CNC Manufacturing Glossary

Essential terminology for laser cutting, CNC routing, bending, materials, and custom part manufacturing.

A

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): A tough, impact-resistant thermoplastic commonly used for enclosures, housings, and prototypes. Can be laser-cut (CO2) or CNC-routed.
ACP (Aluminium Composite Panel): A sandwich panel with a polyethylene core between two thin aluminium sheets. Used for signage, cladding, and interior panelling. Cut via CNC routing.
Acrylic (PMMA / Plexiglass): A transparent thermoplastic with excellent optical clarity. CO2 laser cutting produces flame-polished edges. Available in clear, coloured, frosted, and mirrored variants.
Anodizing: An electrochemical process that creates a protective oxide layer on aluminium, improving corrosion resistance and allowing coloured finishes.

Bakelite: A phenolic thermoset plastic known for electrical insulation and heat resistance. Used for switchboard components, electrical panels, and industrial spacers.
Bend Allowance: The length of the neutral axis of the sheet metal in a bend zone. Used to calculate the flat pattern dimensions of a bent part.
Bend Line: A line on a 2D design indicating where the sheet metal should be folded. DesignToDoor auto-detects these from DXF files and renders them in the 3D preview.
Bend Radius: The inside radius of a sheet metal bend. Determined by material type, thickness, and tooling. A tighter radius increases the risk of cracking.
Burr: A rough edge or ridge left on a part after cutting. Deburring (a post-processing step) removes these for a smooth finish.

CAD (Computer-Aided Design): Software used to create precise 2D or 3D designs. Common CAD tools: AutoCAD, SolidWorks, Fusion 360, CorelDRAW, Inkscape, LibreCAD.
CNC (Computer Numerical Control): The automated control of machining tools (routers, lasers, press brakes) by a computer using pre-programmed instructions (G-code).
CNC Bending / Press Brake: A CNC-controlled machine that uses a punch and die to bend sheet metal into precise angles. DesignToDoor supports CNC bending for metals and hot slit bending for acrylic.
CNC Routing: A subtractive manufacturing process where a high-speed spinning router bit guided by CNC cuts, shapes, and profiles sheet materials. Suited for wood, composites, stone, and thick plastics.
CO2 Laser: A gas laser that uses carbon dioxide to generate an infrared beam. Ideal for cutting non-metallic materials like acrylic, ABS, wood, and fabric. Produces flame-polished edges on acrylic.
Corian (Solid Surface): A non-porous, hygienic, thermoformable solid surface material. Used for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, and medical surfaces. Cut via CNC routing.
Carbon Fiber: A composite material with exceptional strength-to-weight ratio and stiffness. Used for drone frames, racing parts, robotics, and aerospace components. Cut via CNC routing.

Deburring: A post-processing step that removes burrs (rough edges) from cut parts, resulting in smooth, safe edges. Available as a finishing option on DesignToDoor.
DXF (Drawing Exchange Format): A universal 2D vector file format developed by Autodesk. DesignToDoor accepts DXF files for all manufacturing processes. Supports lines, arcs, circles, polylines, splines, and ellipses.

Fiber Laser: A solid-state laser that uses optical fiber doped with rare-earth elements (ytterbium) to generate a high-power beam. More efficient than CO2 for cutting metals. DesignToDoor uses fiber lasers for mild steel, stainless steel, and aluminium.
Flat Pattern: The unfolded 2D shape of a sheet metal part before bending. DesignToDoor's DXF upload represents the flat pattern; the 3D preview shows the folded result.
FR4 / G10 (Glass Epoxy): A fiberglass-reinforced epoxy laminate. Widely used as PCB substrate, electrical insulator, and for jig/fixture making. Cut via CNC routing.

G-Code: The programming language used to control CNC machines. Specifies tool paths, speeds, feeds, and other parameters.
Gauge: A measurement system for sheet metal thickness. Lower gauge numbers indicate thicker material (e.g., 16 gauge ≈ 1.5mm, 20 gauge ≈ 0.9mm).

HDHMR (High Density High Moisture Resistance): An engineered wood board similar to MDF but with added moisture resistance. Ideal for interior elements in humid environments like kitchens and bathrooms.
Hot Slit Bending: A process where a heated element softens thermoplastic (typically acrylic) along a narrow line, allowing clean, crack-free bends without tooling marks.

Kerf: The width of material removed by the cutting tool during the cutting process. For fiber laser cutting, kerf is typically 0.1–0.3mm. For CNC routing, it equals the router bit diameter (typically 3–6mm).

MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard): An engineered wood product made from wood fibres bonded with resin. Easy to cut, engrave, sand, and paint. Widely used for interior decorative elements.
Mild Steel (MS): Low carbon steel (0.05–0.25% carbon). Good strength, weldable, magnetic, paintable. The most commonly used metal for laser cutting and bending.

Nesting: The process of arranging multiple parts on a single sheet to minimise material waste. DesignToDoor's pricing is based on the bounding area of your design.

Painting: A post-processing option where parts are spray-painted for aesthetic or protective purposes. Available as a finishing option on DesignToDoor.
Polycarbonate (PC): A virtually unbreakable, transparent, heat-resistant thermoplastic. Used for safety guards, machine covers, and protective shields. Cut via CNC routing.
Powder Coating: A dry finishing process where electrostatically charged powder is applied to a part and then cured under heat. Produces a durable, uniform, scratch-resistant finish. Available for metal parts on DesignToDoor.
Press Brake: See CNC Bending.

Running Meter: A unit of measurement equal to one linear meter. DesignToDoor's cutting service cost is charged per running meter of total cut length.

Sheet Metal: Metal formed into thin, flat pieces by an industrial process. Common thicknesses range from 0.5mm to 25mm. Used as raw material for laser cutting and bending.
Spline: A smooth curve defined by a set of control points. DXF files may contain splines; DesignToDoor's parser supports them for accurate rendering.
Stainless Steel (SS): A corrosion-resistant steel alloy containing chromium (typically 304 or 316 grade). Used for food equipment, medical devices, outdoor signage, and kitchen components.

Tolerance: The permissible limit of variation in a physical dimension. DesignToDoor achieves ±0.1mm for laser cutting and ±0.5° for CNC bending.