CNC Routing
 

With the addition of a CNC router we have decreased production   time and increased production capabilities. Previously we would hand carve each letter with chisel and mallet, a very tedious and time consuming procedure plus it was quite stressful on the hands and shoulders. Our new equipment is capable of routing, carving and cutting materials up to 48" wide at any length and up to 6" thick in flat or 3-dimensional shapes. We can create artwork and process it through software that converts it into machine code that makes precise cuts in a wide variety of materials.

CNC stands for "Computer Numeric Control" this technology has been around for years and is used in
many industries to create products in many type materials. Practically every product in today's world
has benefitted by CNC, from parts in your automobile to the handle of your toothbrush. Models were
created by a draftsman and converted into 3D software code and then milled, routed or cut to shape by
CNC driven equipment tools. On the router table shown above, four stepping motors drive in 3
directions, X,Y and Z to move the cutting tool. The "X" direction is the length of the table bed and the
"Y" direction is width, the "Z" movement controls the height and depth of the cut. With precise code
the router can smoothly move in any combination of "X plus Z" or "Y plus Z" simultaneously thus creating
dimensional cuts of different widths and depths. The small wood sign shown is just a simple example
of it's capabilities, but demonstrates the complex letter shapes that can be cut with just one "V" shaped
router bit. The router V-bit is moved up as it makes the thinner cuts in the narrow parts of the letter stroke
and moves deeper as it cuts the wider areas. This equipment will be used on many projects in the future,
the capabilities of cutting wood, plastics, non-ferrous metals such as aluminum or brass and the many
types of new composite materials has opened new product lines for our creative operation.