09.03 CNC Pocket Cuts and Joints

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Although, a laser cutter can only etch on to the surface of the material or cut all the way through, a CNC router can make non-through cuts and 3 dimensional cuts. It can round off the top and make three-dimensional sculptural forms by cutting away parts of the material.

Pocket Cuts

A pocket cut is a cut that does not go all the way through the base material. Pocket cuts are not possible with a laser cutter. Pocket cuts can create joints to secure different parts of projects. This is a convenient way to make tabs on one part slot into the “pocket” of another supporting piece. Pocket cuts can hide the construction and undesirable shape of joint tabs that we don’t want to see in the final design.

Dado Cut

A dado cut is a long pocket cut slot that fits another piece of wood.

CNC Joints

Most traditional woodworking joints can be adapted to work with a CNC. The high precision of a CNC can make joints that are not possible or practical with traditional woodworking techniques. This precision comes with the need to design joints that work when cutting only on one side. Two sided cutting is possible with a 3 axis CNC, but it requires a jig and planning. This Google Image Search shows a great variety of CNC joints to try in your project.

Additional joints that can be made by CNC machines are: