# How many cutters are used in any one Item made **URL:** \ **Category:** Spindles and ATCs\ **Created:** [August 15, 2025, 1:57am UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/how-many-cutters-are-used-in-any-one-item-made/3419 "2025-08-15T01:57:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![spotnz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/spotnz/32/814_2.png) [@spotnz](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/spotnz)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 1:57am UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/how-many-cutters-are-used-in-any-one-item-made/3419/1 "2025-08-15T01:57:57Z")
hi, Hopefully my question makes sense 🙂 . How many cutters are needed to used in any one Item made? EG for flattening a cutting board, I envision one cutter & place in the ATC being used. BUT what about other items, like V-Carving a picture?😕 OR other items . . . thanks in advance david ---
**Author:** ![MikeXYZ](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/mikexyz/32/1430_2.png) [@MikeXYZ](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/MikeXYZ)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 12:25pm UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/how-many-cutters-are-used-in-any-one-item-made/3419/2 "2025-08-15T12:25:07Z")
I’d say 95% of my projects use 4 or less different tools. I’m always trying to design in a way that keeps the number of tools used in a program to a minimum. Even though my programs often only use 1-4 tools, my ATC has 12 slots, and I’m wishing it was 16. Different types of parts will use a different set of tools. My tool library in Fusion has about 50 tools. In any given month, I’d estimate I use 15-20 of them. ---
**Author:** ![spotnz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/spotnz/32/814_2.png) [@spotnz](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/spotnz)\ **Post date:** [August 15, 2025, 11:00pm UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/how-many-cutters-are-used-in-any-one-item-made/3419/3 "2025-08-15T23:00:18Z")
MANY THANKS 20 characters filler ---
**Author:** ![Chris](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/chris/32/54_2.png) [@Chris](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/Chris)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2025, 12:01am UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/how-many-cutters-are-used-in-any-one-item-made/3419/4 "2025-08-16T00:01:40Z")
I have: 1/8” shank: - 1/16” endmill 1/4” shank: - 1/8” up cut & downcut endmill - 1/4” up cut, down cut, compression endmill (various lengths and makers of them) - 1/16” tapered ballnose - 1/32” tapered ball nose - keyhole - 30 degree vbit - 60 degree vbit - 90 degree vbit - “t[he hog](https://idcwoodcraft.com/products/the-hog-long-1-4-roughing-endmill-bit-for-cnc-routers-1-4-shank?_pos=2&_fid=a15022ef2&_ss=c)” - bowl bit - 1-1/4” surfacing bit 1/4” shank I have used a handful of times in the past couple of years: - Round over bit (1/2”, 3/8”, 3/4”) - spring loaded vbit (glass engraving) - 15 degree engraving vbit (glass) 1/2” shank: - 1/2” compression (although, i should probably have an upcut. ---
**Author:** ![Clinton](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/clinton/32/8_2.png) [@Clinton](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/Clinton)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2025, 12:34am UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/how-many-cutters-are-used-in-any-one-item-made/3419/5 "2025-08-16T00:34:31Z")
I’ve got six tool racks setup with my ATC. I’ve tried a couple times even with a 3D carving and software that allows for 3D bit step downs and you have to really want to, to use six. Enen if you incorporate a surfacing bit, compression, upcut and downcut bits it gets ridiculous just trying to use more than necessary. There is a different school of thought and thats to store every style bit you have all the time in tool-racks. That way you never need to do anything other than adding a replacement once one gets dull. There is really no perfect solution. ---
**Author:** ![spotnz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex011/user_avatar/forum.pwncnc.com/spotnz/32/814_2.png) [@spotnz](https://forum.pwncnc.com/u/spotnz)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2025, 2:12am UTC](https://forum.pwncnc.com/t/how-many-cutters-are-used-in-any-one-item-made/3419/6 "2025-08-16T02:12:26Z")
I was _afraid_ 😨 that this was going to more complicated than I hoped for 🤔 . Currently because I’ll having to glue multiple pieces to wood 🪾 together. I’m think that I’ll be able to use the flattening bit as a starter, leaving the 4 positions in my incoming ATC, for the hard work 🏋️‍♂️