What CNC routers cut
- Sheet goods: plywood, MDF, and Baltic birch for counters, walls, and shelving.
- Plastics: acrylic, PVC foam board, and polycarbonate for signs and lightbox faces.
- Aluminum composite material (ACM) for durable sign panels.
- Foam for large 3D letters and sculpted shapes, often hard-coated and painted afterward.
Routing versus machining
CNC routing works on large flat sheets and is the workhorse of exhibit shops. CNC machining (mills and lathes) makes small, precise metal parts such as brackets, fittings, and product display mounts. Some Las Vegas shops do both; many exhibit houses send precision metal parts to a machine shop.
Getting your file right
- Send vector files (DXF, DWG, AI, or SVG) at full scale, with text converted to outlines.
- Mark inside and outside cuts and any pocketing depth.
- Ask for the router bit diameter; inside corners will be rounded to that radius unless they are finished by hand.
- Confirm sheet thickness and grain direction for wood.
What to ask a shop
- What is your bed size and the largest sheet you can cut in one piece?
- Which file formats do you accept?
- Can you finish edges, paint, and assemble, or do you cut only?
Questions
What file does a CNC shop need?
A full-scale vector file such as DXF, DWG, AI, or SVG with fonts outlined. Many shops will redraw from a sketch for a design fee.
Can CNC cut acrylic letters for my booth?
Yes. Acrylic, PVC, and foam letters are common CNC jobs and can be painted, backlit, or mounted with standoffs.