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
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
Selecting the Right CAM System A CAM systems administrator outlines the top considerations involved in choosing computer-aided manufacturing software. August 16, 2005
User views on cabinet software Cabinet makers share their opinions and experiences with the major software packages and vendors. September 26, 2000
Cabinet Software and Drafting Software A young shop owner wonders how to step up from a cabinet software package to a full-fledged drafting program, mostly in order to be able to modify architects' drawings. A long, informative discussion ensues about the relationship between drafting programs and cabinetmaking CNC software, and the rela ......
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
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
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
Software Tools for One-Off Custom Creative Designs This conversation about how to design and prototype unusual three-dimensional models for advertising gets interesting when people start to post examples. (Plus, it has beer.) November 29, 2014
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
CAD on the Macintosh Platform New machines and emulation software have expanded the cross-platform options. April 21, 2007
Making Code from Sloppy Drawings The frustrations of messy drawings, and a parallel discussion of CNC theory vs. reality in terms of function. December 9, 2004
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
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
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
The Value of Interfaces A user discovers the power of interfaces and others join in the conversation. February 25, 2005
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
Is It Worth Learning CAD? This isn't one of those "which cabinet drawing app is best?" threads. This is a discussion of the difficulty of learning AutoCad, versus the relative ease of use but lesser flexibility of the cabinet-specific alternatives. June 4, 2012
Cabinet Software and Photo-Realistic Rendering This thread on a timeworn topic (choosing cabinet design software) has an extra feature: some examples of super-realistic rendering. January 13, 2009
Shopping for CAD Software Some insightful commentary on choosing the right software (if any) for the kind of cabinet work you do. October 15, 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
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
Drafting Doors in CAD Methods of drafting doors are discussed, in search of the most efficient. December 26, 2004
CAD-to-Production Options Some insights into the ever-changing world of drafting and machining software integration as of Spring, 2007. October 3, 2007
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
Software to Produce Shop Drawings Is a 3-D drafting and design application worth it for someone who wants to move from hand-drawn to CAD-produced shop drawings? March 5, 2007
CNC tooling slippage Could it be the collects, the cleaning, the cones... what? July 9, 2002
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
"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
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
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
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
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
Shop-Built CNC Vacuum Table A detailed discussion of how to fabricate a vacuum table for an older CNC. December 9, 2008
Learning from Software Purchasing Mistakes Woodworkers, designers, and shop owners discuss the lessons learned from sinking money (and time) into the "wrong" CAD program. October 15, 2009
Shopping for CNC A woodworker gets advice on how best to "try before you buy." September 27, 2009
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
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
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
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
Learning CAD: Is It Worth It? Craftsmen discuss the value of learning CAD design, and provide tips on tackling the learning curve. June 24, 2006
Outsourcing Drafting Work Contracting outside your company for CAD drawings creates a management challenge. Here's a discussion of how to handle the complications. December 14, 2009
CNC pod table Homemade pods and more. (CNC Forum) March 23, 2003
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
Cabinet design techniques A survey of cabinetmakers' design techniques, from pencil and rule to CAD. September 6, 2000
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
Text Labeling on the Dimension Line in CAD Here are several suggested ways to use text boxes for calling out dimensions in an AutoCAD document, and some cautions on what could go wrong. October 12, 2007
Layout Printing Bottleneck Printing multiple layouts can choke a computer and plotter's capacity. Here, CAD users suggest workarounds involving the batch plot utility, lisp programming, and other sly tricks. May 16, 2005
CAD "Stretch" Function Shortcut Saving generic shapes, then pasting and re-sizing them, can cut down on drafting labor time. September 24, 2006
