HUAHUA, Nanxing, KDT, Blue Elephant, SYUTECH CNC integration with PolyBoard
CNC machinery manufactured in China is becoming increasingly popular and more common in professional woodworking and cabinet making workshops worldwide. Their combination of competitive pricing, capable hardware, and flexible machine control makes them an attractive option for businesses looking to automate their production without committing to more expensive CNC systems.
PolyBoard can integrate with virtually all these machines, allowing you to take a cabinet or furniture piece from your parametric design through to manufacturing, including cutting, drilling, nesting, and machining.
Common Chinese CNC brands PolyBoard integrates with include:
- HUAHUA
- Nanxing
- KDT
- Blue Elephant
- SYUTECH
- Other machines using compatible file formats and controllers
Important: the exact CNC integration requirements depend on the specific machine you are using. When choosing a machine, talk to us before ordering so we can confirm the best setup.
Why integrate PolyBoard with your Chinese CNC?
The basic problem you face with buying any CNC is that you won’t automatically have a complete production system.
A CNC may have excellent mechanical capabilities, but the CNC supplied software can be:
- Unfamiliar to the operator
- Difficult to use
- Poorly integrated with your design workflow
- Limited in how it handles complex and parametric designs
- Missing a direct link between design and production
PolyBoard fills that gap.
PolyBoard intelligently creates your furniture and cabinetry including dimensions, construction methods, materials, and hardware. Additionally, it integrates machining operations and components into ready to use files for upload into your CNC software.
Click here for more information on PolyBoard.
Nesting CNC machines
PolyBoard integrates with nesting CNC machines, and offers multiple pathways for different workflows. The best option depends on the machine, controller, nesting software and file formats supported by the CNC.
For Chinese nesting CNC machines, we recommend one of three main integration pathways:
PolyBoard → supplied nesting software
Most nesting CNC machines are supplied with a nesting and machine-control software. Many Chinese machines use .mpr format, and PolyBoard can generate component files in this format.
This allows for the information created from PolyBoard, such as drillings, grooving, and other machining operations, to be transferred to a machine’s software for nesting and production.
PolyBoard can also export to a range of other file formats, allowing alternative workflows where the machine’s nesting software supports compatible formats.
PolyBoard → VCarve Pro
VCarve Pro is another option for CNC machining and can be used as the CAM stage between PolyBoard and the CNC machine. Aspire offers the same integration pathway and includes more supplementary 3D modelling features.
PolyBoard exports components and their machining information as layered DXF files, which VCarve Pro uses to create toolpaths and generate the specific output required by the CNC.
VCarve Pro also includes a basic nesting function, allowing components to be arranged on sheets efficiently before machining.
This approach gives you greater control over the CAM and toolpath stage while keeping PolyBoard for fast error free cabinet design and generation of layered tooling information.
Click here for more information on VCarve Pro, and Aspire.
Watch the following video showcasing PolyBoard files being processed within VCarve Pro.
PolyBoard → OptiNest
For companies seeking greater control over nesting operations, OptiNest provides a dedicated nesting software that sits between PolyBoard and the CNC workflow. OptiNest gives you greater control over:
- Nesting strategy
- Sheet utilization
- Stock management
- Perfect grain management
- Part labelling
After nesting, OptiNest can export the resulting layouts in DXF format for use with compatible CAM software such as VCarve Pro.
For some CNC machines, OptiNest can also generate G-code directly.
Direct G-code output must be confirmed for the specific CNC machine and controller. If you are considering this option, contact us and we can help establish whether your machine is compatible, together with your CNC supplier.
Click here for more information on OptiNest.
The following video displays OptiNest nesting cabinetry components before being processed within VCarve Pro.
Drilling CNC machines
Drilling CNC machines process panels that have already been cut to size and complete drilling and grooving operations. Often these CNCs machine multiple faces in a highly automated process.
Many of the machines in this category use .mpr files and can automatically identify the machining program using a barcode or QR label.
PolyBoard generates the machining information for each component, including the relevant barcode/QR reference, allowing the production workflow to run from the original furniture design through to automated drilling.
The exact file format and barcode workflow depends on the machine and its controller. PolyBoard also supports a range of other file formats for compatible CNC equipment.
Beam saw integration
PolyBoard can generate the cutting information required to take a design into panel production.
For beam saws, you can use two workflows:
PolyBoard → beam saw software
PolyBoard can export components and cutting information in .txt or .csv format for import into compatible optimization and beam saw software.
PolyBoard → OptiCut → beam saw
Alternatively, PolyBoard can send the cutting list to OptiCut, which optimizes the panels and generates the machine-specific output required by compatible beam saws.
OptiCut is a cutting optimization software that offers:
- Cutting optimization
- Perfect grain management
- Stock management
- Part labelling and QR/barcodes
OptiCut also generates machine-specific cutting files for a large range of compatible beam saws. Machine compatibility is important. The output required by a beam saw depends on the specific machine and controller, so we recommend confirming the required format with our technical team before purchasing.
Click here for more information on OptiCut.
Not sure which setup you need?
If you’re still choosing a machine, talk to us first. We’ll go through your production process and tell you honestly what will and won’t integrate cleanly including which file format to specify with your supplier before you order. That one conversation saves a lot of problems in the future.
We also offer a PolyBoard post processor setup service and a library setup service, so your hardware and construction methods are configured and working from day one post training.
Contact us here to speak to a member of our technical team.
Sample files for testing
The following downloads include PolyBoard project files, cut lists and plans. They also include part by part CNC files in various formats, ready to load into a CNC software.
Also available are OptiCut and OptiNest sample files for compatible machinery.
Click here to download:
Please note, you’ll be able to load the files into your CNC software, but you won’t be able to run the machining fully until PolyBoard, OptiCut, or OptiNest post processor settings are adjusted to match the tool numbers and settings you use on your machine.