Author: Greg Smolka

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Belin Router Bits (Replacement Guide)

Single O Flute Router Bits

Belin router bits have been around for as long as I can remember. Countless CNC operators have trusted them and used them to complete projects all over the world. Sadly, they discontinued the line. The great news is that there are replacements, so you don’t have to skip a beat.

In all honesty, there isn’t a 1 to 1 crossover from any brand to another. The tools can very similar and even look the same but the makeup of the tool can be different. So, I put together a list of tools where the dimensions are the same but the tools have been proven to work well in the allotted materials. This being said, you may have to tweak the feeds/speeds slightly and I am happy to walk you through the feed rate, spindle speed, depth of cut per pass, direction, etc. to make these not only work as well as the Belin tools did but more than likely, better.

Single O Flute Upcut (Plastic & Wood)

Single O flute upcut bits for plastic and wood are great tools to have in your arsenal. They are my personal favorite tool to cut Acrylic along with some other plastics. If you were like me, the Belin 13317, Belin 13476, & Belin 13635 were must-haves. HERE are the Belin 13000 series equivalents that LMT switched to but look below to see my recommendations.

LMT Belin Router BitsReplacements (Same Dimensions)
13159 63-101
13317XO2010
13317A63-104
13317B63-106
13476XO2011
13476AXO2011-1
13476B63-111
13635XO2012
13635A63-116
13635B63-117
13635CXO2012-L
13952XO2013
13952A63-121
1312763-125
13127A63-126

Single O Flute Downcut (Plastic & Wood)

Single O flute downcut bits for plastic and wood are great when material likes to lift or the top edge is fraying. They are my personal favorite tool for thin material that won’t stay put. HERE are the Belin 12000 series equivalents that LMT switched to but look below to see my recommendations.

LMT Belin Router BitsReplacements (Same Dimensions)
1231762-105
12476XO2911
12635XO2912

Single O Flute Upcut (Aluminum & ACM)

Single O flute upcut bits for aluminum and ACM are tried and true. They are my go-to tools to cut aluminum, especially 3003 grade, along with any brand of ACM, like “Dibond”. If you were like me, the Belin 33317, Belin 33476, & Belin 33635 were great back in the day. HERE are the Belin 33000 series equivalents that LMT switched to but look below to see my recommendations.

LMT Belin Router BitsReplacements (Same Dimensions)
33317XVO2230
33317AXVO2230-1
33476XVO2231
33476AXVO2231-1
33476B63-311
33635XVO2232
33635A63-316
33952XVO2233
3312763-325

Single O Flute Downcut (Aluminum & ACM)

Single O flute downcut bits for aluminum and ACM are great when material likes to lift or the top edge is printed on. These will prevent print fraying and pair well with thin material that won’t stay put. HERE are the Belin 22000 series equivalents that LMT switched to but look below to see my recommendations.

LMT Belin Router BitsReplacements (Same Dimensions)
22317XVO2930
2247662-310
22635XVO2932

Hopefully this guide helps you find the exact match to the Belin single o flute router bit that you have come accustomed to using. I have used these myself and they work great. We also have other options that can work in place of the Belin router bits that can improve quality and increase feed rates. Feel free to reach out anytime for advice or recommendations.

CNC Tooling Shop Discount
Use Coupon Code: FIRST15 for 15% Off your first order

Greg Smolka (Author)

CNC Tooling & Applications Manager

Here to help with tooling recommendations (bits, knives, collets, tool holders, maintenance kits, torque stations, etc.) and applications (feeds/speeds, tips/tricks, # of passes, etc.).

Contact Info: greg@cnctoolingshop.com | (616) 502-7277 | LinkedIn

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Accessory Spotlight: CNC Sanding Attachment

CNC Sanding Attachment

Have you ever pulled parts off your CNC router and had the thought “I wish I could sand these before I pull them off the table”? Well, now it’s an option. The CNC Orbital Sanding Attachment fits up into a standard collet and can be used to sand the top surface of your material.

Sizes

The CNC routing sander attachments come in 3 sizes: 4″, 5″, and 6″ and have a velcro face to attached sanding paper. Each unit will come with (10) 80 grit and (10) 120 grit discs. Other grit discs are available.

