Processes / Step 5 of 11

CNC Routing: Shapes, Holes and Pockets Cut From a Drawing

A computer controlled router cuts outlines, curves, pockets and holes from panels or machined blanks. It turns a drawing into a repeatable part with no hand marking.

Send an RFQ What to specify

CNC routingStep 5

Decides: Shape accuracy, hole positions for hardware and how well parts from different batches fit together.
Goes wrong as: Holes that do not line up, chipped edges on show faces, burn marks and parts cut from the wrong reference face.
Used for: 9 of 10 product types

CNC routing is where flat stock and machined blanks get their shape. A spinning cutter follows a programmed path to cut outlines, curves, pockets, grooves and holes. In a wood factory it sits after planing and before sanding and assembly: panels and solid blanks arrive at a set thickness and leave as parts ready for edgebanding, sanding or joinery.

The router is only as accurate as its input. The part must start flat and at the right moisture, the program must reference the right face and the part must be held firmly enough that it does not move when the cutter loads it. Most routing problems that reach a buyer are not machine faults but setup issues: a part flipped on the fixture, a worn cutter or a drawing that did not say which face is the datum.

This page covers routing as a step in the production chain and what to specify. For nesting yield, cost drivers and design rules such as inside corner radii, see the CNC wood routing guide linked below.

CNC routing: a router spindle and cutter machining a wood panel

Where it sits in the chain

Not every product goes through every step. A pallet skips finishing, a turned leg skips veneering.

Methods and machines

What a factory may run for CNC routing, and where each method fits. Ask which one your parts will go through.

Method	What it does	Fits
3-axis router	The cutter moves in X, Y and Z, always pointing straight down. Cuts outlines, pockets, grooves, holes and 3D surfaces that can be reached from above.	Most flat parts: panels, seat blanks, cabinet parts, signs and routed solid wood blanks.
5-axis router	The head also tilts and rotates, so the cutter can work angled faces, undercuts and compound curves in one setup.	Chair parts, sculpted arms and legs, angled joints and parts that would otherwise need several setups.
Nesting router	Full sheets are loaded on a flat vacuum table over a spoilboard. Parts are nested across the sheet, cut through and often bored in the same cycle.	Plywood, MDF and particleboard cabinet and furniture parts in volume.
Point-to-point (PTP) machine	Individual parts are held on movable vacuum pods or clamps. The machine routes edges and drills holes on faces and edges, sometimes with an aggregate head for side work.	Solid wood parts, edgebanded panels and parts that need edge boring for dowels and hardware.
CNC boring and dowel insertion	Dedicated machines drill face and edge holes and can glue in dowels in one pass.	Knock-down furniture, cabinet carcasses and high volume parts with many holes.
Dedicated fixtures and jigs	A plywood or aluminum fixture holds a shaped part in a known position for routing, often with pins or stops so every part loads the same way.	Solid wood parts that are not flat, curved blanks and repeat orders.

What you specify

These points decide whether two factories quote the same thing. Put them in the RFQ or the purchase order.

FilesSend a DXF for 2D outlines and holes, a STEP file for 3D shapes and a PDF drawing with dimensions and tolerances. The PDF is the reference if files and drawing disagree.
Datum face and edgeMark the reference face and edge on the drawing. Hole depth and pocket depth are measured from it, since stock thickness varies.
Critical dimensionsMark the dimensions that control fit, such as hole positions for hardware and mating outlines. Leave the rest at the factory's default tolerance.
Edge qualityState which edges show and what is acceptable there: no chipping, no burn, ready for edgebanding or ready for sanding.
Grain directionFor solid wood and veneered panels, show grain direction on each part. It limits how parts can be nested and fixed.
HardwareName the hardware and its supplier drawing: hinge cups, connectors, inserts. Hole diameters and depths come from the hardware, not from habit.

Typical values

Published and common industry figures. They vary by species, product and factory, so treat them as a starting point and confirm on the quote.

