CNC mill or CNC router ?

Posted by sere on March 18th, 2020

A CNC router is chiefly used for cutting plastic, wood, design foam or other soft substances. With a few routers you can even machine aluminum, however that is largely for engraving purpose.

The spindle of a CNC router may rotate around 20,000 Rpm, a requirement so as to experience reduced torque when cutting to the material. Typically the framework and bearings of a CNC router aren't configured for high stiffness. The upside of the high speed low torque cutting edge is that a CNC router may perform its work fast, in contrast to slow CNC mills.

Another advantage of this CNC router is they broadly often provide more working distance in the X- and Y- axes, using a shallow Z-axis motion when compared into the CNC mill.

Possibly the most noticable gap between the CNC mill and CNC router is price. An adequate CNC mill may prices in the selection of ,000, and that is before factoring in upkeep and gear.

The upside of such an expensive machine nonetheless, is that a CNC mill is capable of machining all types of metals like (cast) steel, aluminum alloys and precious metals.

To accomplish this, the spindle of a CNC mill runs around 1,000 I'm -- considerably slower compared to a CNC router. Paired with a rigid frame and hardy bearings, it is possible to cut into a tenth of a millimeter, although this naturally is based upon the level of your gear, machine and talent.