Part NumberSize
612994″
613355″
613366″

Spindle Safety

These sanding attachments are dynamically balanced and non-random to ensure smooth operation and reduce vibration during use. They are rated for up to 8,000 RPM. It operates in a fixed, predictable motion and should not be used to flatten uneven surfaces, the surface must already be flat before sanding.

What makes these safe in a CNC router’s spindle is the bearing mechanism that is built into the shaft. It has bearings, a spring, and a locking pin that make this all possible.

When to use?

These sanders are not made to flatten an uneven surface, they are made to sand even surfaces. Included in each kit are two springs. The harder spring is for completely flat surfaces whereas the soft spring is used for rougher but still even surfaces.

This is a great tool to have in the wood industry. It eliminates much of the manual sanding to remove tool marks, saving time while improving surface prep.

SANDPAPER GRITS

Knowing which grit sandpaper to use depends on the type of job and what step in the process you are in. The lower the grit numbers, the coarser the disc will be, and the higher the grit, the finer it will be.

  • 80 grit: Coarse, Heavy material removal. Used for stripping paint, smoothing rough wood. Great for initial sanding of very rough surfaces. Applications: Wood Slabs, Wood, Metal, Fiberglass, Paint, Varnish, Primer, Plastic & Rubber.
  • 120 grit: Medium, Smooths surfaces after 80 grit. Good for prepping wood before finer sanding. Often used before priming or staining. Applications: Wood Slabs, Wood, Metal, Fiberglass, Paint, Varnish, Primer, Plastic & Rubber.
  • 150 grit: Medium Fine, Refines the surface after 120 grit. Used for light smoothing and general sanding before finishing. Applications: Wood Slabs, Wood, Metal, Fiberglass, Paint, Varnish, Primer, Plastic & Rubber.
  • 180 grit: Fine. Prepares wood for final finishing. Removes small scratches left by 150 grit. Good for sanding before applying stain or primer. Applications: Wood Slabs, Wood, Metal, Fiberglass, Paint, Varnish, Primer, Plastic, Rubber & Solid Surface.
  • 220 grit: Extra Fine. Final sanding before finishing. Also used between coats of finish like polyurethane or paint for a smooth, professional result. Applications: Wood Slabs, Wood, Metal, Fiberglass, Paint, Varnish, Primer, Plastic, Rubber & Solid Surface.

Hopefully this not only answered your questions about sanding with your CNC router but also got you excited to try one. Feel free to reach out anytime for advice or recommendations. I have personally used this in our shop and have been quite impressed by the results.

CNC Tooling Shop Discount
Use Coupon Code: FIRST15 for 15% Off Router Bits

Greg Smolka (Author)

CNC Tooling & Applications Manager

Here to help with tooling recommendations (bits, knives, collets, tool holders, maintenance kits, torque stations, etc.) and applications (feeds/speeds, tips/tricks, # of passes, etc.).

Contact Info: greg@cnctoolingshop.com | (616) 502-7277 | LinkedIn

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CNC Routing – Aluminum Composite Material (ACM)

CNC-Routing-ACM-Material

Aluminum composite material is often cut out on a CNC router. The versatility of this material is what makes it so popular. From outdoor signage and constructing walls to channel letter backing, the possibilities are endless. Compared to single-layer aluminum plate, ACM is lighter and more affordable while still offering durability and rigidity. For those looking to learn how to cut this material, follow along.

For this experiment, we set out to create the backing of a box for a sign. This entailed cutting out the shape of the box, v-grooving the sections that needed to be bent to shape, and drilling holes for attaching the face of the sign.

Cutting Through

We cut through 3mm ACM with an X-Edge 1/4″ single o flute upcut bit (XVO2232). This bit does very well on both aluminum and ACM. We found that cutting in climb direction produced the best finish. Our feed rate was 200 inches per minute (IPM) and our spindle speed was 22,000 rotations per minute (RPM). This seemed to do very well, cutting through the entire material in one pass.

XVO2232 (1/4″ Single Flute Up-Spiral)

V-Grooving To Bend

Some important factors for v-grooving ACM to bend are controlling the cut depth and using the correct tool. The v-groove tool should cut through the first layer of aluminum and the center plastic layer. The goal is to get as close the the second layer of aluminum as possible without cutting through any of it. This allows it to bend while still being durable. Using a tool with a flat tip is very important. When you eventually bend the material, it needs space to ben properly. A bit that comes to a full point does not leave enough room for this. That is why we used an X-Edge 2 flute 90 degree bit with a flat tip (XACM90-V). Our feed rate was 150 inches per minute (IPM) and our spindle speed was 14,000 rotations per minute (RPM). This again seemed to do very well, cutting through both layers in one pass.

