CNC Material Compatibility

Choosing the right material is an important part of getting clean, accurate results from CNC routing.

Our 3-axis CNC routing services are designed primarily for flat and sheet-based materials including plywood, MDF, hardwood panels, plastics and other machinable sheet goods.

We can accommodate sheets up to approximately 5' × 10' and material thicknesses ranging from approximately ⅛" to 3", depending on the material, tooling, cutting operation and requirements of your design.

Because materials can vary significantly in composition, density and construction, all materials and thicknesses are reviewed before production.

Materials We CNC Cut

  • Plywood

  • MDF

  • Hardwood

  • Corian

  • Foam

  • Plastics

Materials the need Review

  • Specialty plastics

  • Composite sheet materials

  • Laminated panels

  • Veneered materials

  • Dense hardwoods

  • Customer-supplied specialty materials

Materials We do not Cut

  • Aluminum

  • Brass

  • Steel

  • Copper

More In-Depth Material Info

Not sure if your material is compatible? Check out our full material compatibility guide of or reach out to us for advice on selecting the best materials that work with laser cutting for your project. We're here to help you achieve flawless results!

Materials That Work with the CNC
(Up to 3”)

    • Examples: Plywood, Baltic birch plywood, MDF, hardwood plywood, veneered panels and other engineered wood products.

    • Applications: Furniture components, cabinetry, architectural panels, displays, signage, prototypes, shelving, templates and custom parts.

    • Notes: Wood-based sheet materials are some of the most common materials used for CNC routing. Different grades of plywood and MDF can machine differently, so material type and thickness should be identified when requesting a quote.

    • Examples: Hardwood panels, butcher block and other flat solid-wood stock.

    • Applications: Furniture parts, tabletops, shelving, decorative components, prototypes and custom millwork.

    • Notes: Solid wood can work well with CNC routing, but the material should be reasonably flat and stable. Warped, twisted or highly irregular material may require additional review or preparation before it can be machined.

    • Examples: Acrylic and selected rigid, machinable plastic sheet materials.

    • Applications: Displays, signage, prototypes, fixtures, templates, product components and custom fabricated parts.

    • Notes: Plastic formulations behave differently when routed. Some plastics machine very cleanly, while others may melt, chip or require specialized tooling.

      Please provide the exact material type whenever possible so we can confirm compatibility before production.

    • Examples: Selected rigid foams, modeling materials and machinable tooling boards.

    • Applications: Prototypes, molds, patterns, models, displays and lightweight dimensional forms.

    • Notes: Compatibility depends heavily on the specific material, density and project requirements. Please send us the manufacturer and material information when requesting a quote.

  • Have something that isn't listed here?

    We may be able to CNC route other rigid sheet materials depending on their composition, thickness and machining requirements.

    Send us the material name, manufacturer, thickness and any available technical information along with your project files in our quote form and we'll review it for compatibility.

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