorm about how to machine decorative square holes in a wood faceplate. May 8, 2012
Time Needed to Produce Cabinets with a CNC Router Cabinetmakers compare notes on the machine time and assembly time to make cabinets with a CNC, as opposed to working with a beam saw and line boring machine.May 27, 2014
Should engineers do parts drawings? Product engineers can draw impressive sketches. But should they be expected to write code? November 15, 2000
Shop Productivity With a New CNC It seems more efficient to go on cutting parts manually than to program the CNC... what's missing? October 5, 2004
Shaper Heads on CNC Machines A "shaper aggregate" offers a whole new way to do curved mouldings. Here's some introductory info on the technology. August 14, 2007
Vacuum Panel Lifter Here's some basic info on vacuum panel lifters — how they work, setup, and use. April 21, 2011
Selling Used CAD or CNC Software You can transfer a software license to another buyer, but there are formalities involved. November 23, 2008
Troubleshooting Melamine Chip-Out Around Bore Holes Drill bit type and drilling speed control can reduce chipout on two-sided melamine panels, and there are also touch-up solutions for minor chipping problems. February 26, 2007
What's an Overhead Router Good For? CNC router owners say they still find lots of uses for their old, "obsolete" overhead pin routers. August 21, 2006
Using CNC Vacuum as a Glue Press You can use a CNC vacuum table and plastic sheeting for an improvised "vacuum bag" for laminating panel goods together. Who knew? January 9, 2008
Shutter Manufacturing Be a fly on the wall as a CNC router cuts out parts for louvered arched wood shutters. (Leave the sound turned off for this one.)July 12, 2007
Nested Base Versus Beam Saw and PTP A closet system fabricator and installer describes his journey through various shop equipment situations. May 26, 2014
Fabricating Radius and Curved Mouldings Here's a detailed discussion comparing two approaches to creating curved and arched mouldings: the CNC route, or the dedicated moulder and shaper setup (which may involve templates). July 13, 2010
Labor and Cost for a Complex Wood Window The fine woodwork for a custom decorative window can be painstaking and slow. Here are some detailed thoughts on methods and the time involved (including an interesting description of doing the work with a CNC).June 12, 2013
Going from handcrafted to CNC Discussion of P2Ps, dedicated boring, edgebanders and other equipment, software and processes. August 29, 2001
Figuring Out Woodshop Power Requirements Amps, volts, watts, horsepower, and all that jazz: here's an instructive thread on how to figure out if a building's power supply will support your plans for shop equipment. July 9, 2007
Making Square and Octagonal Handrail Caps Is a CNC router or an old-school rotary lathe the best way to machine a profiled square cap for a newel post? February 27, 2015
Pricing For Small Orders When you make your living with volume production, how do you cope with occasional one-off requests? January 26, 2008
Router Overheating Woodworkers discuss how hot router bits and collets should be expected to get during normal operation, and what might cause them to overheat. September 7, 2006
Routers Basic descriptions of various types of routers commonly found in wood shops, including CNC router equipment. November 13, 2008
Routing Flutes Across a Board: CNC Versus Jig Rig This thread has some practical suggestions for routing flutes across the width of a board, and some good arguments for farming the job out to a shop with a CNC. August 5, 2010
Panel Processing Time with and without CNC A CNC shop and a cabinetmaker using conventional equipment compare the labor time used to cut up and bore an entire kitchen. January 1, 2012
Power Cost for CNC Machining Juice to run the machinery is a small percentage of CNC operating cost, but it's not zero. October 14, 2010
MDF Doors: One-Piece Versus Two-Piece This discussion about fabricating MDF doors includes a closer look at why MDF warps, and about the difference between premium and commodity-grade material. July 13, 2010
Efficient Face-Frame Shop Process Thoughts on making face-frame beaded inset-door cabinets efficiently, relying mainly on a CNC router. October 27, 2008
Heavy-duty CNC router recommendations Suggestions choosing for a good-quality CNC router, offering adequate tech support and training. February 28, 2001
Replacing Electronics for Big Iron Here's a tip: shop around for parts or components before you buy a whole new touch screen, display, controller, or similar electronic element for shop machinery. You could save a bundle. January 2, 2012
CNC Versus Traditional Machinery for a Start-Up Shop Here's a long, detailed, and thoughtful discussion about the ideal equipment investment for starting a cabinet shop, focusing on whether to jump into CNC right from the get-go. October 18, 2011
CNC Versus Conventional Equipment for Entry Door Construction Woodworkers wax poetic as they discuss the practical considerations, the historical ramifications, and the spiritual significance of evolving technology in the field of door construction. January 23, 2014
Door and Window Building: CNC Versus Traditional Machinery Here's a thoughtful and sophisticated conversation about the proper place of CNC equipment and traditional shapers, mortisers, etc., in custom door and window production. October 3, 2011
Custom Architectural Woodwork on the CNC A request for ideas for making some custom quarter-round mouldings turns into an extended discussion of custom techniques and the value of hand labor versus computerized production. February 19, 2008
Communication Between Cabinet Shops About Outsourced Work A busy cabinetmaker who needs to send work to another shop for cutting on CNC equipment wishes the other shop would meet him halfway on the transfer of information. A debate ensues. January 31, 2012
CNC Routers Versus Jobs for People Despite employees' fears, a new CNC will not replace people — it will make their lives better. June 11, 2010
CNC Sign Making as a Side Business For a well-equipped CNC shop, routing wood signs for signmakers who mostly do other types of sign is a viable business niche. March 11, 2009