What are slotting and grooving

router cutters?

Slotting and grooving router cutters, also known as arbor-mounted cutters, consist of single or multiple slotting cutters (also called “groovers”) assembled on an arbor, using spacers, shims, and ball-bearing guides to adjust their proximity and depth of cut.

To learn more, see: What slotting and grooving cutter parts are available?

Smaller slotting and grooving cutter assemblies can be used in either hand-held or table routers, but for both accuracy and safety, assemblies with four or more cutters are better suited to table routing or other fixed head routing systems (i.e. machining centres).

Design

Bottom cut

Rather than plunge cutting, slotting and grooving cutters are fed horizontally into the edge of the workpiece. Not only does this produce a very precise depth and line of cut, but it also allows the router to be supported and balanced on the face of the work rather than the narrow edge.

Guides

With slotting and grooving cutters, a guide bearing can be fitted in any position on the arbor, depending on your particular application.

These cutters can also be guided by a side fence, running against the straight edge of the work.

Applications

There are many different types of slotting and grooving cutter, suitable for various applications. 

The advantages and disadvantages of slotting and grooving router cutters

ADVANTAGES

DISADVANTAGES

• Offer a high degree of versatility as the basic components can be rearranged

• In production operations, these cutters can save time and costs when changing or re-sharpening cutters and allow matched cutter sets to be fitted without affecting the machine settings

• More expensive than regular cutters

• You need to ensure you assemble these cutters correctly to get an accurate cut. These cutters can take a bit of time to get used to using

Ranges

Slotting and grooving router cutters are available in the following Trend ranges:

• Professional TCT & STC router cutters

• Trade router cutters - Biscuit jointers and kitchen fitters packs

• CraftPro router cutters