Let’s start with a simple truth:
Even the best CNC oscillating knife cutting machine can fail if the wrong tool or blade is installed.
Wrong amplitude. Wrong power. Wrong blade.
Result? — Torn edges, burned materials, or even broken blades.
So, how do you make the right choice?
Let’s break it down step by step — simple, direct, and practical.
Table of Contents
01. Understand the Tool Types by Function
Every CNC oscillating knife machine can be equipped with different tools. We divide them into five main categories: cutting, grooving, milling, punching, and marking.
Function
Tool Type
Power Source
Amplitude
Frequency
Recommended Materials
Cutting
Electric Oscillating Tool (EOT)
Electric motor (100–400 W)
1–5 mm
8,000–12,000 rpm
Polyester fiber, leather, rubber, EVA
Pneumatic Oscillating Tool (POT)
Air pressure (0.6–1 MPa)
6–8 mm
10,000–12,000 rpm
Thick felt, EPE/EVA foam, gasket materials
High-frequency Oscillating Tool
Electric (high-speed motor)
1–3 mm
12,000–15,000 rpm
Cardboard, rubber, thin fiberboard
Grooving / Bevel Cutting
Bevel (V-Groove) Cutting Tool
DC motor/none
Fixed
Adjustable by angle
Polyester fiber, phenolic board
Milling
High-speed Milling Cutter
Electric spindle (1.5–2.2 kW)
Rotary
15,000–24,000 rpm
EVA/EPE foam, plastic boards
Punching
Pneumatic Punch Tool
Air pressure
Fixed
—
Soft leather, fabric, rubber sheet
Marking
Pen Tool /Inkjet/Labeling
Air pressure
—
—
Pattern marking and labeling
Tip: The cutting tool is always the main one. Choose between electric (stable and clean) or pneumatic (strong and powerful) according to your materials.
02. Match the Tool to Material Thickness and Hardness
Every material behaves differently. To get perfect cuts, match the tool to your material’s hardness and thickness.
Material Type
Thickness
Recommended Tool
Notes
Polyester fiber acoustic panels
9–12 mm
Electric oscillating tool bevel tool
Smooth edges, fast cutting
Thick felt / sound insulation panels
25–50 mm
Pneumatic oscillating tool
High amplitude avoids fiber tearing
EVA foam
20–100 mm
400 W electric + milling cutter
Cut and mill in one setup
Rubber / Non-asbestos gasket
1–25 mm
Pneumatic / 400 W high-power oscillating tool
Clean edge, no burn marks
Phenolic foam board
20–30 mm
Oscillating + bevel tool
For 5°–45° grooving and cutting
Leather
1–5 mm
High-frequency oscillating tool
Fast, flexible, no smoke
03. Recommended Tool Combinations by Industry
Industry
Recommended Tool Combo
Processing Features
Acoustic panels
Electric oscillating tool + Bevel tool
Cut and groove in one step
Foam packaging
Pneumatic oscillating tool + Milling cutter
For thick EPE/EVA contour cutting
Gasket industry
Pneumatic oscillating tool + 400 W high-power oscillating tool
For rubber, PTFE, and graphite gaskets
Soft furniture / Sofa
High-power wheel cutter + Punching + Marking
Cut fabric with clean edges
Leather cutting
High-frequency oscillating tool
Precise cutting, optimized nesting
Pro tip: Always confirm whether you need grooving, perforation, or labeling before selecting your tool holders.
04. Four Key Factors When Choosing Blades
1) Blade Length
The blade should be 5–10 mm longer than your material thickness.
Too long → vibration, bending, inaccurate depth.
Too short → incomplete cutting, frayed edges.
Material Thickness
Recommended Blade Length
9–12 mm
20–30 mm
20–30 mm
40–50 mm
40–60 mm
60–80 mm
80–100 mm
100–120 mm
2) Blade Shape (Width)
Thin blades → better for small circles, detailed designs, flexible materials. But lower rigidity.
Wide blades → stronger for long straight cuts and hard materials. But less suited for tight curves.
3) Blade Angle
Common angles: 16°, 25°, 30°, 45°
Angle
Best For
Cutting Result
16°
Thin, soft materials
Fine small-radius circles
25°
General use
Smooth, balanced cut
30°
Medium-hard materials
Less material pull
45°
Hard, thick materials
Smooth edge, no tearing
Smaller angle = sharper tip = more precision. Larger angle = stronger edge = smoother surface.
16° Blades
4) Blade Tip Type
Sharp tip: For thin, soft materials (fabric, felt, PVC film).
Blunt tip: For hard materials (rubber, gasket, phenolic board). Stronger rigidity, longer life, smoother finish.
It can meet the requirements of general cutting of sound-absorbing panels, cutting with diameter or arc less than 5mm, as well as grooving and beveling.
50mm Foam packaging
AMOR327 sharp-angle long-edge blade; if cutting EPE or low-density EVA, choose a long-edge narrow blade;
It can meet the requirements of continuous and stable cutting of thick materials and avoid overcutting during the cutting process.
Suitable for cutting 1-5mm non-asbestos sheets, graphite reinforced sheets, PTFE sheets, and 1-25mm rubber sheets.
Fabric / Upholstery
16-edge circular blade
Meet the 1-5 layers fast cutting requirements for various fabrics/textiles.
Leather cutting
AMOR32112 narrow blade
It can meet the needs of cutting tiny V-notch and complex graphics, and can also meet the needs of cutting 6-8 layers of leather.
3 Tips for Choosing the Right Blade for Your Oscillating Knife Cutting Machine
06. Final Thoughts
Choosing the right tool and blade is not difficult — it’s logical.
Start with your main material.
Define thickness and hardness.
Match the right tool power and blade type.
Always test with real samples before final purchase.
At AMOR CNC, we’ve tested thousands of material combinations across acoustic panels, foam, gaskets, and leather. So if you’re unsure, just tell us your material type, thickness, and industry — we’ll recommend the exact tool and blade setup that fits your production needs.
Hey, I'm the author of this article,
I have been engaged in the CNC cutting equipment industry for 12 years. We have helped customers in more than 50 countries (such as upholstered furniture factories, gasket factories, acoustic wall decoration companies, etc.) successfully realize intelligent cutting.
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