XACM90-V (Two Flute 90 degree V)

Drilling Holes

If you need to drill multiple holes, I highly recommend using a 2 flute carbide drill bit. These are created for long life and making perfect drill holes on a CNC machine. For this experiment, we needed 1/4″ holes so we used a 1/4″ 2 flute solid carbide drill from X-Edge. Our plunge rate was 100 inches per minute (IPM) and our spindle speed was 4,000 rotations per minute (RPM). This cut through all three layers, smoothly and accurately.

XCD2082-S (Two Flute Solid Carbide Drill)

Quick Details / Recommendations:

  • Material: 3mm aluminum composite material (ACM)
  • Tool # 1 (cut through) single o flute upcut (XVO2232) – BUY HERE
  • Feed Rate: 200 IPM / Spindle Speed: 22,000 RPM / 1 Pass
  • Tool # 2 (to bend) 2 flute 90 degree v-groove w/ flat tip (XACM90-V) – BUY HERE
    • Feed Rate: 150 IPM / Spindle Speed: 14,000 RPM / 1 Pass
  • Tool # 3 (1/4″ holes) 2 flute carbide 1/4″ drill bit (XCD2082-S) – BUY HERE
    • Plunge Rate: 100 IPM / Spindle Speed: 4,000 RPM

When orders are placed, they will be double checked to ensure no errors were made and customer follow up will take place during the same day (unless an order is made after hours). If products are available, which most of them are, they will be shipped out the same day. If they are not available, a lead time will be provided. Feel free to reach out for any assistance with our website or anything else regarding CNC routing and knife cutting.

CNC Tooling Shop, a division of Specialty Machinery Inc.

Email: tooling@cnctoolingshop.com

Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (EST)

Phone: (616) 502-7277

Greg Smolka (Author)

CNC Tooling & Application Manager

Here to help with tooling recommendations (bits, knives, collets, tool holders, maintenance kits, torque stations, etc.) and cutting recommendations (feeds/speeds, tips/tricks, # of passes, etc.).

Contact Info: greg@cnctoolingshop.com

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The CNC Wood Routing Handbook – A Beginners Guide

CNC Routing Wood - CNC Tooling Shop

CNC routing unlocks a world of wood cutting possibilities. Each species brings its own personality to the machine table: softwoods that carve like butter, hardwoods that fight back with stubborn grain, and engineered boards that demand a careful balance of speed, tooling, and technique. A successful project isn’t just about uploading a file and pressing go. It’s about understanding how maple chips under pressure, why birch loves a sharp bit, and what makes walnut smoke when feeds and speeds aren’t dialed in. Mastering those nuances turns a CNC router from a generic cutter into a precision instrument that respects the nature of every board it touches.

Router Bits

First off, let’s dive into some of the most common wood cutting bits:

  • Compression Bits: Made with both an upcut and downcut portion in order to minimize material fraying
  • Downcut Spirals: Great for profiles (when not cutting all the way through)
  • Upcut Spirals: Great when fraying is not an issue and chip removal is important
  • Bradpoint Drills: For creating partial holes for dowel pins
  • Through-Hole Drills: For drilling holes completely through wood
  • V-Grooves: For beveling edges or engraving designs

Feeds / Speeds

There could be an article written on the feeds/speeds for each type of wood, so I’ll provide some basics. Feel free to reach out to me for further information, recommendations, and tips/tricks.

Compression Bits are your most common tools for cutting wood. They are specifically designed to eliminate fraying, increase feed rates, and extend tool life. The 3/8″ Compression tool is the most common, so here are a few feeds/speeds by material that I would recommend (assuming that you are using an industrial CNC router) with a 3/8″ Compression. My most sold 3/8″ compression bits are XC2023 and mortise version XC2023-M. If you need a coated version (for longer tool life or laminated wood), then the 60-124MC is great.

