CNC Router Service
CNC routering is our recommended process for anything structural or larger than a a square foot. It can work with a wide range of materials but requires a bit more design consideration to account for the size of the tool’s milling bits.
If you are designing in 2D we recommend SVG files. If you need 3D relief we can accept an OBJ or DWG file. SketchUp files can be used but often need to be cleaned up. If you need advice on preparing your drawings, please get in touch.
Pricing
We use a rate of £16/hour + material cost for our CNC Router service
There is a setup charge of £10 for every run (this is due to tool changes and material prep).
Carving a 3D relief requires us to create technical tool paths for your design. It differs from design to design and is charged at £16/hr too.
How long will my print take?
There are serveral factors that affect the time a CNC router run will take. Each design should be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Here is a general rule of thumb:
2D designs that have internal corners with radii of 6mm or bigger can be milled very quickly.
3D designs always require more than one pass and take more time.
What materials can we use?
We can source materials for you but due to the made-to-order nature of our business we do not hold a large stock; so please bear in mind we may need time to order your materials. We are happy to discuss something specific that you would like to source yourself.
- Hardwood
- MDF
- Plywood
- Softwood
- ABS
- Acrylic
- Delrin
- Expanded PVC
- HDPE
- Polypropylene
- Aluminium
- PCB
- Corian
- Linoleum Stamps
- Machinable Wax and Foam
CNC Routing Design Considerations
Designing a computer model for visual representation is always different compared to designing for Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM). This is because CAM requires consideration of the material qualities and size of the tools.
We are happy to help with any questions you have.
Material Size
Our CNC router has a work area of 750 x 750mm (29.5 x 29.5″) and a maximum workable depth of 30mm. Our bed has a clearance of 800 x 800 x 67mm (31.5″ x 31.5″ x 2.6″)
If your design is larger than the work area, we have had success adding keys and jigsawing pieces together.
Relief Carving
The thicker the material the shallower the relief can be. Rule of thumb: material thickness + depth of carve should be less than 67mm.
The depth of your relief should not exceed 30mm. Generally speaking, it is most efficient to work with materials 30mm or thinner and laminate pieces together if a deeper relief is required.
V-Carving
V-carving refers to using a V shaped router bit, which gives a nice relief to an otherwise 2D design. This is a good solution for adding relief to your design when on a budget. V-carving is commonly used in sign making. We keep 90 and 60 degree bits in our studio.
Are You Ready To CNC Your Design?
Pros and Cons of CNC Routing
Pros
- Can cut into large work-pieces
- Works with a large variety of materials
- Can create structural pieces or framework from sheet materials like plywood
- Can create 3D carved reliefs
Cons
- Designs typically need to be adjusted to optimise tool paths
- 3D reliefs can take a long time to carve
- Setup costs
