Guide
Alphacam and furniture CNC glossary
Terms used in Alphacam and furniture CNC: Auto Style, nesting, post-processor, .ard/.arb, layer; membrane door, panel, stile, groove door, American panel, System 32, edgeband, push-to-open, compression cutter and more — with short definitions.
Published: 7 min read
Most terms heard in Alphacam and on the furniture shop floor come from two worlds: the software's English-rooted concepts and the shop's own vocabulary. Two names for one thing (panel door / tabla kapak, add-in / eklenti) tire the beginner. This glossary gathers both worlds in one list; definitions are short, with detail linked to the relevant guide article.
Alphacam and CAM terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| CAD / CAM | Computer-aided design / manufacturing. Alphacam combines both; see What is Alphacam? A CAD/CAM guide for furniture and wood CNC |
| Router module | Alphacam's module for wood/MDF/plastic sheet machining; the one furniture makers use. |
| Geometry | Lines, arcs, circles and contours in the drawing — before operations are assigned. |
| Toolpath | The path the tool follows once an operation is assigned; what gets translated to NC. |
| Layer | The name tag grouping geometry (KESIM, DELIK…). Auto Style assigns operations by it. |
| Auto Style | Rule assigning operations automatically by layer name; machines the whole drawing in one command. See Alphacam Auto Style setup: automatic machining by layer name |
| Nesting | Arranging parts on sheets with minimal waste; one NC file per sheet. See Alphacam nesting guide: sheet layout, waste, grain direction and labels |
| Post-processor (post) | Translator turning toolpaths into a specific machine's G-code dialect. See What is an Alphacam post-processor? Producing NC code for your machine |
| NC / G-code | The command file read by the machine controller. |
| Simulation | Running the toolpath on screen to spot collisions/errors beforehand. |
| `.ard` | Router drawing file. .amd for Mill. |
| `.arb` | Compiled VBA add-in for Router. See What is an Alphacam add-in, how is it installed and how does it work? |
| VBA / API | The programming language and object interface inside Alphacam. See Writing VBA macros in Alphacam: where to start |
| Macro | A VBA subroutine doing one job; offered as a button in an add-in. |
| Parametric | A drawing derived from dimensions rather than fixed. See How Alphacam-based parametric door and cabinet door macros work |
| LICOMDIR / Startup | Alphacam's configuration folder and the folder of add-ins loaded at start-up. |
| Offset | A copy of a contour at a fixed distance inward/outward; panel door lines, cutter radius compensation. |
| Climb / conventional cutting | Relationship between tool rotation and feed direction; determines edge quality. Set by contour direction (Reverse Direction). |
Furniture and door terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Membrane door | MDF with a routed pattern, wrapped in PVC foil; the most common kitchen door. See Membrane door drawing in Alphacam: pattern, cutters, depth and holes |
| Balloon door | A membrane door with a domed (curved) routed face; outer contour and holes as for a flat membrane door. |
| Lacquered door | MDF finished with paint (lacquer); pattern limits are freer than membrane. |
| Panel door (tabla kapak) | Surrounding frame (stiles/rails) + central panel. Routed in one piece or a real frame and panel. See Panel (raised-panel) door drawing in Alphacam: one-piece routed and frame-and-panel |
| Stile / rail (seren) | Vertical and horizontal frame members of a framed door; top/bottom/left/right may differ. |
| Panel (tabla) | The board in the middle of the frame. |
| American door / American panel door | Multi-panel, profiled-edge classic door; in interior doors a pressed HDF skin. See American door and American panel door drawing in Alphacam |
| Framed door | Plain door with a single frame line on the face. |
| Glazed door | Centre removed and glass fitted from the back; a rebate pocket for the glass. |
| Louvred door | Face divided by equally spaced slats. |
| Groove door (fitil kapak) | A door with a thin groove line running around its face. |
| Slatted door (çıta kapak) | Face divided into a grid by vertical/horizontal slats. |
| Rebate (fatura) | Stepped recess at an edge; for glass seats and frame joints. |
| Edgeband | PVC/ABS/melamine strip glued to a board edge; cut allowance equals its thickness. |
| Handle holes | Screw holes for the handle; standard spacings are multiples of 32 mm (64, 96, 128, 160…). |
| Hinge cup (Ø35) | A 35 mm diameter, 12–13 mm deep hole for a concealed hinge. |
| Push-to-open | Mechanism opening a handleless door on a push; its hole is drilled in the carcass/door. |
| Finger groove | A grip groove routed into the back of the door instead of a handle. |
| System 32 | Standard of shelf/hinge holes on cabinet sides at 32 mm pitch. |
| Back panel groove | Groove in the carcass for the back panel (HDF). |
| Compression cutter | Cutter pressing both faces of the board inward at once; chip-free edges on laminated board. |
| V cutter / profile cutter | Angled or shaped cutters for pattern grooves. |
| Dimension list | Rows of width × height × quantity; the input of a parametric macro. |
If a term is missing, write via the contact page and the glossary will grow. For tools that do the jobs described here with one click, see products.
Related products
Tools that do the work described here with one click inside Alphacam: the GMacros add-in and macro packages. Purchasing and licensing are explained on How it works.
Written by the GMacros team. Alphacam is a registered trademark of Hexagon AB; this guide is independent.