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Z axis oscillation code Programming the Z-axis of a router to use more of the cutting length of the tools. February 19, 2002
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
Understanding Vacuum Hold-Down When shopping for a vacuum pump for a CNC, it's helpful to know how vacuum works. February 13, 2009
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
CNC-Routing Aluminum Advice on material selection, tooling up and operating technique for cutting aluminum on CNC equipment. June 26, 2006
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
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
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
Standardizing and Updating Title Blocks in CAD Here's a detailed discussion of how to get everyone in the office set up to use the same automatically-updating title blocks in AutoCAD. December 27, 2008
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
Efficiency with CAD Software Making time with CAD in a cabinet business requires matching your software tools to your company's needs. October 15, 2009
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
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
Is CNC Phone Support Free? CNC manufacturers are typically generous with phone support, but tough economic times may threaten that. August 3, 2009
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
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
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
Titleblock in CAD How-to instructions for setting up a titleblock for your template. July 24, 2002
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
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
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
CNC Routing From PDF Definition of a tap file, and whether or not PDFs provide precision. August 17, 2004
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
Diamond Tooling Versus Carbide Diamond bits are not best for every situation. Among other factors, they usually require slower feed rates. January 2, 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
Auto-Updating Title Blocks Xrefs, rtext, or a viewport? There's more than one way to handle title block data. February 25, 2005
Custom Software for Wood Man Doors A custom builder's looking for a versatile design and drafting package for original wood door designs. But is it worth it? September 1, 2010
CNC Collet and Chuck Choices CNC pros compare the advantages of different tool-gripping technology. November 26, 2007
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
Universal spoil boards Making universal spoil boards for different machines. January 15, 2003
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
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
Giving Vendors Feedback A discussion of whether and when to tell tooling vendors that you found a better price elsewhere. September 8, 2007
Fragile Points on Textured MDF High-density fiberboard may be better than medium-density fiberboard for sculpting a contoured surface. September 28, 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
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
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
Value Added of a CAD Artist Cabinetmakers and draftsmen consider: is it worth the time and effort to make careful, detailed shop drawings? January 3, 2014
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
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
CAD for Cabinet Layouts Cabinetmakers discuss drafting alternatives for visualizing cabinet designs. August 24, 2008
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
CNC Real World Accuracy What are realistic practical targets for CNC machining precision and consistency? September 27, 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
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
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
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
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
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
Routers Basic descriptions of various types of routers commonly found in wood shops, including CNC router equipment. November 13, 2008
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
"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
CNC Stair-Building Capabilities A CNC can speed up complex stair-part fabrication, and also improve accuracy. September 28, 2009
Upgrading Office Computers Business owners suggest ways to improve the speed and power of your office computers, without switching platforms. April 19, 2015
CNC Shop Fire Risk Hot bits, sawdust, and vacuum airflow add up to a potential for fire, as these stories attest. September 28, 2009
S.O.P. for Outsourcing Shop Drawings A "rush order" for outside shop drawings can be a recipe for confusion. A shop drawing pro offers tips for clear communication. July 22, 2005
CAD Precision Snafu A furnituremaker describes how a little imprecision in drawing corrections messed up his dimensions. (News flash — kids these days can fix your foul-ups. Film at 11.) April 19, 2011
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
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.
