If you’ve heard the term “CNC routing” and aren’t sure what it actually means, you’re not alone. Most of the businesses that contact us have a project in mind but don’t know what process they need — they just know they need something cut, carved, or shaped.

Here’s the short version: CNC routing is computer-controlled cutting and carving. A router bit spins at high speed while a computer moves it across your material with precision down to fractions of a millimeter. Think of it like a table saw, except instead of straight lines, it can cut any shape you can draw.

What Can a CNC Router Cut?

We work with:

Wood (Baltic Birch plywood, hardwoods, MDF, live edge slabs)
Plastic (HDPE, acrylic, PVC)
Foam (for packaging, prototypes, molds)
Aluminum (non-ferrous metals only)
Composite materials

Wood makes up about 90% of our work. If a router bit can cut through it, we can probably CNC it.

2D vs. 3D CNC Work

Most of our CNC work is 2D — cutting shapes out of flat material. Think signage, cabinet parts, custom panels, and prototype pieces cut from plywood.

We also do 3D carving — removing material to create dimensional shapes. We’ve carved concrete sink forms, spiral banisters, decorative cabinet feet, and layered mountain art pieces. Our rotary axis lets us carve objects that spin, like furniture legs with spiral patterns.

What Makes CNC Different from Hand Cutting?

Two things: precision and repeatability.

A skilled woodworker can cut organic curves with a jigsaw or scroll saw. But a CNC can do it with tighter tolerances, and more importantly, it can do it the same way every single time. Need 500 identical pieces? The CNC cuts number 500 exactly like number 1.

That’s why CNC is ideal for both one-off art pieces (where precision matters) and production runs (where consistency matters).

How Big Can You Go?

Our larger machine handles full sheets up to 5 feet by 10 feet with material up to about 10 inches thick. Our shop CNC does 4 by 4 feet. Between the two, we cover everything from small prototypes to oversized theatrical set pieces.

Real Projects We’ve CNC Routed

Theatrical set pieces for Hale Centre Theatre (Frozen) and The Ruth (Wizard of Oz, Willy Wonka)
Escape room elements for Castle of Chaos — 3,000 sq ft themed rooms
Concrete sink forms — 3D carved molds for a concrete contractor
Restaurant signage for Palomino in Park City
Synthesizer end caps for Synthcraft — ongoing production run
Diamond-shaped concrete stamps for Big-D Construction at Lagoon

What Do I Need to Get Started?

You don’t need design files. Most of our customers bring us a sketch, a photo of something similar, or just a description. We design everything in Fusion 360 and send you images for approval before anything gets cut.

If you do have files, we accept DXF, SVG, STL, STEP, OBJ, F3D, AI, and DWG.

Ready to talk about your project? Contact us or call 801-252-5350 — we’ll let you know what’s possible.

What Is CNC Routing? A Plain-English Guide for Business Owners