MaterialFeed RateSpindle SpeedPer Pass
Solid Wood450-550 IPM18,000 RPM3/4″ or less
HPL / HDF500-600 IPM18,000 RPM3/4″ or less
MDF550-620 IPM18,000 RPM3/4″ or less
Plywood550-650 IPM18,000 RPM3/4″ or less
Melamine600-700 IPM18,000 RPM3/4″ or less

Now that you see the different feed rates that are needed for each wood material, I’m sure that you can imagine how much they will change as we get into upcuts, downcuts, drills, and v-grooves. Again, feel free to reach out if you’d like me to go through your entire project or operation. As long as you get tools through me, I’m happy to help.

One last note that I’d like to make on feeds and speeds is that drilling operations act very different. Drills, whether brad point or through-hole drills are plunging, not cutting side to side. Because of this, low RPM’s are VERY important. The same way you start a fire in the woods by spinning a stick in place, this can happen on your CNC router bed. I’ve seen it happen and helped CNC operators work through the mess of repairing their burned machine. Common feeds and speeds for drilling holes is often in the range of 4,000 – 8,000 RPM at a plunge rate of 100-200 IPM. Pecking motions in and out of the wood can also help remove chips and in turn heat buildup.

Left-Hand vs. Right-Hand Tooling

Left-hand versus right-hand tooling matters far more in CNC wood routing than most newcomers expect. Hardwood fibers behave like tiny stubborn soldiers, and the direction your bit spins determines whether you’re slicing them cleanly or going against the grain and in turn removing chunks of material. Right-hand tools dominate the industry, spinning clockwise to pair with the standard router motor rotation while evacuating chips efficiently upward or downward depending on flute geometry.

Left-handed tools sneak into hardwood routing for several smart, practical reasons, almost like the secret agents of the tool rack. Hardwood likes to fight back, and sometimes flipping the cutting forces is the only way to keep the peace. A standard right-hand bit may try to lift the work off the table or peel grain in the wrong direction, while a left-hand bit pushes the part down instead, keeping clamps and vacuum hold-downs happy. Some setups also need chips traveling the opposite direction for cleaner extraction, cooler cutting, and less scorching on wood that already resents heat. When machining both sides of a component or working in mirrored operations, left-hand tools keep edge quality consistent where the grain would otherwise splinter. They’re not common, though when hardwood starts misbehaving, a left-hand spiral suddenly becomes the hero.

Material Hold-down

Vacuum hold-down is crucial when CNC routing wood. It’s like giving your material an invisible bear hug so the router can hog out large amounts of material quickly. Vacuum tables spread suction across the entire sheet, perfect for large panels and nested projects. Vacuum cups, on the other hand, elevate smaller parts or projects needs side profiles (like doors), gripping specific areas with concentrated force so edges, profiles, and pockets stay crisp without tabs or tape. Hardwood can be slippery and determined to wander when cutting forces ramp up, so choosing between a full vacuum table and precision cups depends on part size, surface area, and how dramatic that wood plans to be during machining. A stable hold means cleaner cuts, safer routing, and no surprise airborne souvenirs. Here are a few materials that you can use as a sacrificial board “Spoilboard” on a vacuum table that will allow air to flow through and assist material hold-down.

  • Standard MDF (Mill both the top and bottom layer before using)
  • LDF (more porous equals more airflow)
  • Ultralight MDF (even more porous equals more airflow)

Mastering the art of CNC wood routing isn’t just about knowing your machine, it’s about understanding the character and behavior of every board that lands on the table. From selecting the right bit geometry to dialing in feeds and speeds that respect the density of each species, every choice influences the outcome. Vacuum hold-down keeps parts grounded, while the often-overlooked balance between left- and right-hand tooling ensures grain and chip flow stay on your side. Once these fundamentals click, your CNC router becomes less of a power tool and more of a creative partner, transforming raw wood into precise, polished work worthy of its natural origins.

15% OFF CNC Router Bits
Greg Smolka

Greg Smolka (Author)

CNC Tooling & Applications Manager

Here to help with tooling recommendations (bits, knives, collets, tool holders, maintenance kits, torque stations, etc.) and applications (feeds/speeds, tips/tricks, # of passes, etc.).

Contact Info: greg@cnctoolingshop.com | (616) 502-7277 | LinkedIn

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Why are my CNC bits breaking?

