Bits / Workshop reference
Flush-trim & bearing-guided bits
Copy a template or bring an edge flush while keeping the bearing on a reliable reference.
In everyday language
Make an edge follow a template
A bearing is a small guide wheel. On a suitable trim bit, it follows a template while the cutter shapes the work.
Picture matching curved pieces made from one sound template. Work out where the guide wheel contacts the template throughout the cut.
What to notice: Check template security and cutter length. The guide wheel must not lose its intended surface.
Can an unsecured template still guide an accurate cut?
No. The template and work need the approved holding arrangement, and the guide wheel needs continuous suitable contact.
No need to know the vocabulary first
A few words, explained
- Collet
- The gripping sleeve that holds the shank of a cutting bit.
- Plunge
- A movement that takes a cutting tool down into material. Not every tool permits this.
- CNC
- Computer numerical control: a computer directs a cutting machine.
- Stock
- The wood or other material you start with.
How it works
The bearing follows an existing edge or template while the cutting edge trims adjacent material. Bearing location determines where the template must sit.
When to consider it
Use a compatible bearing-guided tool for template work with sufficient stock support and the correct top- or bottom-bearing arrangement.
Where it does not apply
A bearing is a guide, not a clamp. Do not let it run off the template or use a damaged, loose or seized bearing.
Before the first cut
- With power isolated, verify the bearing and retaining hardware per the tool instructions.
- Secure the template and workpiece; check bearing contact and cutter clearance along the entire edge.
- Use the router manual's feed-direction guidance. Do not transfer CNC climb-cut strategies to handheld routing.
Review collet engagement & stickout · Review material setup & zero
If the result looks wrong
Stop the machine and make it safe to inspect before checking the tool or workpiece.
Template shape is copied poorly
Check template quality, bearing contact, workpiece movement and the bearing/cutter diameter relationship.
Chatter or grabbing
Stop and review support, excess stock and feed direction with the equipment guidance.
Use the matching calculator
Calculator outputs describe geometry, time or cost—not permission to operate at those values.
Make the setup repeatable
In Machine & Bit Settings, keep these details in the standard fields, additional fields and setup notes. Record a test date only after testing that exact setup.
- Bearing position and diameter
- Template thickness
- Routing arrangement and stock allowance
No cutting settings are automatically supplied or saved by this guide.
References & exact specifications
These public references explain the tool families or software features. Locate your exact part number and machine manual before setup; product families are not interchangeable.
Guidance reviewed September 2026. Diagrams are original simplified explanations, not manufacturer drawings.