Which machine is similar to a milling machine but uses softer materials, is less accurate, and the stage usually does not move?

• A. CNC lathe
• B. CNC milling machine
• C. CNC router
• D. Water jet cutting

Answer: (C)

A router is like a milling machine in how it cuts with a rotating bit, but it’s built for softer materials such as wood, foam, or soft plastics. Because these materials and typical router work emphasize speed over ultra-tight precision, routers are generally less accurate than milling machines. In many CNC router setups, the workpiece is clamped to a fixed table, so the stage remains stationary while the cutting head moves over it in the cutting process. That combination—similar cutting action to milling, use with softer materials, lower accuracy, and a stationary work surface—matches the description best. Lathes involve rotating the workpiece for turning, milling machines are used for more rigid, precise metal work with different motion dynamics, and water jet cutting uses a high-pressure jet rather than a rotating cutting bit, so they don’t fit the same scenario.