Why Your CNC Bits Are Breaking

Every so often, I’m asked the question “Why are my CNC bits breaking?” and then the process of elimination begins. There are an array of issues that could be causing this to happen. Here are the most common:

  1. Incorrect feed/speed
  2. Dull bit
  3. Bad vacuum/hold-down
  4. Debris in collet/tool holder
  5. Bad collet

Incorrect Feed Rate & Spindle Speed

First off, the feed rate and spindle speed are often the culprit. Bits can break at too high or too low of both the feed rate and spindle speed. It’s important to find the correct mix of feeds/speeds that meets your material and quality requirements. The easiest solution for this is to send an email to tooling@cnctoolingshop.com. On a daily basis, I’m troubleshooting and offering starting points on how to cut a specific material for my customers.

Dull Bit

Most operators know this, but a dull CNC bit is far more likely to break than a new sharp one. Instead of the dull bit cutting through the material, the pressure is pushing through it until it no longer can. In this case, a smaller diameter tool will break before a larger one will. Pay attention to the cut quality and sound coming from the tool when a new tool is cutting vs. a used one. This way you can spot a dull tool before it breaks or sacrifices too much quality.

Poor Vacuum/Hold-Down

Bad material hold-down can very easily break a bit. Vibration or material movement is the enemy. The hold-down could be bad because of vacuum problems or even a vacuum not suitable for your machine, lack of milling the spoil board, vacuum pressure leaking out the side of material, etc. Do whatever you have to do to keep material held in place. Some people use double-sided tape, down-spiral bits, vacuum cups, or vacuum enhancers to further decrease movement. Again, do everything in your power to keep material held in place.

Debris In Collet/Tool Holder

If tool holders and collets are not properly cleaned, debris can build up and cause the tool holder to be off balance. When your CNC machine is cutting material out of balance, you face a decrease in tool life, spindle life, and cut quality. This can easily be a reason why your bits are breaking. Remember that collets and tools holders are consumables and should be replaced in a reasonable time-frame. See a recent article, I wrote, with more detail on tooling maintenance HERE.

Bad Collet

Like I mentioned above, collets are consumables. Depending on use, collets have a 90 day life. When you break a bit near the collet, they should also be replaced because they can damage the collet to where it no longer holds a bit correctly. Think of a collet as a spring. If a spring is compacted together for 90 straight days, it will no longer be the spring it once was. Therefore, your CNC bits are not being held as tight and balanced as they need to be. Find collets on our webstore HERE

Greg Smolka

Greg Smolka (Author)

CNC Tooling & Application Manager

Here to help with tooling recommendations (bits, knives, collets, tool holders, maintenance kits, torque stations, etc.) and cutting recommendations (feeds/speeds, tips/tricks, # of passes, etc.).

Contact Info: greg@cnctoolingshop.com

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If You’re Drilling Holes, Use A CNC Drill Chuck!

Drill Chuck CNC Router

You might be asking yourself “What’s a CNC drill chuck?” which is exactly why I’m writing this article. When I show these to my customers, the first thing they say is… “So, if I get one of these, I never have to buy a random sized collet for drill bits again?” to which my answer is “Exactly!”. If you have a handful of collets that you use for all your drill btis, then I’m guessing that you’re really interested in what it is now.

These are the HSK32E, ISO30, and HSK63F CNC drill chucks:

HSK32E
ISO30 HSD or COL
HSK63F

A drill chuck is a tool holder with an HSK32E, ISO30 or HSK63F taper that holds all sized drill bits with a ½” shank or smaller. Loading and unloading a drill bit into a drill chuck works similar to a handheld drill. You simply adjust the holder, by hand, to open or close the clamping teeth to secure or release the drill bit. These are rated to run at proper drilling RPM’s (which should always be low for drill holes), ensuring that your spindle is being taken care of.

Like I mentioned before, this eliminates having a collet for every size drill bit that you plan to use on your CNC machine. It’s a great product that can save an immense amount of time, hassle, and money. There are three taper options for these: HSK63F, HSK32E, and ISO30 (both HSD & COL). Warning, don’t confuse “drill bits” with “Endmills or standard router bits”. If you need any clarification, please reach out at tooling@cnctoolingshop.com.

Feel free to request help with the optimal plunge rates and spindle speeds. It is important to know the lowest spindle speed your machine is capable of before using these, as that is sometimes the spindle speed recommended for drilling operations. For example, we recently drilled holes in HDPE and ACM at 4,000 RPM which was that particular machines slowest spindle speed.

