Routers are used by woodworking professionals to drill, cut, or hollow out a groove in a piece of wood. One would commonly see a router used in the cabinetry trade, as grooves produced in the surface of wooden shelves enable these shelves to be inserted into the frame of the bookshelf. However, there are other uses for these devices. With woodworking professionals trending toward the use of computer numerically controlled (CNC) woodworking machines, it is becoming more common for shops to have a CNC wood router on-hand. An inexpensive way to acquire these machines is to restrict one’s search to used CNC routers.
Price is one excellent benefit offered by the acquisition of used CNC routers, but it is not the only benefit. To fully understand why these machines are so popular, consider some of the current buying trends in the industrial woodworking industry.
Flexibility
The most successful modern woodworking shops are those shops that can efficiently tailor to a wide range of customer needs. Since it is not economically feasible to have a fleet of specialized machines on hand for completing projects, shops must look for versatile machines. Desirable used CNC routers are those that offer greater flexibility because they have a wide range of capabilities. A machine is expected to have drilling, routing, and grooving capabilities, but now it is not uncommon to see machines with four-axis capability. These machines allow customers to complete drilling and routing on angles.
Efficiency
Woodworking shops need to be efficient to meet strict deadlines set by clients, and a shop can only be efficient if the machines that it uses are efficient. Modern woodworking machines use CNC technology to speed up woodworking processes and make them more efficient. For example, a CNC device can use computer controls to aid in set-up by automatically positioning tables and clamps. This saves the operator time without sacrificing precision.
Capabilities
As mentioned earlier, machines should be capable of performing a number of different jobs, with even the fourth-axis ability to drill and route on an angle now becoming commonplace. Some product managers are seeing increased demand for machines with 5-axis capability, which can machine all faces.
Ease of Use
Easy to use woodworking machines continue to be popular among woodworking shops, but now they are finally becoming more affordable. Ideally, a machine will offer automation from order confirmation to machine code, but not all machines go this far. Used CNC routers that automate the set-up process make it easier for the operator to complete cuts, while user-friendly software has been proven to speed up CNC processes.
Thanks to modern technological advancements growing more common every year, used CNC routers are able to deliver flexibility, efficiency, ease of use, and a wide range of capabilities without breaking the bank. The RT Machine Company stocks routers and other woodworking machines from all major brands, and can help woodworking shops of any size improve operations by consolidating or replacing older machines.
