CNC Routers vs. CNC Mills: The Difference
CNC Routers vs. CNC Mills: The Difference To an untrained eye, CNC router and CNC mill can appear the same machine. However, these two machines have a range of differences. Let’s take a look: Design The first and foremost difference between CNC router and CNC mill is their design. CNC router comes with a gantry style design and are often made of plywood, plastic, aluminum, and steel. CNC mills, on the other hand, are sturdier and are made of steel or cast iron. Cutting Area CNC routers have larger cutting area while CNC mills have smaller cutting area. Since CNC mills need concentrated milling, they tend to have smaller cutting area. Z-axis Travel This is another area where CNC mills and CNC routers tend to differ. CNC routers have smaller travel on their Z-axis while CNC routers have longer travel on their Z-axis. Spindle Speed CNC routers have faster moving spindles with an RPM between 10,000 to 30,000. CNC mills, on ...