Greg Smolka

Greg Smolka (Author)

CNC Tooling & Application Manager

Here to help with tooling recommendations (bits, knives, collets, tool holders, maintenance kits, torque stations, etc.) and cutting recommendations (feeds/speeds, tips/tricks, # of passes, etc.).

Contact Info: greg@cnctoolingshop.com

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CNC Routing: EVA Foam (Marine Flooring)

CNC Routing: EVA Foam Marine Flooring

EVA Foam (Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate foam) is a soft, flexible, and durable material made from a blend of ethylene and vinyl acetate. It’s known for being lightweight, shock-absorbent, and resistant to water, UV radiation, and chemicals. It’s key characteristics include being lightweight and flexible, water resistant, shock-absorbing, and easily cut, shaped, or heat-formed.

Common Uses

  • Flooring: marine flooring, gym mats, play mats, and anti-fatigue mats
  • Crafts and cosplay: for making costumes, armor, and props
  • Footwear: midsoles of athletic shoes and sandals
  • Packaging: protective padding for fragile items
  • Sports gear: padding in helmets, guards, and yoga blocks

Today, we’re discussing EVA foam in marine flooring because I’ve been asked one too many times how to cut and shape it. We came up with a simple way to cut your created designs and logos in EVA foam as well as cut out the outer shape in order for pieces to fit in very specific places. This is very important when working on a flooring project for a customer.

EVA Foam Marine Flooring

EVA foam began gaining popularity for marine flooring in the early 2000s with companies like SeaDek pioneering and popularizing it, though it became much more mainstream around the 2010’s as manufacturers started marketing it specifically for boats and watercraft. Being a non-slip, cushioned, easy-to-install material that could stand up to the water and sun made it catch on quick. Today, EVA foam is a top choice for both recreational and professional marine use.

How to Cut

I’m guessing this is why you came here, so let’s get to it. We designed a (5) tool kit that allows anyone with a CNC router and marine flooring grade EVA foam sheets the capability to bring their designs to life. You’ll also need a razor blade or a CNC knife blade to cut out the outer shape of the pieces, but that blade will depend on the brand of your CNC router or knife cutter.

Step 1: Buy The Kit

You can view and purchase the 5-tool kit HERE.

Step 2: Choose the center line size

Our kit includes a 3/16″ and a 1/4″ 3 Flute router bit. These sizes seemed to be the most popular center line options. Other sizes are also available. Feel free to reach out if you’d like something additional. This tool needs to be ran in both climb and conventional directions in order to achieve best quality. We found that a spindle speed of 22,000 RPM and a feed rate of 100-150 IPM worked perfectly.

Step 3: Choose a Ball Burr size

The ball burr router bits are the tools that really bring the designs to life. Our kit includes 3 ball burr sizes: a 3/8″, 1/2″, and 3/4″. Again, more sizes are available but these three seemed to be the most popular. These tools also need to be used in both climb and conventional directions to achieve the best quality. However, these tools run at a much higher feed rate. We pushed our machine all the way up to 1,200 IPM before quality started to rapidly decline. In my opinion, the feed rates between 250 IPM to 600 IPM looked the best, so I would stick there.

Step 4: Knife Cutting

For those of you that have a knife cutting option on your CNC machine, this will be the easiest part. Simply load the correct oscillating blade and slice through it with ease. If you need blades for your Multicam, Zund, Kongsberg, Colex, Ecocam, AXYZ, Aristo, ESKO, or something else just let us know. We have high quality and affordable compatible blades HERE.

Conclusion

All in all, EVA foam for marine flooring can be cut and shaped many different ways. However, this is a simple and proven method, so hopefully this saved you a little time trying to figure out how to do it. Please note the information above applies to the industrial CNC router and knife cutter world. If you have a table top machine, the feeds and speeds may be completely different.

If anything here was explained too simply and you need any assistance or you have questions about the kit, please reach out. My contact information is below.

Greg Smolka

Greg Smolka (Author)

CNC Tooling & Applications Manager

Here to help with tooling recommendations (bits, knives, collets, tool holders, maintenance kits, torque stations, etc.) and applications (feeds/speeds, tips/tricks, # of passes, etc.).

Contact Info: greg@cnctoolingshop.com | (616) 502-7277 | LinkedIn

If you have any questions about which tools to use for any other project as well as how to program them for success, feel free to reach out anytime. Thanks for reading!

