After years of making the same part repeatedly on the CNC router, I finally decided it was time to make the router load it’s own material.

Friction is a valid way to hold a part for routing.  That is how most vices and clamps work.  The key here is to calculate an amount of friction that will resist the cutting forces while at the same time keeping it low enough for the router to be able to overcome it while loading and unloading.

I’ll post more on this when we have it working.  For now, here is a cool picture of the jig.