V-Groove Engraving Bits for CNC Router — 30°, 45°, 60°, 90°, 120°

Dimensions per angle

Each angle has its own shank and diameter. All sizes in millimetres.

A tip radius of 0 means a sharp point. A dash means the manufacturer does not state that figure.

The V groove engraving bit is a conical cutting tool with a sharp pointed tip, designed for engraving, lettering and decorative grooving on CNC router machines. It is supplied in cutting angles ranging from 15° to 90°, allowing the operator to match the tool to the fineness or boldness of the line required.

This bit suits sign makers, cabinet workshops and hobbyists who cut logos, nameplates and V-carved patterns into wood, acrylic and composite panels. Because the cutting width changes with plunge depth, a single bit can produce both hairline detail and wider decorative grooves without a tool change.

Features of the V groove engraving bit

The tapered geometry of the V groove engraving bit is what sets it apart from straight or ball-nose cutters. As the tool plunges deeper, the cutting edge contacts a wider section of material, so line width is controlled entirely by Z-depth rather than by toolpath offset.

Angle choice matters more than most buyers expect. A narrow angle such as 15° or 30° produces fine, deep lines suited to small text, while a wide angle such as 60° or 90° chamfers edges and creates shallow, bold grooves for logos and decorative borders.

• Conical tip with cutting angles from 15° to 90°
• Produces variable line width from a single plunge depth
• Suitable for wood, acrylic (plexiglass) and aluminium composite panels (etalbond)
• Shank sized for standard CNC router collets
• Clean, chip-free edges on fine detail work
• Reusable across multiple engraving depths without re-tooling

Where it’s used

V-carving with the V groove engraving bit is the main application: nameplates, house numbers, logos and decorative borders cut directly into wood or composite sheet on a CNC router. Sign shops use the narrower angles for legible small text and the wider angles for chamfered lettering that catches light and shadow.

Furniture and cabinet makers use the same bit for inlay-style decorative grooves and edge detailing on doors and panels. Browse the full router bit and tooling range at the CNC parts shop to match this bit with compatible collets and spindle accessories.

What to check before buying a V groove engraving bit

Before ordering a V groove engraving bit, confirm the shank diameter matches your collet — most CNC routers use 6mm or 1/4 inch collets, and the wrong size will not clamp securely. Also check the flute length against your material thickness, since a short cutting edge limits how deep the tool can plunge before the shank contacts the workpiece.

The angle is the detail buyers get wrong most often. A steep 90° angle carves shallow, wide grooves and is a poor choice for fine lettering, while a narrow 15° angle is fragile at high feed rates and best suited to slow, controlled passes. Match the angle to the design before cutting, since resetting a job after a chipped tip wastes material and machine time.

Installation and maintenance

Fit the V groove engraving bit fully into the collet with enough shank engaged to avoid runout, then set the Z-zero carefully since V-carving toolpaths are extremely sensitive to depth — a fraction of a millimetre changes line width visibly. Run a test cut on scrap material at the intended feed rate before starting the final piece.

Keep the tip clean of resin or melted plastic buildup, which dulls the point and distorts line quality; a soft brush and isopropyl alcohol are enough for routine cleaning. For background on router bit geometry and cutting angles, see the Wikipedia entry on woodworking routers. Store the bit in a case to protect the point, since a chipped or bent tip cannot be resharpened accurately by hand.

FAQ

What angle should I choose for text engraving? Narrow angles between 15° and 30° give fine, legible lines suited to small text, while wider angles work better for bold decorative grooves.

Can this bit cut acrylic and aluminium composite panels? Yes, it is suited to wood, acrylic and aluminium composite (etalbond) sheet, provided feed rate and spindle speed are adjusted to the material being cut.

Does line width change with cutting depth? Yes, because the tip is conical, a deeper plunge exposes a wider section of the cutting edge, so line width is set by depth rather than by the toolpath itself.