CNC Router Equipment for Signs

SOME SIGNMAKERS ARE magicians with a jig saw. They can cut intricate sign blanks, perfect circles and knock out dimensional letters fairly quickly. A few signmakers are masters of the plunge router. They can create relief lettering, channels, beads and virtually anything you can think of. These skills really help boost the quality and uniqueness of the signs they offer. Does your shop possess these skills? A better-than-average chance is that you don’t. Does this mean you have to play second fiddle to the shop a few blocks over? Absolutely not. With a CNC (Computer Numerical Control) router you can do the same work in likely less time with more precision, especially when you do multiples of the same sign.

You probably already know that but are not sure which CNC machine to purchase. If you Google “CNC routers,” you will be inundated with ads ranging from a few thousand dollars up to six figures. Where do you even begin? First, you need to eliminate all of the noise and look at established manufacturers. eBay and Amazon may be cheap but you probably get what you pay for. How robust are the tables? Can you find the size you need? Will it run fast enough to manage your production requirements? Can you add different tools or add-ons in the future? A very important question is what kind of warranty and support are offered.

If it breaks, how long will it be down? Established manufacturers offer operation instruction and maintenance. Will you get that from an off brand?

So now you need to determine what type of router you need. If you are just cutting 2D panels in various shapes, you need to determine the largest size you will produce and in turn the size of the bed. A bed that accommodates a 4 x 8-ft. sheet of media is the most commonly found in a signshop but you may need something smaller or much larger. This will probably eliminate many companies from consideration. Are you going to use the router to carve designs into a sheet of material? You need to ensure that the router is a true 3D machine. A 2D or 2.5D router will have a Z axis but it can only cut through the depth of the material and then perform 2D cuts. A true 3D machine will move the X, Y and Z axes at the same time so that relief cutting can be accomplished.

Are you interested in the fastest production speeds? If so, you need a machine that has a powerful cutting spindle and probably an automatic tool changer for as little operator intervention as possible. Some machines offer electronic registration to compensate for slight misalignments when the media is loaded on the table. Keeping the media from moving while it is being cut can be as simple as using clamps. This keeps the board in place but still allows individually cut parts to move. A better solution is a vacuum table that ensures everything is in place during the cutting process. Finally, CNC routers create a lot of dust. A dust-collection system is a definite must if you are running the machine a lot.

Additional things to consider are what materials you need to cut. Most will handle wood, foams and plastics just fine. If you need to cut soft metals, make sure the machine can handle it. If you want to cut mostly metal, you should probably get a plasma cutter or water jet depending on the precision required.

Expect to pay in the low $20K range for a router capable of handling 4 x 8 media. Small sizes like a 2 x 4 will be in the $9K range. A handheld CNC router can be used for smaller pieces or on-site engraving of floors or furniture. You may need to add vacuum-table capabilities and dust collection as options. You can find much larger tables if you need to work with large sets of materials. Some of these machines can also handle dual spindles and gantries to perform multiple jobs at once. If you are looking at getting a finishing machine as well, some machines both rout and use a knife tool for finishing work. This may be a good way to save money if the production schedules don’t conflict.

Know what you intend to use your CNC machine for before looking for a supplier. You can find a machine for virtually any application. Once you have a CNC router, you will wonder how you got along without it.

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