2024 Best CNC Machines for Woodworking

A wood router is applied in most popular woodworking plans and projects such as cabinet making, door making, sign making, arts & crafts, furniture making, and home decorations. CNC machines offer numerous advantages in the woodworking industry. They provide high precision, repeatability, and efficiency, speeding up production and enabling complex designs and shapes. CNC machines also reduce human errors and waste, improving the quality of woodworking manufacturing.

CNC Machines for Woodworking

Wood CNC Router is the perfect computer-controlled machine for cutting and engraving wood, acrylic, MDF, plastic, marble, rubber, epoxy resin, glass, foam, crystal and other materials. It typically falls into two types, ball screw-driven and rack & pinion-driven. More configuration options include carousel or linear ATC, double platforms, auto loading & unloading platforms, auto labeling platform, drilling head, etc.

Of course, if you have other machining requirements such as three-dimensional work pieces, curved surface machining of complex work pieces, we also have CNC equipment such as 4-axis CNC machine, rotary axis CNC machine, ATC CNC machine and multi-head engraving machine for you to choose.

We offers a variety of CNC wood router machines with many standard configurations for you to choose from. For instance, ATC CNC machines, 4 axis CNC machines, 3 axis CNC machines, multi-head CNC machines, mini CNC machines, best hobby CNC machines, stone CNC machines, and EPS CNC machines. In terms of worktable size, the best CNC router falls into 2×4, 4×4, 5×10, 4×8 CNC router, etc.

Type of CNC wood router machines

Choose a CNC machine that suits your specific needs and budget. Take the time to research different brands and models, considering their features, performance, and pricing. Make a wise decision based on your woodworking project requirements.

Here is our collection of most popular CNC machines for woodworking, from single-spindle to multi-spindle kits, from small footprint to large format tables, from desktop to gantry styles, from hobby to industrial models, from primary 3 axis to professional 5 axis, from entry-level for beginners to high-end ATC series for experts, all types of CNC wood routers are available. In addition, a variety of customization options and add-ons are also available to personalize your machine tools. Just discover what you need, plan your budget, compare features and costs, find and buy the best one to start or upgrade your woodworking business.

3-Axis CNC Machine

The working principle of best wood CNC machine is as following: The wood CNC machine uses a computer to realize digital program control, and executes the control program stored in advance through the computer to realize the machine’s motion control, timing, logic and other functions, so as to control the equipment to complete the automatic woodworking. Wood CNC routers are often used with two software applications—one to make designs (CAD) and another to translate those designs into a G-code program of instructions for the machine (CAM) in vertical, horizontal and perpendicular coordinates. Then the control computer converts this code into a signal that controls the movement of the woodworking engraving machine’s driving system. The drive system makes the spindle moving along the XYZ axis, and working according to the G-code command. In short, the operator creates a design by a CAD software, and uses a CAM software to make generate the G-code, then the wood CNC router working according to the G-code command.

4 axis CNC router

4 Axis CNC Router machine refers to a CNC machine whose processing path include X, Y, Z, and A axis. And we are going to talk about a 4 axis machine whose spindle can swing left and right. Because the spindle of this type of CNC can swing left and right, the spindle can approach the work piece from multiple different angles and efficiently process three effective processing surfaces. This CNC machine can realize not only the plane engraving, but also the 3d carving of irregular work pieces. And this type of wood CNC machine is suitable for common work piece, three-dimensional work piece, complex work piece and irregular graphics processing.

In addition, this type of CNC engraving machine makes full use of the geometric configuration of the tool, controls the angle of the force, reduces the vibration of the force, prolongs the life of the tool, enhances the stability of the processing, and improves the processing accuracy. With the advantages of complete functions, wide processing range and high processing accuracy, more and more users choose the 4 axis machines for 3D Wood Carving. If you have similar three-dimensional work pieces, this CNC Wood Router will be your ideal choice.

