Drawing Considerations

If you are producing CAD files, we have put together a few guidelines below.

Corners: CNC router bits are rotary tools, thus when cutting internal corners, will leave a rounded edge, to the same dimension of the tool radius. If square corners are required, they will need to be manually removed with a chisel. We can insert a ‘bubble fillet’ in to the internal corners, to prevent the need for chiselling in some situations. This is a quick process that we can add in the CADCAM process, before machining, if required.

Space between components: We will nest your components on to material sheets, to give the best yield, thus keeping material costs to a minimum. Space is required between each component, to allow for the diameter of the cutting tool and any allowances for lead in/out. This will reduce the area on the sheet slightly. It should be noted that smaller or thinner items (anything smaller than 300 x 300mm or thinner than 150mm in any direction) tend to move around during cutting, as their surface area is not big enough for the vacuum bed to hold them securely in place. To deal with this, we programme the machine to leave tabs, small areas where the material is not removed, a bit like an Airfix kit. This means that you need to allow enough room around the smaller items so that there is enough material left to hold on to. We recommend leaving at least 35mm between smaller items.

Cutting depths: The machine can be programmed to cut multiple depths in each piece of material, including ramped slots, pilot holes and pockets. The automatic tool changer, can change the cutting tool between each operation, to allow for different sized and shaped holes, slots and pockets.

Work Area: The size of the cutting area is 2464x1246mm but please be aware that you need to leave a border around the edge of your sheet. This should be at least 5 mm, to allow for any inconsistencies in the sheet material edges. The machine will accept sheet thicknesses up to 200mm in Z-axis, particularly useful for 3D work. If the sheet is to be machined all the way through, then the length of the tool needs to be taken in to account, to clear the top of the sheet material. (i.e. 100mm tool, maximum of 100mm material thickness)

Cutters: There are a huge variety of router cutters available! If you need a specific type of cutter let us know and we will order them in for your job. Standard cutters are 3mm, 6mm, 8mm and 10mm diameter, 30 and 45 degree V-cutters, engraving tools and bull/ball nosed cutters for 3D work.

Offsets: The machine can cut on the line, offset outside the line or offset inside the line, and you will need to specify which. If you cut along the line with a 8mm cutter there will be 4mm cut off either side of the line. But if the line is the actual edge you want then you will need to specify which side of the line you want us to cut.