According to the different spiral directions of the flutes, CNC router bits can be divided into up cut, down cut and compression router bits. These three kinds bits are all made of solid carbide and are widely used in the field of woodworking. So what are the differences between them? When should they be used? This article summarizes the 4 differences between 3 types of router bits, hoping to answer your confusions.
- Different Spiral Flute Directions:
You can hold the router bits shank with your hand, put it in front of you with the flute facing down, and observe the spiral direction of the flute.
- The flute of Up cut router bits is spiraling upward.
- The flute of Down cut router bit is spiraling downward.
- The Compression router bits are a combination of upward and downward. The bottom of the tip is spiraling upward, and the upper part is spiraling downward.
- Different chip removal directions and cutting effect:
- For up cut spiral router bits, the chip removal is upward, and the flying wood chips will hit the upper surface of the workpiece, causing the upper surface of the workpiece to be relatively rougher than the lower surface, and the lower surface is relatively clean.
- For down cut spiral router bits, the chip removal is downward, and the wood chips will hit the lower surface of the workpiece, which makes the lower surface of the workpiece relatively rougher than the lower surface, and the upper surface is relatively clean.
- Compression spiral router bits, chip removal in the middle, the workpiece is very clean on the top and bottom surface.
- Different Cutting Materials:
- Up cutting router bits is very suitable for cutting non-laminated boards, such as solid wood, and the processing requirement is only one side with good finish.
- Down cut spiral bits are particularly suitable for cutting thin boards, such as artificial boards and solid wood boards. Because thin boards are not easy to vacuum and fix. The down cut end mill can use the force of downward chip removal to fix the board tightly on the table. In this way, the board is not easy to move during processing.
- Compression CNC router bits are suitable for MDF, plywood, particle board, double-faced laminated boards, which belongs to artificial boards, and can make the upper and lower surface of the board have better finish. But please note that it is not suitable for solid wood processing.
- Different Price:
- CNC router compression bits are more expensive. Because it is mainly used to cut double veneer. The material of double laminated is melamine, which is relatively brittle and hard. The chip removal builds up in the middle, causing high heat in the middle. So You need to cut through in a single pass. This requires the material quality of router bits to be better.
- The materials used for spiral downcut bits and spiral compression bits are the same, but the manufacturing process of the down cut bit is relatively simple, so the price is relatively cheaper, but the overall difference is not big.
- The cheapest is the spiral-up cut bit, which is used the most.
These three types of router bits have their own advantages and disadvantages, and there is no absolute good or bad, so you should choose the right CNC router bits according to the specific processing scenario and processing material.