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
Drilling Problem Participants help troubleshoot a "boring" challenge. February 25, 2005
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
CNC Decimal-Point Quirk CNC controllers may occasionally ignore instructions when the numbers do not include a decimal point. March 28, 2008
Drafting Program Add-Ons for Dimensional Data Output Three-dimensional AutoCAD by itself won't supply dimensional data, but other programs are able to extract and output that for purposes of production. October 12, 2007
Routing Through an Edgebanded Edge Tips and techniques for routing into an edgebanded panel edge without tearing the edgebanding loose. February 17, 2006
Clean Plywood Edge Cuts Bit choice, feed speed, RPMs, and other factors that affect how cleanly CNC equipment will cut routers. June 5, 2006
Spoilboard Choices CNC owners discuss the options for spoilboard material and dimensions. October 1, 2005
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
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
CNC Carving Capabilities A discussion of custom carving and entry-level CNC equipment. December 14, 2009
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
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
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
Spoil Board Thickness A discussion of the fine points of choosing a spoil board material and thickness. January 19, 2011
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
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
Why CNC Routers Crash CNC owners list the programming errors, operator errors, and other snafus that can crash your CNC router. May 14, 2006
Converting AutoCad to PDF Designer hits glitches making PDF files from AutoCad, and colleagues suggest a few options. July 22, 2005
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
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
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
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
Cleaning Up Objects So They Will Sweep or Extrude Polylines that intersect or overlap themselves will not sweep or extrude in AutoCAD. Here are some ways to clean those bad objects up so they will function properly for you. June 8, 2008
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Unmanned CNC Can you safely allow a CNC router to run unattended? August 22, 2013
Managers Meddling with CAD Besides the waste of time, it's risky to let non-tech personnel play around with important CAD files. September 24, 2006
First CNC for Furniture Production While considering his options for a first CNC, an owner asks colleagues for their recommendations. February 25, 2005
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
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
LCD Monitor and CAD CAD users generally consider the switch to an LCD monitor to be a worthwhile upgrade. Just make sure the rest of your system is ready for it. March 25, 2007
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
Vacuum Pod Tips Techniques for achieving good hold-down for machining small parts on CNC equipment. December 6, 2006
Cautionary Tale: Backups and Computer Malware A shop owner describes how his data survived a virus attack that wiped out two computer hard drives and erased a backup disk (one backup version miraculously survived). April 21, 2011
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
Adjusting to AutoCAD 2009 If you preferred the way the old version's interface looked, here are some quick tweaks to take you back to the future. January 28, 2009
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
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
Cleaning Up Imported Drawing Files CAD users sometimes have to comb various garbage out of imported files to get rid of problems. September 27, 2009
CAD Programs for 3D Rendering Users discuss the rendering capabilities of various CAD programs, and show examples. August 29, 2005
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Converting Splines to Arcs in CAD Skilled users describe ways to turn an AutoCAD spline into a set of arcs or line segments that CAM software can process. February 13, 2006
Sizing CNC Vacuum Pumps Advice on sizing the vacuum pump to the CNC and its usual tasks. November 24, 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
What does Visual Basic do? An explanation of how Microsoft's Visual Basic for Applications works. June 13, 2001
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
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
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
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
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
Efficient Face-Frame Shop Process Thoughts on making face-frame beaded inset-door cabinets efficiently, relying mainly on a CNC router. October 27, 2008
CNC Vacuum Pump Placement Placing the pump at a distance, or even outside, helps keep the noise down. October 3, 2007
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
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 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
Tooling for Machining Richlite Advice on CNC tooling that can cope with Richlite, a paper-based fiber composite material. January 21, 2010
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
Keeping CNC Tables Clean CNC owners describe onion-skinning, second passes, and other inventive methods to manage dust in router operations. December 8, 2010
CAD Drawing Output to PDF There are many ways to create PDF files from CAD files, both built-in and third-party add-ons. June 17, 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
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
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
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
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
Troubleshooting Tearout on End Grain A furnituremaker gets advice on avoiding tearout when machining Maple end grain with a roundover bit. October 19, 2014
Drag-and-Drop Hole Boring Patterns in CAD Here are some slick tricks for storing hole spacings in an AutoCAD library for quick 32-mm cabinet part design. October 25, 2007
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
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
Vacuum Table Pump Options A description of vacuum pump types and some advice on the limitations of cheap alternatives. June 26, 2006
Selling Used CAD or CNC Software You can transfer a software license to another buyer, but there are formalities involved. November 23, 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
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
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
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
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
1/8" Router Bit Feeds and Speeds The critical factor with a slender bit is depth of cut: too deep, and it will snap. January 2, 2012
Fabricating MDF Doors on the CNC You can make MDF doors quickly with specialized tooling, or slowly with generic tooling. March 9, 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
Finishing Dimpled MDF A three-dimensional dimpled pattern made on a CNC in MDF needs a metallic finish. It's not going to be easy.
