How to: Flatten Stock on your CNC Router

Stock preparation is critical for project success with a CNC Router. Whether you're VCarving, engraving, or filling pockets with epoxy, a perfectly flat piece of stock will improve your final product.
In this video, Kevin takes you through the straight forward process of workholding and a couple of different flattening toolpaths.

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[stvcolwill]

Kevin I was super surprised to watch the Girls USA volleyball Olympic coverage and hear your voice. Who knew? AWESOME!

[hebe]

I used this procedure to reduce the thickness of a piece of MDF for a cabinet door I was making with inlays. I took about 1/4 of an inch on one side, did the recess of the inlay design and left it on my CNC overnight. The next morning, when I took it out, the piece of MDF was so warped, it looked like banana. The only explanation I could come up with is that the MDF had absorbed a lot of moisture from a hot and humid South Florida garage, while the backside was laying flat on the CNC bed and had the factory coating. Moisture came in from one side and not the other. I have flattened many boards for signs using this procedure. Works well.

[pstrzel]

I use this process for flattening end-grain cutting boards after gluing. Presumably not as efficient as drum sanding, but it doesn't require such efficient dust collection either.

[sprntkr]

I like those t track work piece stops. Where’d you get em?

[JohnColgan.]

A raster area cleararance would be much better for the McFly Cutter then you can run off the side edges so there is no slow down corner burning

[doverwoodworker]

Are you able to do this Carbide Create? I have not moved forward and purchased the Pro version yet. Having trouble joining vectors at the end of my design.

Thanks,
Brent

[litebulbcw]

would you mind sharing where the 1/2" bit came from? thanks for this great video

[bretthollingsworth]

Love it BUT, in general, I'd love to bit to start surfacing from the outside corner in, not the center (just did my first job, Shapeoko 5 newbie) and it cut in the same pattern as your example. Worried about plunging w/o the ramp function (i have create, not create pro at the moment). Any advise (as opposed to doing the poly line trick)? Assuming it's a function hiding somewhere in Create?

[eladsinay]

when setting x, y and z on a piece of stock like this thats all wonky, correct me if im wrong but you cant use the bit setter or the bitzero and have to do it manually correct?

[davelawler]

sweet i didnt realize you can enter mm when in imperial

[SeamlessFab]

Can also just use tape CA glue and shims

[adrianbn]

Can you use a traditional 2in surfacing bit?

[spectrumwoodworks]

I'm a bit behind on learning my machine. Just haven't had a lot of time due to my commission work. Not to be a smart butt.
But brother if you talked any faster I might be able to understand what your saying.

[BeardnScars]

So you don’t even need a planer or a jointer if you own this thing, do ya. 😅😂