Ball Nose Bits
The core cutter for any 3D surface.
Shop BitsProjects / 3D Carving
3D CNC Carving
Rough It Out, Then Bring It to Life
Roughing, detailing and finishing — the three-stage workflow behind every clean 3D carve.
Parts List
Recommended Parts for 3D Carving
Tapered Ball Nose
Reach deep detail without a flimsy long shank.
Shop BitsCNC Spindle
Consistent RPM for long finishing passes.
Shop SpindlesCollets
Minimum runout means a cleaner finished surface.
Shop ColletsWorkholding
The block cannot move between roughing and finishing.
Shop WorkholdingThe Workflow
3D Carving Setup, Stage by Stage
Finishing Tips
Where 3D Carves Go Wrong
Stepover is everything
A stepover above about 10% of cutter diameter leaves visible scallops. Smaller stepover, longer run, better surface.
Leave stock for the finish
Roughing should never touch the final surface. Leave 0.3–0.5 mm and let the finishing pass take it.
Kill the runout
Tiny ball nose cutters show every bit of collet runout. A clean collet and a properly seated tool matter more than RPM.
Next
Carve It in Three Passes
Right cutter for each stage — that is the whole secret.