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CNC routers are versatile machines with a broad range of applications across different industries. For example, they are famed in woodworking for their accuracy and automation capabilities, which enable these machines to create intricate shapes and forms and turn them into beautiful products.

These qualities are sought after in the furniture industry and have helped furniture makers create functional components and decorative designs.

Making Furniture with CNC Router Machines

The furniture production process requires several skills for artisans to create magnificent pieces of furniture. It requires:

• Fine motor skills
• Craftsmanship
• An eye for design
• Attention to detail
• Analytical skills
• Endurance

All the abovementioned skills are necessary to produce the different parts and joinery pieces necessary to assemble one piece of furniture. Skilled artisans can apply these skills in creating bespoke furniture, which requires a high degree of skill and mastery to produce.

But in mass production, precision is required to ensure the production of identical pieces of furniture at a rapid pace. CNC routers have a high level of precision and repeatability that is perfect for the mass production of furniture.

Whether parts require cutting straight, curved, or zig-zag patterns, CNC routers are an ideal tool capable of providing the needed functionality to accomplish these requirements.

Types of Wood Used in CNC Router Furniture Making

CNC machines can work on different materials, depending on the type of machine you use. In furniture making, the most common material used by craftsmen is wood. Here are some types of wood that are perfect for furniture production with CNC router machines:

Hardwoods

• Ashwood. Ash is a light-colored heavy wood material with excellent mechanical properties for furniture production. It is stiff and hard and is perfect for building furniture pieces such as chairs and tables.
• Beech. Although similar to Ash in strength, Beech can be bent easily. It does not splinter easily, which is an ideal quality for woods used in CNC milling machines.
• Mahogany. Mahogany is popular because of its solid reddish-brown color and high strength. It is a solid material that is suitable for furniture production.

Softwoods

• Cedar. Although difficult to mill due to its several knots, it is still a popular choice for CNC furniture production at slow feed rates. It is commonly used to produce outdoor furniture.
• Redwood. Its softness makes it a popular material for CNC milling and is famed for its red shade and resistance to sunlight decay.
• Fir. Although a softwood, Fir can also be used for purposes suitable for hardwoods such as furniture and flooring due to its durability

Factors to Consider When Choosing Material for CNC Router Furniture Making

When choosing a type of wood for CNC furniture production, consider the following qualities:

Grain Size

Grain size determines how smooth the furniture surface will be after production. Generally speaking, softwoods tend to be fine-grained while hardwoods are coarse-grained. And as a rule of thumb, fine-grained woods are easier to mill, while coarse-grained woods tend to have a smoother finish.

Moisture Content

Moisture is a property that can also significantly impact wood’s other properties, such as its durability and flexibility. Therefore, before selecting a material to work with, the moisture content must be within the acceptable range as it can also affect production.

For instance, low moisture can cause excessive tears while high moisture causes fuzzy grains on the wood’s surface.

Knots

The knot is a wood portion where the branch joins the trunk. In this portion of the wooden material, wood becomes harder, which causes shock loading on the machine. It is recommended to use woods with the least number of knots available.

Feed Rate

Feed rate is the speed at which a spinning tool passes over a material’s surface. While fabricating furniture, it is important to balance the machine’s feed rate as a low feed rate can leave burn marks on the wood’s surface while a high feed rate can cause splinters.

Most CNC manufacturers typically provide this information along with their machines. If not, you can use online calculators to determine the optimum feed rate for your machine.

Tools Needed

The structure and properties of wood can also influence its machinability. That said, it is vital to select a material that can be processed by available tools to ensure it can be appropriately processed.

Furniture Making CNC Router Ideas

Here are some wooden furniture ideas that can be built using CNC router machines:

• Study Desk/Work Table
• Coffee Table
• Bookshelves
• Chairs
• Cabinets

Choose CAMaster for Your CNC Router Furniture Making Projects

CAMaster is committed to supplying you with knowledgeable advice to help you use your CNC router more successfully in producing beautiful furniture.

As a leading supplier of top-quality CNC router machines, we provide technical support and service to help you succeed within the furniture industry. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our industry-leading products.