Brand: Rockler
A spoilboard is a sacrificial sheet of material, typically MDF or particle board, that is clamped to the CNC router's bed. It serves to protect the machine's underlying table from accidental cuts, provides a perfectly flat and level surface for material placement, and acts as a vacuum plenum for material hold-down in many CNC setups. Over time, it gets cut into and surfaced down, requiring periodic replacement.
Type: digital_fabrication
Price Range: $50-200
Pros
- Protects the CNC machine's bed from damage caused by through-cuts.
- Provides a consistently flat and level reference surface for accurate machining.
- Can be easily surfaced or replaced when it becomes too cut up, extending machine life.
Cons
- Requires periodic replacement, adding to ongoing operational costs.
- Can absorb moisture, leading to warping or expansion if not stored properly.
- Reduces the effective Z-axis travel of the CNC machine by its thickness.