CNC Mills Machines

CNC mills, also known as CNC milling machines, are commonly used for woodworking tasks that require high precision and intricate details. They are suitable for cutting, drilling, and milling wood to create complex shapes, joinery, and 3D carvings. CNC mills typically have a rigid structure and are capable of handling heavier workloads.

A CNC milling machine is a CNC machine that uses a milling cutter/end bits to mill a workpiece. Processing materials include metal, wood, plastic, acrylic, etc. By changing end bits, you can mill different materials and get different efficiency and cutting edge. The CNC mill for sale with high efficiency can mill planes, grooves, gear teeth, threads, and spline shafts. It can also process more complex profiles and is widely used in machinery manufacturing and repair departments. The CNC milling machine for sale falls into two categories: without tool magazine and with tool magazine. The milling machine with a tool magazine is also called a machining center.

How does a CNC mill machine work?

First, operators need to formulate processing technology and select processing parameters according to the technical requirements of the part shape, size, precision, and surface roughness. Then input the compiled processing program to the controller through manual programming or automatic programming with CAM software. After the controller processes the program, it sends instructions to the servo device. The servo device sends a control signal to the servo motor. The spindle motor rotates the tool. And the servo motors in X, Y and Z directions control the relative movement of the tool and the workpiece according to a certain path. Now the CNC mill for sale realizes the cutting and milling of the workpiece.

CNC Woodworking Lathes

While more commonly associated with metalworking, CNC lathes can also be used in woodworking for turning cylindrical or round-shaped pieces, such as table legs or chair spindles.

CNC wood lathe is a dedicated lathe for turning, milling, engraving, grooving round and square wood workpieces. It is also known as a wood turning machine, CNC lathe machine, or wood turning lathe. The workpiece is clamped via the motor-driven headstock and the air-actuated tailstock system. A CNC milling machine works by moving a spinning tool over a stationary part. However, a CNC wood lathe works by spinning the part and moving the tool. So the CNC wood lathe for sale is ideal for round parts like shafts, bats, handrails, balusters, table legs, etc. It is suitable for processing workpieces with large diameters and short lengths. With high-speed steel or cemented carbide lathe tools, a wood turning machine can complete many wood turning projects. The CNC wood lathe is capable of rough and fine turning of inner hole, end face, tapered face, grooving, and cutting.

A CNC lathe for wood can complete many wood turning projects or wood lathe projects by using different tools. For instance, some lathe tools with large widths and sharp angles can be used to cut off a part from a big wood workpiece. While the tools with more sharp tips are good at processing small or sophisticated parts.

CNC Nesting Machine 

While not as common in woodworking, CNC Nesting Machine can be used to cut intricate shapes in sheet materials, like plywood or MDF.

The nesting CNC machine is a computer numerical control equipment specially designed for the production of panel furniture line. It is also known as CNC nesting machine for sale, furniture making machine, CNC router nesting near me, nesting CNC router for furniture, furniture manufacturing machine, cabinet CNC machine, kitchen cabinet door making machine, CNC machine for cabinet making, cabinet door machine for sale, etc.

Nesting CNC machine is mainly used to cut various wooden works. Generally, through the design of intelligent software, the nesting CNC routers can automatically optimize the typesetting design and generate the effect map. Besides, the nesting machine can also perform operations such as modification intuitively, and automatically generate various paths. Therefore, it can save sheets and improve sheet utilization. The nesting CNC machine is widely used in the furniture industry such as cabinet doors, wardrobe doors, solid wood doors, paint-free doors, solid wood composite doors, and suite doors. If you are a manufacturer of furniture production lines, this nesting CNC machine is definitely one of your indispensable CNC equipment.

Woodworking Panel Saws

CNC panel saws are designed specifically for cutting large panels of wood, such as plywood or particleboard. They are commonly used in the production of cabinets and furniture.

