What is the difference between a CNC router and a CNC mill

CNC machining has become an increasingly popular form of manufacturing in recent years, so many manufacurers turn to CNC routing and milling machines. Both machines are computer-controlled, how to choose a suitable machine,what is the difference between CNC router and a CNC mill? Follow us to understand more about the routers and mills.

What is CNC machinery？CNC machines are computer-controlled

mechanisms that automatically move a tool around a work piece on a series of axes to perform cuts. All CNC machines use subtractive manufacturing to create the end product, meaning they work by removing material from an existing piece rather than by adding onto it. Both routers and mills provide extreme precision, differences are as follows.

CNC routerThe CNC router is considered a fairly universally usable tool in modern machine shops and reserved for materials like wood, plastic and foam, but soft metals like aluminum may work as well.. so CNC

router is designed for light materials .Routers typically have three axes, a spindle moves along three axes x， y,z. CNC routers are mostly designed to operate at high speeds compared to CNC mills, using rotational speed as the driving force in making cuts. CNC router features:Used to cut softer materials like wood, plastic, and foamFeatures a spindle that moves along X,Y, and Z axesMounted on a stationary table with a larger workspaceOperates at high speedsUses rotational speed to make cuts

CNC millMills are generally used to cut metals and tougher materials like steel, aluminum，even titanium.It uses rotary cutting tools similar to those of a router, but the operating speeds are much slower with mills.

Instead of using a stationary table, many CNC mills move in an X-Y configuration, with the spindle moving on a linear axis above the workpiece. This provides increased clearance along the Z axis and allows mills to perform thicker cuts, as mills make cuts using torque rather than rotational speed.

CNC mill featurs:

Used to cut metals and tougher materialsMove in an X-Y configurationSlower operating speeds than CNC routersSpindle moves along a linear axis above the workpiece for increased clearance along Z axisAble to perform thicker cutsMakes cuts using higher torqueImprove your products with ShopSabre

Those key differences between CNC routers and CNC mills will help determine which is best for your shop. For either machine, the process is typically loud and dirty. BCAMCNC is the first company to gain patent of dust-free vacuum system in China, solves the problem perfectly. For more information, please visit our website:https://www.bcamcnc.com