There are a variety of ways to hold material in place while machining it with a CNC router. In this blog post, we will discuss 8 different methods. Each has its own set of pros and cons, so you will need to choose the one that best suits your needs. Let's take a look at each method!

Direct Fastening

One way to hold material in place is by directly fastening it to the table of the CNC router. This can be done using screws, clamps, or other types of fasteners. The advantage of this method is that it is very secure and ensures that the material will not move during machining. However, the downside is that it can be time-consuming to set up, and you may need to drill holes in the material beforehand.

Edge Clamping

Another method is edge clamping, which involves attaching the material to the table with clamps along its edges. This is a quick and easy way to secure the material, but it is not as secure as direct fastening. The material may still be able to move slightly during machining, so you will need to take care when using this method.

Top Clamping

A third option is top clamping, which is similar to edge clamping but with clamps attached to the top of the material instead of the edges. This provides a more secure hold than edge clamping, but it can put the clamps in the way of machining, so you have to be careful where you place the clamps.

Vacuum Clamping

Another possibility is vacuum clamping, which uses a vacuum pump to suck the material onto the table of the CNC router. This provides a very strong hold, but it only works if you have a vacuum table available on your machine. Most hobby and smaller CNC machines will not have a vacuum table.

Vise

Another option is to use a vise to hold the material in place. This is a quick and easy method, but you need to make sure that you have enough Z-axis clearance for the vise and material. This method is not a very common method for CNC routers but it is an option for special occasions.

Double Sided Tape

You can also use double sided tape to hold the material in place. This is a quick and easy way to secure the material, but it is not as strong as some of the other methods. The material may be able to move slightly during machining, so you will need to take care when using this method and make sure you use a strong tape.

Painters Tape and Superglue

Another option is to use painters tape and superglue to hold the material in place. This is a quick and easy way to secure the material and it is a surprisingly very strong method. One thing that you have to be careful about with this method is that the material might start to bow or twist as you start to machine away material. If that happens, it could cause the material to come loose, so you may need to add additional hold down methods to keep that from happening.

Custom Fixtures

A final option is to use custom fixtures. This allows you to tailor the fixture specifically for your part, which provides a very secure hold. However, it can be time-consuming and expensive to design and build custom fixtures.

Which method is the right one?

There is no single “right” way to hold material in place while machining it with a CNC router. The best method will vary depending on the specific part being machined, the materials being used, and the desired level of precision. You will need to experiment with different methods to find the one that works best for you but also keep in mind that you can even combine multiple methods together.

Which of these methods do you prefer? Let us know in the comments below!