CNC Routers vs CNC Milling Machines

In short, CNC routers are most commonly used for woodworking, while CNC milling machines are used for metalworking. Gantry CNC routers are usually not as sturdy as CNC milling machines, which are almost always made of heavy cast iron or steel construction. In contrast, routers may have aluminium, plastic or plywood frames. Here are some other key differences:

Design

Because of the way they are designed, CNC milling machines are always the best choice for processing industrial-grade hard materials, while CNC routers work well with wood, acrylic and soft metals. CNC milling machines have a smaller footprint, but the weight is concentrated in a smaller area. This weight gives the CNC milling machines rigidity and helps dampen vibration when machining harder materials.

Range of Work

Another difference between these two machines is their work area. Since CNC routers process wood, MDF, plywood and aluminium, they require a larger cutting area. On the other hand, CNC milling machines have a smaller cutting area than CNC routers because they have to cut thicker and heavier metal parts, and the smaller stroke helps them stay rigid.

Tooling

CNC routers use router bits in woodworking to cut, shape, and engrave, while CNC mills mainly use end mills (shaped somewhat like a drill bit) for high-precision cutting, contouring, slotting, and profiling. Router bits and end mills have various numbers of flutes that can be straight or spiral patterned, and the flutes can be ground at specific angles. Both types come in different sizes and shapes, usually carbide or high-speed steel.Because of the Z-axis limitations on the CNC router, router bits will be significantly shorter than end mills used for milling operations.

Materials

You will find significant differences in the materials that each machine can handle. CNC milling machines are built to handle virtually any material. Although it might not be practical or advisable to machine a specific material on a mill, they can run it nonetheless.

On the other hand, CNC routers are designed to cut soft materials, like wood, foam, plastic, and aluminum, and they will cut them faster than the mill as long as they are not too thick. Thicker and tougher materials—for example, stainless steel, cast iron, carbon steel, and titanium—are meant to be machined on a CNC milling machine or CNC lathe, if appropriate.

Speed

A CNC router’s revolutions per minute (RPM) are significantly higher than a milling machine, meaning the router can be run at a higher feed rate, offering minimum cutting times. However, that higher production comes with a huge caveat: routers cannot handle the hard materials nor take the same deep cuts as a machining center, so they will be confined to working on softer materials and sheet materials.