CNC cutting and machining of panels
A CNC router cuts, grooves, drills and engraves panels (MDF, plywood, melamine) from DXF or STEP files, with nested parts to limit offcuts.
Expertise
Wood and joinery subcontracting
Bespoke fit-out, furniture, CNC cutting of panels and solid wood: compare quotes from joinery workshops.
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Industrial joinery and bespoke fit-out form a sector of their own within subcontracting: you work with a living material, sensitive to humidity, using highly digitised processes (CNC cutting, multi-spindle drilling, edge banding) but also a great deal of manual skill for assembly and finishing. Workshops meet varied needs: bespoke furniture, fit-out of shops, restaurants, offices and hotels, set-design elements, crates and jigs, decorative cut-out parts.
For a project manager, an interior architect or an equipment manufacturer, the entry point is often CNC panel cutting: from a file, a CNC router cuts and drills parts in volume, optimises the layout on the panel (nesting) and prepares the assembly. Conversely, a complete fit-out project involves design work, on-site measurements, workshop manufacture, then careful installation.
This page presents the processes, the common timbers and panels, the price factors, the regulatory requirements to keep in mind in public buildings, and how to describe a project in order to get comparable quotes. It is aimed as much at manufacturers outsourcing wooden parts as at building and decoration professionals.
Common services
Solid wood machining
Milling of profiles, curves, tenons and mortises, mouldings, carved parts or chair components: solid wood is machined on 3, 4 or 5 axes depending on the shape.
Fit-out and bespoke furniture
Counters, bookcases, kitchens, dressing rooms, reception desks, shop furniture: the workshop designs, manufactures and installs sets adapted to the premises.
Edge banding and veneering
Panel edges are finished in melamine, ABS or real wood, and the faces can be veneered with fine woods for a high-end look.
Finishing and varnishing
Sanding, staining, oil, varnish, lacquer: the finish protects the wood and defines its appearance. A multi-coat lacquer takes more time than an oil.
Doors, windows and staircases
Bespoke doors, windows, staircases and partitions require precise measurements and compliance with joinery, insulation and safety standards.
Crates, jigs and wooden prototypes
Workshops also make bespoke shipping crates, jigs, models and patterns for foundry or thermoforming.
Materials worked
Standard, moisture-resistant or fire-retardant MDFBirch, poplar or okoume plywoodMelamine-faced chipboard and HPL laminatesLaminated veneer lumber and glulam panelsOak, beech, ash, walnut, chestnutSoftwoods: fir, spruce, Douglas fir, larchReal wood veneered panelsHoneycomb and acoustic panels
Common applications
- Fit-out of shops, restaurants, hotels and offices
- Limited-edition furniture for manufacturers and publishers
- Exhibition stands, set design, film and theatre sets
- Decorative cut-out elements (screens, partitions, signage)
- Wooden parts for machines, packaging and equipment
- Architectural models and production jigs
- Fit-out of commercial vehicles and campervans
- Staircases, railings and bespoke joinery
What affects the price
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1
Material and species
MDF does not cost as much as solid oak or a veneered panel. The price also depends on thickness, surface quality and the panel sizes needed.
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2
Cutting and machining time
The number of parts, the complexity of the outlines, the holes and the grooves determine machine time. Efficient nesting reduces both time and offcuts.
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3
Assembly and finishing
Labour for assembly, sanding and finishing often represents a large share of the cost, particularly for lacquered finishes or show parts.
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4
Hardware and accessories
Hinges, drawer runners, handles, shelves, lighting: their quality and quantity noticeably change the price of a set.
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5
Project size and complexity
The number of different references, curved or free-form parts and preliminary design work increase manufacturing time, beyond the mere area of wood.
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6
Transport, delivery and installation
Transport of bulky items, site access, floors without a lift and installation add costs that are best asked about from the start.
Tips for a successful request
Post a request- Provide dimensioned drawings or DXF, DWG or STEP files; for fit-out, add a layout plan and photos of the site.
- Specify the species or panel reference, thickness, decor and finish, with a sample if possible.
- State the use and environment: wet room, outdoors, heavy traffic, heavy load, fire performance in a public building.
- Clarify who measures on site, who delivers and who installs, as well as the time slots, access and site constraints.
- Mention any certifications or attestations required, such as the origin of the wood (FSC, PEFC) or fire classification.
- Specify the quantity, lead times and site schedule: bespoke joinery is often planned several weeks in advance.
CNC wood cutting: panels, nesting and files
A CNC machining centre for wood works like a large-format milling machine: the panel is held on the table by suction, the machine cuts the outlines, drills, grooves and engraves, then an operator unloads and sorts the parts. The most common panel sizes, such as 2,500 × 1,220 mm or 2,800 × 2,070 mm, determine how your parts are cut.
Nesting places the parts on the panel to limit offcuts. It is done by software from your files, but a design that takes the panel size and grain direction into account reduces cost. For decorative boards, the direction of the decor and the matching of the grain impose additional constraints.