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CNC Routing: Composite Decking Boards

CNC Routing Composite Decking Boards 5

Composite decking boards were first developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s as an eco-friendly, low-maintenance alternative to traditional wood decking. Pioneered by companies like Trex, the earliest composite boards were made from a simple blend of wood fibers (or wood flour) and plastic (usually recycled polyethylene, polypropylene, or PVC), offering resistance to rot and insects, but often prone to fading, staining, and mold. In the mid-2000s, the industry introduced second-generation “capped” composites—boards with a protective polymer shell—significantly improving durability and aesthetics. Over time, manufacturers refined the materials and processes, leading to more realistic wood-like textures, improved resistance to the elements, and a greater emphasis on sustainability by using high percentages of recycled materials. Today, composite decking has become a popular and long-lasting choice for outdoor spaces, valued for its low upkeep and environmental benefits.

With the mixture of plastics and wood fibers, the question “how do I cut this?” comes up often. The easy answer is, with a CNC router bit of course! Choosing the correct one is the hard part which is exactly why I write these articles. We like to scrap chip-load calculators, throw any and every tool at a specific material, then optimize the best performing one.

Thanks to the CNC routers from Specialty Machinery Inc., we were able to do testing on both their Specialty Cutting Systems Legacy router as well as the Kimla Regency router with the exclusive MagLev™ technology.

Depending on the composite decking board thickness, you can choose the Razor Series tool diameter that fits your needs. In this case, we cut 1/2″ decking with a 1/4″ 3 Flute Spiral Upcut endmill called the XR2062-CB. This tool is meant to cut fast without sacrificing edge quality, and it did just that.

This tool optimized out at 200-300 IPM, 21,000 RPM, Climb Cut, at 2 passes. The 3/8″ version of this tool was able to cut it in one pass. The edge quality came out great and the speed was unmatched by any other tool. The Razor series bits were invented to cut Corian material (see our article on Corian material) but they do a phenomenal job with plastics and foams as well. In second place, the Omega Series cut these boards with great quality but at a lower feed rate.

Quick Facts

  • Endmills: Razor Series
  • Specific Tool: XR2062-CB
  • Spindle Speed: 21,000 RPM
  • Feed Rate: 200-300 IPM
  • Direction: Climb
  • Number of Passes: 1 to 1.5 times the diameter of the tool
Greg Smolka

Greg Smolka (Author)

CNC Tooling & Applications Manager

Here to help with tooling recommendations (bits, knives, collets, tool holders, maintenance kits, torque stations, etc.) and applications (feeds/speeds, tips/tricks, # of passes, etc.).

Contact Info: greg@cnctoolingshop.com | (616) 502-7277 | LinkedIn

If you have any questions about which tools to use for your project as well as how to program them for success, feel free to reach out anytime. Thanks for reading!

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International Sign Association (ISA) Show 2025

ISA 2025 5

The ISA International Sign Expo (ISA Show) is the largest gathering of professionals in the sign, graphics, print, and visual communications industry in North America. This is a yearly show organized by the International Sign Association (ISA).

Key Features of the ISA Show:

  • Exhibit Hall: Showcasing the latest products, technologies, and services from hundreds of exhibitors.
  • Education Sessions: Workshops, panels, and seminars on topics like digital signage, business management, and new printing technologies.
  • Networking: Opportunities to connect with industry peers, suppliers, and potential partners.
  • Product Demos: Hands-on access to new machines, substrates, software, and tools used in signage and graphics.

Who Attends?

  • Sign and print shop owners
  • Graphic designers
  • Architects and engineers
  • Installers and fabricators
  • Marketing professionals
  • Manufacturers and suppliers

Timing & Location:

The ISA Sign Expo typically takes place annually in the spring (March or April), and the location varies, usually rotating among major U.S. cities like Orlando, Las Vegas, or Atlanta.

CNC Tooling Shop:

We attended the ISA show as an exhibitor to show off new and improved tooling, visited with existing and potential partners, as well as to see what is new in the industry. We work in many industries but find ourselves in a lot of sign shops around the world. So, it is important for us to not only be a part of the sign industry but to understand what is current and coming in the future.