Panel saw machine is a furniture CNC machine used to cut plywood, particleboard, fiberboard, MDF, solid wood, soft wood and other wooden boards in the panel furniture production. We provide two types of horizontal panel saw machine to meet the demands of small-sized and big-sized woodworking factories. A sliding table saw, also called sliding panel saw or precision panel saw, is a semi-automatic panel saw machine to cut various wooden boards. It can cut and make grooves at any angle (e.g. 22.5°, 45°, 90°) by adjusting the cutting angle of the saw blade. A computer beam saw, also known as panel sizing machine or panel dividing saw, is a smart furniture CNC wood cutting machine in the furniture production line. The computer beam saw makes the cutting work more efficient and precise.

5 Axis CNC Router Woodworking

These machines offer greater flexibility by allowing the cutting tool to move along five different axes. This enables more complex and three-dimensional woodworking tasks.

Five-axis machining center refers to CNC equipment which have at least five coordinate axes (three linear coordinates and two rotation coordinates) on a machine tool, and different coordinate axes can be coordinated and moved simultaneously for processing under the control of a CNC system. This type of 5 axis CNC router has the advantages of high technology content and high machining accuracy, and is specially used for the machining of complex curved surface work pieces. At present, the five-axis CNC machine is the only means to solve the processing of impellers, blades, marine propellers, heavy generator rotors, steam turbine rotors, large diesel engine crankshafts, etc. In addition, such numerical control equipment has a significant influence in the aviation, aerospace, military, scientific research, precision equipment, high-precision medical equipment and other industries.

Laser Cutters/Engravers for Woodworking

While discussed previously for engraving, laser cutters can also be considered CNC machines. They are versatile and can cut through various materials, including wood, with precision.

ATC CNC Rtouer with Tool Changers:

ATC CNC router is the first choice for enterprises with large production volume. Compared with the traditional manual tool change production method, this type of ATC CNC engraving machine has an independent tool magazine with different tool bits. It can automatically change the required tools by computer program control without stopping work during processing. And it can complete a series of cutting, hollowing, grooving, punching, milling grooves, milling planes and other different processing needs. Therefore, both the processing quality and processing efficiency have been greatly improved. According to the different tool changing methods, automatic tool changing engraving machines can be subdivided into linear ATC CNC machine and disc ATC engraving machines.

CNC machines with tool changers allow for automatic switching between different cutting tools during a job. This feature increases efficiency and reduces the need for manual tool changes.

Furniture CNC machine

Our furniture CNC machine covers nesting CNC, edge banding machine, vacuum press machine, polishing machine, side drilling machine, six-sided drilling machine, sliding table saw, computer beam saw, hinge drill, etc. All these furniture making machines can process hardwood, softwood, MDF, particleboard, plywood and other wood materials to produce tables, chairs, kitchen cabinets, wardrobes, cupboards, shelves, beds, and other modern CNC furniture.

Read the following latest buyer’s guide to choose the most suitable furniture CNC equipment to develop your own furniture CNC projects, ideas, and plans.

furniture manufacturing machine, cabinet CNC machine, kitchen cabinet door making machine

The smart factory refers to a high-efficiency, energy-saving, environmentally friendly, and comfortable humanized factory. It integrates intelligent means and systems and other emerging technologies to realize fully automated furniture production line.So, the furniture CNC smart factory aims to integrate resources, improve product competitiveness, and reduce production costs. We provides multiple production lines for making cabinets, PVC doors, solid wooden doors, high-gloss cabinet doors, non-porous cabinets, etc. For example, the cabinet production line integrates nesting CNC machine, edge banding machine, and side drilling machine. The PVC door furniture production line combines CNC nesting machine, CNC wood sanding machine, and vacuum press machine. A cabinet door production line may include the computer beam saw, automatic edge banding machine and hinge drill machine. Besides, there are also other CNC machines for furniture making, such as sliding table saw, six-sided drilling machine, corner rounding machine, etc. All the furniture CNC machine can be combined according to your process needs to realize your furniture CNC projects.

