CNC Router Bits Glossary: Comprehensive Definitions & Uses

(Continued)… CNC Router Bits Glossary 1

G

Grade: The designation assigned to a specific class of carbide, indicating its hardness and intended application.

Glue Joint: An interlocking, grooved pattern that securely joins two pieces along their edges.

Grooving & Engraving: Tools that produce sharp, clean cuts in wood, enabling detailed patterns such as lettering and seals.

Guttering Router Bits: Bits designed to carve ornamental details on wooden doors, drawers, and other panels.

H

Half‑Blind Dovetail: A joint where the cut does not pass entirely through the board, leaving the ends hidden for a concealed appearance.

Handrail Router Bits: Carbide‑tipped bits specifically made for detailing handrails and other hand‑hold features.

Hardboard: A manufactured board similar to particle board but with a smoother surface; common brands include Masonite.

Half‑Round Cutters: Blanks split or halved at the center via grinding; one side is cylindrical, the other a cutting edge for engraving.

Hand‑Engraving: The art of freehand engraving using various shaped, contoured hand tools.

High‑Speed Steel (HSS): A family of steel alloys—tungsten, molybdenum, cobalt, etc.—designed to provide specific hardness and cutting performance.

Hardwood: Dense, heavy wood with a tight, compact grain, ideal for high‑quality furniture.

Hogging: A machining process that removes large chips quickly to achieve a finished dimension in one pass.

Hand of Milling Cutters & End Mills: Refers to the direction of rotation and flute helix; “right‑hand” and “left‑hand” denote counter‑clockwise and clockwise rotation, respectively.

Helix: The path traced by a cutting edge as it spirals along a cylindrical surface.

Helix Angle: The angle between a helical cutting edge and a plane containing the tool’s axis.

Helical (Spiral): A cutting edge or flute that progresses uniformly around a cylindrical surface in an axial direction.

I

Infeed: The direction in which a workpiece is fed into a blade or cutter.

Inlay: Decorative insetting of materials—wood, stone, ivory, glass, mother‑of‑pearl, tortoiseshell—to create a smooth, continuous surface.

J

Jig: A device that guides tools or assists in woodworking operations, ensuring repeatable cuts.

Joinery: Techniques for creating joints between pieces of wood.

Joinery Bits: Bits of various shapes and sizes designed to join two separate materials.

Joinery Router Bits: Bits that carve puzzle‑like interlocking shapes for joints.

Justification: The horizontal alignment of text; common options include left, center, right, and full justification.

K

Kerf: The width of the cut made by a slot cutter.

Keyhole Router Bits: Bits that cut keyhole‑shaped slots into plaques, frames, and other hanging objects.

L

Letter‑Making Router Bits: Bits used to carve letters for signs and professional symbols.

Lock Miter: A joint created by cutting interlocking parts at an angle.

Lumber Ruler: A ruler with a handle and hood used to estimate board footage.

Lumber‑Core Plywood: Plywood with a core of narrow boards, distinct from standard plywood that layers alternating grain.

Legend Plate: A small carved tag attached to a machine that contains instructions, warnings, or technical data.

M

Micrograin Carbide: Carbide with fine particles, offering greater strength, toughness, and a longer lifespan.

MDF Router Bits: Bits optimized for cutting and engraving medium‑density fibreboard.

Miniature Router Bits: Bits designed for small‑scale woodworking tasks.

Miter: Cutting a material at an equal angle, typically 45°, to create a 90° joint.

Miter‑and‑Spline Joint: Two mitered surfaces joined with a spline.

Moldboard: Wood used to create tangible items such as moldings.

Molding (Moulding): The process of shaping an object.

Molding Router Bits: Bits that cut decorative mouldings in wood, plaster, and marble.

Mortise: A square or rectangular hole carved into wood for a tenon to fit.

Mortise and Tenon Joint: A classic joint where a tenon fits into a mortise.

Mortise Router Bits: Bits that cut square slots for hinges, locksets, etc.

Mortiser: Alternate name for Mortise Router Bits.

Multi‑Form Router Bit: Bits capable of cutting a variety of moulding patterns and architectural details.

N

Non‑Piloted Bit: A wood router bit without a guide bearing.

P

Panel Pilot Router Bits: Bits used to create openings in panels, drywall, and doors.

Plastic Cutting Router Bits: Bits engineered for cutting plastics.

Plastic Spiral ‘O’ Flute Router Bits: Bits that produce smooth cuts in acrylic, plastics, and wood.

Plunge Cut: A cut that reaches another piece to form a joint.

Plunge Form Router Bits: Bits ideal for deep incisions, freehand scripting, and inlay work.

Plunge Router: A wood router mounted on a spring‑loaded base that can plunge into a workpiece.

Plywood Router Bits: Bits specifically designed for cutting plywood.

Pantograph: A mechanical instrument that traces a template with a stylus, marking the surface for engraving.

Parallel Cutters: Cutting edges that run parallel to the shank, producing straight cuts.

Photoengraving: Chemical etching used on magnesium and zinc, commonly for rubber stamp or hot‑stamping dies.

Profiling: Cutting through a material with a rotary engraving cutter to create badge blanks or irregular shapes.

R

Rabbeting Router Bits: Bits that carve patterns both vertically and horizontally; typically sold in sets.

Raised Panel Router Bits: Bits that create horizontal or vertical profiles for door panels.

Round‑Over Router Bits: Bits that round the edges of tables, chairs, and other fixtures.

S

Sign‑Making Router Bits: Bits used to carve specialized signs in conjunction with Letter‑Making Router Bits.

Solid Surface Router Bits: Bits that cut slots in solid surfaces for countertops, sinks, bathtubs, etc.

Spiral Router Bits: Bits that make deep incisions; similar to a drill but for cutting.

Straight Plunge Router Bits: Bits used for routing straight grooves, rabbets, trimming, joints, and mortises.

T

Table Edge Router Bits: Bits used to shape the edges of table parts, reducing visual thickness and adding detail.

Template Router Bits: Bits designed to simplify routing and woodworking tasks.

Trim Router Bits: Bits ideal for precise line designs on wood when used with a handheld trim router.

V

V‑Groove Router Bits: Bits that cut V‑shaped grooves for miter folds, sign making, and lettering.

V‑Paneling Router Bits: Bits that create V‑shaped grooves, forming panels that join together.

W

Wainscot Paneling Router Bits: Bits that carve decorative designs into wainscot wall panels.

Weatherseal Router Bits: Bits used for re‑grooving window and door frames to accommodate insulating inserts.

Window Sash Router Bits: Bits that cut sash window frames, rails, stiles, and mullions.

Woodworking Router Bits: Bits primarily used for trimming and cutting wood to create furniture and other items.