As for files, a clean DXF, with outlines on one layer, holes on another and grooves identified, is the standard. Specify the panel thickness, the hole diameters, the milling depths and the edges to be banded. Milling does not reproduce sharp internal corners: the round tool leaves a radius, to be allowed for in the drawing or reworked by hand. For plastic or metal parts of the same geometry, see cutting and sheet metalwork.
Panels, solid wood and regulations: choosing well according to use
The choice of material depends on use before it depends on budget. MDF offers a very smooth surface for lacquer and paint, but is vulnerable to water, except in moisture-resistant versions. Plywood is stronger, with an attractive visible edge that appeals in contemporary furniture. Melamine and HPL laminates suit heavily used surfaces, such as worktops and counters. Solid wood brings nobility and the possibility of refinishing, with the risk of movement linked to humidity.
In a building open to the public (an ERP in France), fire safety requirements apply to fit-out materials, with a reaction-to-fire classification to be met. Fire-retardant panels exist, supplied with test reports. Emissions of formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds are also regulated, and construction and decoration products carry an emissions label. For public contracts or sustainable construction, traceability of the wood, for example through FSC or PEFC certification, may be requested.
Do not forget the environment of use: a bathroom unit, an exterior facade or a heavily loaded part do not use the same materials or the same glues. If your project combines wood and metal, for example a steel structure with oak shelves, see the welding and metal fabrication page for the metal part, and surface treatment for painting the metal.
From taking measurements to installation: organising a fit-out project
A bespoke fit-out unfolds in several stages: site visit and measurement, drawings and design approval, workshop manufacture, delivery, installation and handover. Out-of-flat walls, out-of-plumb surfaces and existing services must be taken into account before manufacture, hence the value of a survey done by the workshop rather than working from unverified architect’s drawings.
Define clearly in the price request the scope of each party: design, manufacture, delivery, installation, electrics, plumbing, painting, removal of existing fittings. State the mandatory dates, for example a shop opening, and the site constraints (working hours, access, storage). Ask for finish samples before manufacture, because the real appearance of a decor, a stain or a lacquer differs from that of a photo.
Photos of the premises, drawings, mood sketches: all of this has its place in a Meaflow request. Joiners and fit-out specialists can ask you about access, finishes or schedule before submitting their price, which limits unpleasant surprises at installation; you then compare included services, references and schedule. For parts to be produced in several copies or tried out first, see the prototyping page. You can also present your fit-out project right now.
Guides to go further
Writing a manufacturing specification: method and template
What a workshop needs to know to quote and make your part: a method in a few points, a ready-to-copy template and common mistakes to avoid.
STEP, DXF, STL… which files should you send your manufacturer?
STEP, IGES, Parasolid, DXF, STL, 3MF, dimensioned PDF, Gerber: the right file for each manufacturing process, a summary table and good practice for sending files.
How to Write a Subcontracting Quote That Stands Out
Read the brief, set out a credible price and lead time, include the right details and stand out from other workshops: a step-by-step method.
Related expertise
Sheet metalwork & cutting
Laser, plasma and waterjet cutting, bending
Prototyping
Functional prototypes, pre-series, models
Packaging & POS displays
Packaging, cartonboard, display stands
Surface treatment
Painting, powder coating, anodising, galvanising
Frequently asked questions
A question not answered here? Visit the help centre or write to us.
How much does CNC cutting of wood panels cost?
The price depends on the material, thickness, number of parts, complexity of the outlines, cutting time and offcuts. Workshops often charge by machine time or by panel, with a minimum set-up charge. For a reliable comparison, send the same DXF file and the same description to several workshops.
Which drawings and files should I send a joiner to get a quote?
For cutting, a DXF, DWG or STEP file with outlines, holes and grooves on separate layers. For a fit-out, a dimensioned drawing, a layout plan, photos of the site and finish references. State the material, thickness, quantity and installation constraints so that quotes are precise.
What is the lead time for a fit-out or bespoke furniture?
Simple CNC cutting of standard panels can sometimes be had in a few days. A complete fit-out follows a longer sequence: measurements, approved drawings, manufacture, finishing, delivery and installation, often taking several weeks. Panels or timbers that have to be ordered and the site schedule can stretch it further. Give your mandatory dates in the request.
Can I have a single piece of furniture or a single part made?
Yes, one-off manufacture is the heart of the bespoke joiner’s trade, at a higher price than for a series. For CNC cutting, a minimum set-up charge may apply. State that it is a single item, and give its dimensions, the material and the finish you want.
Which materials should I choose for a public building?
Public buildings impose reaction-to-fire requirements, sometimes accessibility and pollutant emission requirements too. Ask for panels with a suitable test report, and check the applicable requirements with your architect or your inspection body. State them in the request so that each workshop quotes compliant materials.
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