Thank you to everyone who attended and stopped by our booth. It was an honor passing on knowledge, hearing your stories, and making new friends. Here is a list of the trade shows that we plan to attend during the year 2025. Feel free to come by and see us!

  • Foam Expo (Novi, MI) – June 24-26
  • Advanced Manufacturing Expo (Grand Rapids, MI) – August 6-7
  • Fabtech (Chicago, IL) September 8-11
  • Print United Expo (Orlando, FL) – October 22-24
Greg Smolka

Greg Smolka (Author)

CNC Tooling & Applications Manager

Here to help with tooling recommendations (bits, knives, collets, tool holders, maintenance kits, torque stations, etc.) and applications (feeds/speeds, tips/tricks, # of passes, etc.).

Contact Info: greg@cnctoolingshop.com | (616) 502-7277 | LinkedIn

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CNC Routing – Steel Composite Material

CNC Routing Steel Composite Material

At CNC Tooling Shop, we are often asked if it’s possible to cut steel composite materials, such as Duraplate or Maxmetal Element, on our CNC Routers. I’ve heard conflicting statements, so I thought I’d do some testing and share the findings. The goal was to not only cut the material but to also find out how the tools fare and find the optimal feeds and speeds to achieve the best quality. A customer sent us some Duraplate and we were off to the races.

Duraplate composite panels were invented by Wabash National in Lafayette, Indiana (1996) for freight trailers, truck bodies and portable storage containers. It consists of two skins (80,000 psi-yield galvanized steel) that sandwich a high density polyethylene core. Coatings on the steel insure longevity and corrosion protection. It doesn’t absorb moisture and beats out the previous method of using plywood or fiberglass reinforced panels that rip and splinter. Since this creation has come about, other applications include military, building, storage, and industrial products.

With an array of research and testing, we found that the Saber Series four flute coated bit from X-Edge Tools worked the best. The bits were created to cut Steel Composite Material. The coating makes them durable and long lasting. No other CNC bit, that we tested, offered anywhere near as well of a finish.

XS2052 (Saber Series) 1/4″ Diameter

Results explained:

Routing the Duraplate at 114-200 IPM / 14,000 RPM with XS2052 (BUY HERE) worked perfectly once we found out that climb cut was the proper direction. Our plunge rate was 70 IPM and we used an alcohol-based misting fluid called Liquid-X (BUY HERE). It left behind a healthy chip size and a clean cut. We started with a 4’ X 4’ square and cut smaller and smaller squares until we only had 6” by 6” left. The bit we used could have cut much more before finally getting dull, so we can assume that the tool life is acceptable when cutting at proper feeds/speeds.

Duraplate Cutting Chips

We also tried cutting at different feeds and speeds, without luck. Cutting faster resulted in the spoil board burning, decreased cut quality, and a loud screeching sound from the tool hitting the material. I would expect the tool to wear out very fast if used faster than recommended as well as being a fire hazard. Cutting slower than recommended didn’t leave as nice of cut quality and could possibly lead to tools breaking and wearing fast.

Cutting Duraplate Too Fast

Quick Details / Recommendations:

  • Material: 6mm steel composite material (Duraplate)
  • CNC Bit: X-Edge Tools # XS2052 (BUY HERE)
  • Feed Rate: 114-200 IPM
  • Plunge Rate: 70 IPM
  • Spindle Speed: 14,000 RPM
  • Number of Passes: 1
  • Misting: Alcohol-based Misting Fluid (BUY HERE)

Stay tuned for many more articles to come related to CNC routing from CNC Tooling Shop. We will also be sharing videos and updates on our (and Specialty Machinery Inc.’s) social media pages. Stay up-to-date by following us on LinkedIn, Facebook, or YouTube.

If you need any help with cutting specific materials on your CNC machine, please call me at (616) 502-7277. I manage the tooling department, where we distribute CNC tooling for an array for CNC machinists and companies. We are known for but not limited to working with brands such as X-Edge Tools, LMT Onsrud, Techniks, Whiteside, LMT Belin, Amana, Monster Tool Company, and more. Thanks for stopping by.

Greg Smolka (Author)

CNC Tooling & Application Manager

Here to help with tooling recommendations (bits, knives, collets, tool holders, maintenance kits, torque stations, etc.) and cutting recommendations (feeds/speeds, tips/tricks, # of passes, etc.).

Contact Info: greg@cnctoolingshop.com