Default Materials

MapleCAM's material library includes common CNC materials organized by category.

Material Categories

CategoryExamples
WoodSoftwood (pine, cedar), hardwood (maple, oak, walnut), plywood, MDF
MetalAluminum, brass, copper
PlasticAcrylic, HDPE, Delrin, polycarbonate
CompositeCarbon fiber, fiberglass, G10
FoamRigid foam, HDU (sign foam)

How Material Affects Operations

The selected material influences recommended cutting parameters through tool presets. Harder materials generally require:

  • Lower feed rates
  • Lower depth per pass
  • Potentially lower spindle speeds (especially metals)

Customizing Materials

Materials are stored in your user profile (~/.maplecam/materials.json).