Gallery · Grand Prairie, Texas
CNC routed sheet metal — a machined edge in one setup
CNC routed sheet metal in aluminum and copper, plus non-metal panels, cut on a 96" by 192" table at our Grand Prairie shop serving Dallas–Fort Worth. The profile, the holes, the countersinks, and the milled detail all come off in the same operation instead of moving between three machines.
Large panel work?
Eight feet by sixteen feet on the table, so a full sheet does not have to be cut down and pieced back together.
Cutting surface
96" x 192" x 12"
Spindle
16 HP, 24,000 RPM
Thickness
0.010" to 6"
Tool changer
12 tools
CNC aluminum routing
CNC aluminum routing, profile and detail together
Aluminum sheet and plate that needs tapped holes, countersinks, counterbores, or milled pockets alongside the outside profile. On a laser the part comes off flat and then goes somewhere else for the rest. Here it comes off finished — and when a part needs deeper 3D work, it moves across the floor to CNC milling.
Why routing costs less
The vacuum bed does the fixturing
On most machines, holding the part is where the money goes. Custom fixtures get designed, built, and charged to the first order, and a low-volume job never recovers that cost.
The router holds work on a vacuum bed instead. Expensive fixtures are rarely needed, setups finish quickly, and the job runs on basic tooling — which is why a routed part often quotes lower than the same part elsewhere.
One setup, twelve tools
Tapping, grooves, bevels, and countersinks all held in the changer, so the part never comes off the table between operations.
3D contours
A programmable Z axis moves fluidly through 3D geometry rather than stepping through flat passes.
Pipe and tube
A full CNC rotary indexer cuts pipe and tubing up to 12" wide and 192" long on the same table.
Flat or formed stock
Material can come in flat or already formed, which matters when detail has to be added after a bend on the press brake.
CNC routed copper
Copper routing without the heat
Copper reflects and conducts, which makes it awkward on some cutting processes. Routing removes material mechanically, so the edge comes off machined and the sheet stays flat.
Non-metal routing
MDF, plastics, and panel material
The router is not limited to metal. Plastics, phenolics, and panel stock run on the same table, which is why the work here reaches customers in sign making, architectural and design work, and floor covering alongside the metal side of the shop.
Not sure routing is the right call?
Routing has material restrictions that laser does not. The comparison page lays out where each process wins, and our programmers work out the routing before the quote goes out.
Common questions
CNC routing questions
Can a CNC router cut sheet metal?
Yes. Non-ferrous sheet such as aluminum and copper routs cleanly, and the router adds tapped holes, countersinks, and pockets in the same setup as the outside profile. For steel, the fiber laser is usually the better route; the trade-offs are on our cutting processes page.
How big a sheet can your CNC router handle?
The table is 96" by 192" with 12" of Z travel, so a full eight-by-sixteen-foot sheet runs without being cut down. Material thickness runs from 0.010" to 6".
Why does CNC aluminum routing often cost less?
Parts are held on a vacuum bed, not in custom fixtures. Setups finish quickly and the job runs on basic tooling, so low-volume and prototype work avoids a fixture charge.
Can you rout pipe, tube, or formed parts?
Yes. A CNC rotary indexer handles pipe and tubing up to 12" wide and 192" long. Formed parts can come in after bending to have detail added.
Where is your CNC routing shop?
We are at 1000 Avenue N in Grand Prairie, Texas, serving the Dallas–Fort Worth area, and we run under an ISO 9001:2015 certified quality system.
Send us your next print
Send the file with your material and quantity. If routing is not the right process for your part, we will tell you which one is.
1000 Avenue N, Grand Prairie TX 75050 · (972) 554-0383 · ast@astmfg.com