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
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
Scrubbing "Fingerprints" from a CAD File Once a "fingerprint" watermark finds its way into your CAD file folder, lots of drawings may get infected by the stamp. Here's help deleting that mess from your situation. February 19, 2011
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
Small Pilot Bits for the CNC There are several workable options for pre-drilling for #8 screws with CNC equipment. December 10, 2007
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
Tool Choice for Half-Inch Acrylic Advice on selecting bits that will do clean work machining thick acrylic on the CNC router. April 17, 2009
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
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
Resolution in 3D CNC Carving Tips on how to improve the rendering of fine detail in three-dimensional woodcarving using a CNC router. August 29, 2006
CNC or Conventional Equipment? Cabinetmakers discuss the value and usefulness of CNC equipment and other alternatives. December 14, 2005
Locking Exported Drawing Files Advice on how to transmit CAD drawings so that the viewer cannot alter the files. February 12, 2010
Spoilboard Tips Advice on how deep to cut into the spoil board, and when to discard the sheet. August 17, 2006
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
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
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
Engraving Aluminum in a CNC Router Compared to machining wood, working with aluminum calls for different tooling, speeds, and cooling methods. July 29, 2012
Full-Scale Printing Workarounds for CAD Advice about how to export from AutoCAD to an accurate output file at full scale for a large-format printer or print shop. August 21, 2012
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
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
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
Flattening a Tapered Elliptical Part An elliptical desk meets a brick wall, and software wizards get their heads around a very tricky dimensional problem. October 1, 2005
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
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
Cutting Miters on the CNC Advice on bits and methods for cutting miters and miter-folds on CNC routers. October 14, 2010
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
Maintaining CNC Lube Systems Oil lines and valves need inspection and occasionally have to be replaced. February 12, 2010
Design Drafting for a Tudor Arch Looking like a flattened Gothic arch, a Tudor arch involves a complex interaction of four radius centers. Here's some help with designing one. October 11, 2007
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
Title Block and Filename Conventions If you want to stay organized, it helps to have a system for naming CAD files and structuring title blocks. October 26, 2005
Full-Sized Templates From CAD Files With a few simple software tricks, you can produce working print files suitable for a large-scale plotter. November 12, 2005
Refurbishing Old Tool Holders Rusted or corroded spindles on a CNC tool holder can be chrome-plated and reground. April 29, 2006
Digitizing a Paper Template With the right equipment, you can input a physical template as a computer file suitable for CAD work or CNC fabrication. March 9, 2008
Checking Tolerances on a CNC Router When parts are coming out slightly undersized, start with a few basic troubleshooting checks. October 20, 2013
Measuring Router Bit Diameter Advice on how to verify whether tooling diameter is correct within proper tolerances. January 12, 2015
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
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
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
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
Distressing with a CNC Machine How some people use shiny new CNC equipment for beating up wood to make it look old and busted. May 23, 2007
Milling Epoxy Tops on a CNC Thoughts on tooling and dust control for cutting inch-thick epoxy on a CNC router. February 12, 2010
Depth Variations: Is It the Code? Inconsistent machining is probably a mechanical issue, not a code or controller fault. December 10, 2007
Diamond Bits Versus Carbide Bits Diamond bits last longer in hard materials, but may not be as sharp for quality cutting. January 14, 2008
CAD Forum -- Specifying Arc Length There are several ways to specify an arc in AutoCAD, knowing just the length of the arc and the radius. September 24, 2006
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
CNC Off-Load Devices Thoughts on accessories for pushing cut parts off the CNC table. December 24, 2009
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
Cutting Marine HDPE Advice on cutting marine-grade high-density polyethylene (HDPE). June 17, 2009
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
Minimizing End-Grain Tearout Tool selection and cutting methods to reduce tear-out of end grain in CNC machining operations. March 22, 2013
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
Routing Teflon on the CNC Dealing with hold-down and clean cutting issues when routing small parts from an extremely slippery material. August 3, 2009
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
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
