CNC Router

Commonly known as a Milling Machine, a Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) router is a computer controlled machine for cutting wood, plastic, or metal. It is a specific version of a CNCtool.

It consists of a drill on three racks, one rack running on the sides of the table, another connecting the two, and a third holding the machine to the second rack. The machine has a bit, and many different bits can cause different affects in the wood.

The CNC router is run by a computer, which uploads coordinates into the machine. The coordinates tell the center rack where to move up and down on the side racks, where to move the rack on the drill, and tells the rock on the drill how far up and down it needs to go. These are treated in the algebraic X, Y, and Z. Most artisans will have two programs, one program to make designs and another to upload designs to the machine and run it.

Understanding the potential of the CNC router in a carpenter's normal daily work has brought many low cost and affordable machines to the market.

The use of computerized machines for wood-working is at a nascent stage. There are few users who have yet to take full advantage of these machines. Usage has gained momentum in the last few years. There are a number of international brands on the market, most of which are of high quality. Some countries produce competitively priced machines which many small work-shop owners might find attractive.

This type of router comes into its own where there is a scarcity of skilled carpenters and where consistency and productivity is important. It can be very useful when carrying out identical, repetitive jobs. Less supervision is required, which allows operators to get on with other tasks. If there are a lack of skilled workers, training other personnel on these machines is always possible. A CNC router produces consistent and high quality work and improves productivity.

A CNC router can reduce waste, frequency of errors and the time the finished product takes to get to market. It can perform the tasks of many carpentry shop machines such as the panel saw, the spindle moulder, and the boring machine. It can also cut mortises and tennons.

A CNC router gives more flexibility to the manufacturing process. It can be used in the production of many different items, such as: door carvings, interior and exterior decorations, wood panelling, sign boards, wooden frames, mouldings, musical instruments, furniture manufacturing and so on.

Learning how these routers, with their electrical, electronic and computer systems work can be challenging, knowledge of English is often very limited and a lack of computer literacy does not help. CNC routers can be controlled directly by manual programming, but the full potential of the machine can only be achieved if they are controlled from files created by CAD/CAM software. The user has to be trained in how the machine works and in CAD/CAM applications.

A CNC router may not be completely replace the service of a skilled carpenter, but it can reduce his work load, enhance his creativity and increase his productivity.