Updated: October 2026
The router bit is the one part of your CNC that touches the material – and the wrong bit produces chipped edges, burnt MDF and broken cutter bills of Rs 900 a week. One shop uses two bits well; another buys twenty and uses them badly. This guide maps bit types to materials, shows material-wise selections, how long bits really last, and the signs that tell you a bit is finished. All figures are estimates (est.).
Router Bit Types at a Glance
| Bit type | Materials it owns | Typical jobs | 6 mm shank price (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single-flute spiral (O-flute) | Acrylic, ACP, aluminium sheet | Acrylic letters, ACP routing, metal sheets | Rs 350-900 |
| Two-flute up-cut spiral | MDF, wood, plywood | Fast jali and furniture cuts, good chip lift | Rs 300-800 |
| Two-flute down-cut | Laminated boards, veneer faced | Clean top edges on laminate work | Rs 350-850 |
| Compression (up+down) | Plywood, laminate both faces | Chipp-free top and bottom in one pass | Rs 600-1,400 |
| Ball nose | Wood, MDF, HDU | 3D carving, relief work, moulds | Rs 400-1,000 |
| V-bit 60 and 90 degree | Wood, acrylic, ACP | Sign lettering, engraving, chamfer | Rs 300-800 |
| Surfacing or spoilboard bit | Spoilboard MDF | Bed flattening every few months | Rs 800-1,800 |
Material-Wise Bit Selection Chart
| Material | First-choice bit | Second choice | Avoid |
|---|---|---|---|
| MDF and particle board | two-flute upcut | compression for both-face work | high-flute-count bits, overheat resin |
| Acrylic and polycarbonate | single-flute O-flute | two-flute slow feed | wood bits – they chip and weld |
| ACP and aluminium sheet | single-flute spiral, coated | carbide single-flute with mist | any high-speed-steel bit |
| Hardwood carving | two-flute carbide, ball nose for 3D | V-bit for letter detail | feed so slow it burns |
| HDU and foam | straight flute or O-flute | two-flute at high speed | dull bits – tears instead of cuts |
| Jali thin MDF | 3.175 mm shank two-flute | downcut for visible top edges | oversized shanks that lose intricacy |
How Long Bits Really Last (est.)
| Material being cut | Typical carbide bit life | Cost per hour |
|---|---|---|
| MDF 12-18 mm furniture work | 8-15 hours | Rs 25-70 |
| ACP routing | 15-25 hours | Rs 20-45 |
| Acrylic letters | 20-40 hours | Rs 12-35 |
| Hardwood 3D carving | 10-20 hours | Rs 25-60 |
Resharpening services at Rs 80-150 per edge extend life 2-3 cycles for larger shanks – worth it only for bits above Rs 800.
6 Signs Your Bit Is Finished
- Fuzzy or hairy edges on MDF that were clean last week.
- Burn marks and smoke at unchanged feed and speed.
- Noise change: a new high whine or rattle against the material.
- Growing spindle load: amp draw climbing for the same program.
- Top-layer tear-out that a compression setup handled before.
- Dimension drift: outside cuts growing oversize by 0.2 mm plus.
Feeds, Speeds and Care
- Feed fast enough to make chips, not dust: dust means rubbing, rubbing means a dead bit. Start conservative, then walk feed up in 10% steps.
- Clean resin off bits with proper bit cleaner after MDF sessions – resin acts like a dull edge even when the edge is fine.
- Never run one bit past its life into a night batch; a Rs 500 replacement beats a Rs 12,000 snapping-into-spindle accident.
- Store bits in a labeled tray, not a drawer; edge-chips from rattling toolboxes kill new bits before first use.
Our Verdict
Keep six bits running and throw out ten you do not need: single-flute O-flute for acrylic and ACP, two-flute upcut for MDF, compression for laminates, one ball nose, one V-bit, one big surfacing bit. That kit covers 95% of Indian CNC work. See the bit economics inside the plant math of the Rs 2.5 Cr signage factory case study, browse CNC routers and dust collectors, and plan purchases with the all-India printing business startup guide.
FAQs – CNC Router Bits Guide 2026: Material-Wise Chart
Which CNC bit is best for acrylic cutting?
A solid-carbide single-flute O-flute bit (3.175 or 6 mm). Its wide polished flute evacuates melt chips and leaves glossy edges. Wood bits with many flutes clog instantly on acrylic.
How often should I change CNC router bits?
By wear, not calendar: every 8-40 working hours depending on material (est.). Replace them at the first fuzzy-edge sign – worn bits cost more in scrap sheets and spindle strain than new bits.
Carbide or HSS bits for a CNC router?
Carbide, always, for CNC work. HSS dulls within hours on MDF resin and aluminium and only survives in hand-held trim routers. Carbide costs 2-3x more but lasts 10-25x longer.
Can I cut aluminium with normal wood bits?
No. Aluminium welds into standard flute geometry and snaps the bit. Use coated single-flute aluminium bits with mist or oil lubrication, reduced depth per pass and a rigid clamp set.
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