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
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
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
CAD Rendering Tips AutoCAD may not have the best or easiest rendering engine, but it can do the job. January 10, 2006
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
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
Spindle Load Meter Fluctuations For various reasons, spindle load meters may display momentary very high readings during normal operations. March 28, 2008
Squaring Up a CNC Machine Here's a step-by-step method for re-calibrating a CNC router that is slightly out of square along one axis. July 18, 2013
Jamb Hinge Machining on CNC Tips for a tricky CNC problem: holding down and referencing door jamb stock with a grooved back. January 10, 2006
Linking Drawing Data to Spreadsheets Tips on pulling data from AutoCAD drawings into Excel spreadsheets to compile cabinet ordering information. November 26, 2007
Machining Acrylic Bit selection, feed rates, and other advice for cutting acrylic on a CNC router. March 1, 2006
Creating Submittal Drawings with Cabinet Vision This thread teaches about how to use Cabinet Vision to generate detailed submittal drawings, and includes a lively and somewhat contentious side debate concerning the appropriate format and level of detail for various business circumstances, with some comments about decorum. December 31, 2012
Computer Tweaks to Boost CAD Performance CAD puts heavy demands on a PC's processor, memory, display, and storage devices. Here are recommendations for hardware add-ons and software settings that can help keep your computer from bogging down. March 21, 2006
Decimal Feet Dimensions Quick tip on expressing dimensions in decimal feet in AutoCAD. January 10, 2006
Ergonomics and Wrist Discomfort An advanced, ergonomic mouse and trackball might help relieve wrist pain, but other workspace tweaks may also be priorities. September 24, 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
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
CNC Router Bit Size Pros select why to choose a larger or smaller bit. July 3, 2005
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
Free Forestry Sciences Laboratory Software Here's a collection of free computer software designed to help with starting and running a wood products business. December 22, 2006
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
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
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
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
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
Solid Surface CounterTop Watch as a CNC router cuts out and profiles solid surface countertops. July 12, 2007
Bevel Cuts for Slope-Sided Boxes Here's a long discussion of a tricky compound-angle problem: how to calculate the bevel cuts for a box with sides of different slopes. October 8, 2005
Production Management Software for a Woodshop Once you have your paper systems straight, what can a computer software package do for your materials and time tracking, labor productivity evaluations, et cetera? April 20, 2008
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
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
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
Backing Up Critical Computer Files Backup is important. (Backup is important.) Here, CAD pros explain simple, effective, and thorough backup methods. September 24, 2006
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
Bar Codin' Blues A Visual Basic script can generate bar codes for inputting CNC instructions. April 10, 2005
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
P2P Origin Placement Best postitioning for running gables on a point-to-point router. March 14, 2004
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
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
How to Change a Collet Some collets are unusually sticky and stubborn. Here is how to reason with them. April 30, 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
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
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
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
Bit Life in Melamine Bits wearing out too fast? Consider the tips in this thread from the CNC forum. November 12, 2005
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Preventing Vacuum-Pump Overheating Clean filters, a working bypass valve, and supplemental ventilation will help keep your vacuum pump cool. May 16, 2005
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
Basic differences, CNC vs. P2P The basic capabilities of these two types of computer-driven woodworking machine are explained. January 3, 2001
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
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
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
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
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 ......
Finding Software for Design and Visualization It's hard to find one application that will quickly create design visualizations for a customer during a sales meeting, but also generate good designs suitable for construction in the shop. This thread offers some insight into software capabilities and some nice example drawings. December 28, 2010 ......
Slow-Opening CNC Program Files CNC owners troubleshoot a case of excessive lag time when opening program files. January 14, 2008
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
ACAD OSNAP Help Troubleshooting the loss of OSNAP settings in ACAD 2002. February 25, 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
Stiffening a CNC Rake A technician comes up with a shop modification to stiffen the rake attachment on an SCM Pratix CNC machine. February 15, 2015
Dust Collection for MDF Dust Advice on controlling fine dust produced while machining MDF on a CNC. January 14, 2013
Noisy Vacuum Pump Is loud operation a trouble sign with a vacuum pump? May 6, 2009
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
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
Nested base manufacturing Switching from a P2P to a CNC router, and taking on new software and a new process. August 29, 2001
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
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
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
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
Machine Cutting Out of Square A CNC router that cuts out of square may need one of several mechanical adjustments. September 3, 2010
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
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
Outsourcing Shop Drawings It's a challenge to obtain drawings out-of-house that satisfy a CNC operation's need for precision and completeness. October 3, 2007
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
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
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
Considering CNC Another long thread about the realities of adding a CNC to an already well-equipped shop. April 8, 2008
Shop Drawing Time per Job How long does it take to prepare shop drawings for a cabinet job? Here's a thorough and detailed discussion of that question. November 15, 2011
Stupid Woodworker Tricks With a nod toward David Letterman, pros discuss their least-best moments. January 24, 2005
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
Nested Base Versus Beam Saw and PTP A closet system fabricator and installer describes his journey through various shop equipment situations. May 26, 2014
Going from handcrafted to CNC Discussion of P2Ps, dedicated boring, edgebanders and other equipment, software and processes. August 29, 2001
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
Outsourcing Design Work – Why or Why Not? A CAD artist who wants to draw for others on a contract basis gets feedback about the usefulness and value of that proposed service. February 8, 2008
Outsourcing drawings Positive and negative experiences from those who have hired the job out. October 30, 2002
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
Making Templates from Existing Mouldings Moulding shop pros discuss how to scan and import profiles of existing mouldings in order to make exact drawings or manufacture new knives. November 10, 2006
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
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
Printing and Viewing Blueprints for Bidding Cabinetmakers discuss the nuts and bolts of working with digital blueprints, including a look at software that helps with takeoffs and estimating. April 19, 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
Big Monitors for On-Screen Estimating A discussion of the hardware and software upgrades involved in switching to all-digital (paperless) estimating and takeoffs. April 27, 2011
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
Cabinet Shop Growing Pains A cabinet shop owner gets advice on expanding his production volume while integrating some complex new software into his workflow. July 12, 2008
Drawing Units and Precision Deciding on the level of precision needed for cabinet and millwork design. October 20, 2004
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
The Web as a customer interface Shop owners share their ideas on the Internet's usefulness from a marketing and customer service standpoint. September 6, 2000
AWI CAD Standard? If there isn't one already, why not? December 26, 2004
WOODPRO - Species Selection Made Easy A free complete working computer program (that can be downloaded at WOODWEB), allowing woodworkers to select the most suitable wood species for any particular application - 1997
Correcting dowel hole runout Finding and correcting the cause of dowel hole runout in CNC-machined parts. November 7, 2000
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
Making Cool Stuff with Metal Components This thread started out with a question about finding T-nuts for rigging up an adjustable cabinet pull-out shelf slide. But it goes on to consider all sorts of things you can rig up in the shop using off-the-shelf metal parts. February 13, 2009
ITEMIZER - From R & R Drummond, Inc. Use your computer to generate efficient layouts for cutting sheet material into desired sizes (a link to a demo download is provided)1998
Using a CNC Vacuum for a Glue Press You can use a CNC vacuum for laminate and veneer glue-ups or for laminating plywood sheets together. February 15, 2009
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
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
Heavy-duty CNC router recommendations Suggestions choosing for a good-quality CNC router, offering adequate tech support and training. February 28, 2001