Routing has many applications outside of what can be lasercut, and can be especially good when cutting plastics. It is a traditional machining process using a spindle with a cutting tool, but combined with modern CAD/CAM systems complex shapes can be cut efficiently.

It has excellent squareness of edge and good finish characteristics.

It has some machine limitations; because we are cutting with a tool, you can’t have sharp internal corners, also the cutter is always trying to ‘throw’ the part, so material has to be clamped or ‘sucked’ down to the table.