These are some Christmas ornaments I"m experimenting with for sale made on my nice quality (ball screws, THK style rails, but running just a 12 amp Bosch router ) shop built machine. I"m wondering how fast experienced people with serious machinery could make these, especially the deer one (the one that's just one color --a prototype here). My machine plods when cutting the circuitous outlines, and I wonder if its possible for my Mach 3 set up, or a more serious one , (Shopbot Alpha?)to go much faster. It takes my CNC about 5 minutes to make a circuit around the outside vector of the deer ornament. I can cut at about 100 IPM on most work, but no where near that here. They're about 4" diameter. Thanks!

the only way to know is to cut them really. or at least have the dxf to estimate the cut time. there are many ways to decrease the cut time using mostly paths. I am sure that there are many more experienced router operaters than me but thats my .02 cents. Try Kahlid...he has machined many ornamental designs

Like everything else, it depends on the quantities you would intend to make. High volumes justify trick fixturing and tooling that are prohibitive when making small batches. I would guess that a high end machining center could crank those out at a rate of one per minute or less.