Item	Typical value	Note
Outline tolerance, flat panel parts	About plus or minus 0.2 to 0.5 mm	Tighter is possible on small parts at extra cost. Typical.
Hole position tolerance	About plus or minus 0.2 mm	Measured from the datum edge. Typical.
Pocket and groove depth	About plus or minus 0.2 to 0.3 mm	Only holds if depth is referenced from the correct face. Typical.
5-axis shaped solid parts	About plus or minus 0.3 to 0.5 mm	Depends on fixture and how stable the blank is. Typical.
Router spindle speed	About 18,000 to 24,000 rpm	Feed speed is matched to it so the cutter takes a chip instead of rubbing. Typical.
Common sheet sizes	1220 by 2440 mm and 1525 by 3050 mm	Panel suppliers also offer other sizes. Typical.

Defects and how to prevent them

What goes wrong at this step, why it happens and what to ask before production so it does not reach your warehouse.

Defect	Usual cause	What to ask or check
Chipped edges on plywood and laminated panels	Up-cut cutter lifting the top face, or a worn cutter.	Ask whether compression cutters are used on faced panels and how often cutters are changed.
Tear-out on solid wood	Cutting against the grain on curves and end grain, or the part moving in the fixture.	Ask about climb and conventional passes, a finish pass and how the part is held.
Burn marks	Feed too slow, dull cutter or the cutter dwelling at corners.	Ask for a sample run in the production species and approve the edge before the batch.
Holes out of position	Wrong datum, part flipped on the fixture or a worn locating pin.	Ask for a first-article check with a fit test using your hardware, and the datum marked on every fixture.
Small parts moving or breaking loose	Too little vacuum area on small nested parts.	Ask whether small parts are held with onion skin, tabs or a second pass.
Fuzzy edges on MDF and soft species	Dull cutters or wrong chip load.	Ask the cutter change interval and whether diamond tooling is used on long panel runs.

Questions to ask the factory

Ask on a video call with the line running. Keep the answers in writing.

Which machine will run this part: nesting router, PTP machine or 5-axis?
Which file formats do you work from, and who writes the CNC program?
How do you make sure parts are loaded on the correct reference face?
What cutters do you use on this material, and how often are they changed?
Do you build a dedicated fixture for this part, and is it kept for repeat orders?
Can you send a first-article report with measured hole positions before the batch?

How to write it in the RFQ

Example lines you can adapt.

Files: DXF for outlines and holes, STEP for shaped parts, PDF drawing as master. Datum face and edge marked. Hole positions plus or minus 0.2 mm, outline plus or minus 0.3 mm.
No chipping or burn on show edges. First-article report with measured dimensions and a hardware fit test before the batch.

Send your RFQ and we match it with up to 3 factories that run this step for your product.

Materials and CNC routing

How common species and panels behave at this step.

MDFMachines cleanly in every direction and takes routed profiles well. Produces fine dust and wears carbide quickly, so diamond tooling is common on long runs.
PlywoodFace veneers chip on the cut edge without compression cutters. Inner voids can show on routed edges, so state the core grade.
ParticleboardChips easily at edges and does not hold a routed profile. Fine for parts that will be edgebanded or hidden.
Hard mapleHolds crisp detail and tight hole positions. Burns if the cutter slows down or dwells, especially at corners.
Black walnutRoutes and carves cleanly and is common for 5-axis shaped parts. Feed must stay steady to avoid burn on the dark surface.

Questions buyers ask about CNC routing

Deeper guides on this step:

CNC Routing for Wood Parts: What Drives Tolerance and Price
MDF vs Plywood vs Particleboard: Choosing a Panel for Wood Products

Background reading: CNC router (Wikipedia)

What file should I send for a CNC routed part?

A DXF for flat outlines and holes, a STEP file for 3D shapes and a PDF drawing with dimensions, tolerances and the datum face. If you only have a PDF, the factory can draw the part, but expect a short delay and check the drawing it sends back.

Is a 5-axis router always better than a 3-axis router?

No. A 3-axis router is faster and cheaper for flat parts. A 5-axis router pays off on shaped solid parts with angled faces, where it saves several setups and keeps features in line with each other.

Why do hole positions differ between batches?

Usually because parts were loaded from a different reference edge, the fixture was rebuilt or the stock size changed. A marked datum and a kept fixture prevent most of it.

Can a router make a sharp inside corner?

No. A round cutter always leaves a radius at least as large as its own radius. If a mating part needs a square corner, plan for a relief cut or a hand finishing step.

Have a drawing ready?

Send it with species, finish and quantity. We match you with up to 3 wood manufacturers and reply within 24 business hours.

Get matched with a wood manufacturer