Woodworking Edge Banding Machine

Edge banding CNC machine is a kind of woodworking machinery, which plays the role of edge banding in the processing process of the furniture production line. Compared with the traditional manual edge banding machine, the CNC automatic edge banding machine is more straight, delicate, and smooth. Edge bander machines have the functions of gluing, edge banding, end cutting, rough trimming, fine trimming, rounding, scraping, and polishing. Edge banding machine can process medium density fiberboard, wood board, solid wood board, particleboard, polymer door board, plywood, etc. The furniture CNC edge banding machine has advantages of high automation, stable operation, reliability, durability, and moderate price. So, it is especially suitable for large and medium-sized furniture, cabinets, and other panel furniture manufacturers. Therefore, the edge bander furniture CNC machine is one of the important cabinet making machines , and also an ideal machine for the furniture production line.

How to selection of woodworking CNC router kit

CNC machines have a wide range of applications in woodworking. They can be used for cutting, carving, milling, drilling, turning, and more. You can use CNC machines to create furniture, doors, windows, stairs, carvings, sculptures, wooden decorations, and various other wooden products.CNC machines can work with various types of wood, including solid wood, plywood, particle board, and MDF (medium-density fiberboard). They can also handle composite materials of wood, such as laminated wood and engineered wood.

Choice of CNC router table size.

Customers should choose the model of their best CNC router machines according to their business needs and budget. Generally, the wood engraving machines with small CNC router table sizes mainly include 300x400mm, 600x400mm, 600×600mm, and 600×900mm, and the feed width needs to be less than 600 mm. Such CNC routers for woodworking are also deemed as the desktop CNC router or hobby CNC router. Engraving a two-color board is the most basic application of a desktop CNC router, and it is very acceptable.

The price of the hobby CNC router is relatively inexpensive. CNC engraving machines with large CNC router table size include 1200×1200mm, 1200×1500mm, 1200×2400mm, 1300×2500mm, 1500×2400mm, 2400×3000mm. And the feed width of the above models is less than 1200mm. The most commonly used size of wood panels for cabinet making is 1220×2440mm. So the 4×8 CNC router and other CNC routers for woodworking with larger router table sizes are quite suitable for processing such wooden panels. Among the best CNC machines, the 4×8 CNC router is the best-selling model.

Choice of the transmission system.

Generally, the drive system of the CNC router machine adopts a rack guide rail. The rack falls into the straight rack and helical rack. Compared with the straight rack transmission, the helical rack has better bite and higher precision. Guide rails of the wood CNC machine generally include square rails and circular rails. The load capacity and accuracy retention capacity of square rails are several times that of circular rails. The large-format CNC routers for woodworking usually adopt square rails as the transmission system. This can not only improve the processing accuracy but also improve the service life of the CNC routers for woodworking.

Choice of the spindle motor.

For the spindle motor of the woodworking CNC machine, different power suits different CNC woodworking applications. You need to choose a spindle motor suitable for your use according to your materials and processes. This can improve production efficiency and save resources. Generally, low-power spindle motors are mainly used in the advertising industry and fine processing of small crafts. And it is mainly for engraving work. Because of its low power, the ability of a wood carving machine to cut thick materials is relatively poor. And it is not suitable for engraving and milling thick materials. The general high-power CNC engraver machine spindle motor is mainly for cutting, engraving, and milling. The high power ensures strong cutting ability.

Choice of the drive system.

There are two options for the drive system of the CNC routers for woodworking, namely three-phase stepper motor and servo motor. The servo motor is a closed-loop control. It will measure the speed of the motor in real-time when the wood CNC machine is powered on. Because of its large starting torque, the starting speed is fast, and it will reach its rated speed in a short time. In addition, its overload capacity is strong and suitable for the cases of frequent starting and stopping and when the starting torque is required. However, the stepper motor belongs to open-loop control, does not measure the speed, starts relatively slowly, and generally does not have the overload capability. If your production requires fast speed and high processing accuracy, we recommend the servo motor for your wood CNC machine. But the price of a servo motor is much higher than that of a stepper motor. In case that you neither want a stepper motor nor have enough budget, the hybrid servo motor could be a good choice for your wood CNC machine.