Compared with CNC milling machines, CNC routers typically:

• A. Use a stationary stage, cut softer materials, and are less accurate
• B. Move the stage and cut harder materials with higher accuracy
• C. Use a laser instead of cutting materials
• D. Require coolant systems

Answer: (A)

The main concept is how CNC routers differ from milling machines in terms of how the work is held, what they cut, and how precise they are. CNC routers are built for efficiency on flat, large panels and lighter frames, so the work surface is typically fixed while the cutting head moves across it. This setup, combined with a lighter, less rigid structure, makes them well suited to softer materials like wood, foam, and plastics, but it also means they don’t achieve the same level of rigidity and dimensional accuracy as milling machines, which are designed to cut harder materials, including metals, with higher precision. Coolant systems aren’t a defining feature of routers, and the primary cutting method is a rotating bit, not a laser, so those points don’t describe the typical router. Therefore, the description that a CNC router uses a stationary work surface, cuts softer materials, and is less accurate best fits how routers compare to milling machines.