Routing with template

MDF is a readily available option, and it's usually my first choice. The reason I prefer MDF is that it's perfectly flat and very easy to shape with files and sandpaper. The template I use for making curved rails for cabinet doors shown in the photo above is a good example. To make it, I simply laid out the curve with a compass, cut out the shape at the band saw , and smoothed the curve, first with a file and then with a simple, shop-made sanding strip, seen below.

Hardboard is another commonly used material. And occasionally I use acrylic, especially for those applications where I need to see more of the workpiece to orient the template to the grain of the wood. On the other hand, a template can be as simple as small pieces of hardwood joined with pocket screws. This is an easy technique for making a template that conforms to a rectangular shape.

All you need to do is fit the pieces together to form a template with the inside dimensions equal to the desired size and fasten them together. With a little imagination, you can make a template for just about any shape you need for your projects. Whatever the application, you'll find that learning to make and use templates with your router will guarantee top-notch results. One of my favorite ways to spice up a project is to add a decorative inlay made from contrasting woods.

A specialized guide bushing with a removable sleeve makes this an easy operation. With the bushing installed, you can cut both the recess and the inlay piece using a single template. After selecting a template for your design, start by positioning the template on the workpiece and securing it with double-sided tape. Then, with the sleeve on the bushing, simply rout the outline of the recess and the remainder of the waste by following the template.

In some cases, an HTTP error is returned with ambiguous routes. Use logging to see which endpoints caused the AmbiguousMatchException. For convenience, attribute routes support token replacement by enclosing a token in square-brackets [ , ]. The tokens [action] , [area] , and [controller] are replaced with the values of the action name, area name, and controller name from the action where the route is defined:.

Token replacement occurs as the last step of building the attribute routes. The preceding example behaves the same as the following code:. If you are reading this in a language other than English, let us know in this GitHub discussion issue if you'd like to see the code comments in your native language.

Attribute routes can also be combined with inheritance. This is powerful combined with token replacement. Token replacement also applies to route names defined by attribute routes.

To match the literal token replacement delimiter [ or ] , escape it by repeating the character [[ or ]]. Token replacement can be customized using a parameter transformer. A parameter transformer implements IOutboundParameterTransformer and transforms the value of parameters.

For example, a custom SlugifyParameterTransformer parameter transformer changes the SubscriptionManagement route value to subscription-management :. The RouteTokenTransformerConvention is an application model convention that:. When using System. RegularExpressions to process untrusted input, pass a timeout. A malicious user can provide input to RegularExpressions causing a Denial-of-Service attack.

Attribute routing supports defining multiple routes that reach the same action. The most common usage of this is to mimic the behavior of the default conventional route as shown in the following example:. Putting multiple route attributes on the controller means that each one combines with each of the route attributes on the action methods:. When multiple route attributes that implement IActionConstraint are placed on an action:.

Using multiple routes on actions might seem useful and powerful, it's better to keep your app's URL space basic and well defined.

Use multiple routes on actions only where needed, for example, to support existing clients. Attribute routes support the same inline syntax as conventional routes to specify optional parameters, default values, and constraints. The Products14Controller. All of the route attributes implement IRouteTemplateProvider. NET Core runtime:. Implement IRouteTemplateProvider to define custom route attributes.

Each IRouteTemplateProvider allows you to define a single route with a custom route template, order, and name:. The application model includes all of the data gathered from route attributes.

The data from route attributes is provided by the IRouteTemplateProvider implementation. This section shows a basic example of customizing routing using application model. The following code makes routes roughly line up with the folder structure of the project. The following code prevents the namespace convention from being applied to controllers that are attribute routed:. NET Core apps can mix the use of conventional routing and attribute routing.

Actions are either conventionally routed or attribute routed. Placing a route on the controller or the action makes it attribute routed. Actions that define attribute routes cannot be reached through the conventional routes and vice-versa. Any route attribute on the controller makes all actions in the controller attribute routed. See Routing for a detailed description of URL generation. An instance of IUrlHelper is available through the Url property in controllers, views, and view components.

In the following example, the IUrlHelper interface is used through the Controller. Url property to generate a URL to another action. This URL path is created by routing by combining:. Each route parameter in the route template has its value substituted by matching names with the values and ambient values. A route parameter that doesn't have a value can:.

URL generation fails if any required route parameter doesn't have a corresponding value. If URL generation fails for a route, the next route is tried until all routes have been tried or a match is found. The preceding example of Url. Action assumes conventional routing.

URL generation works similarly with attribute routing , though the concepts are different. With conventional routing:. LinkGenerator was added in ASP. LinkGenerator offers similar but more flexible functionality. Action , LinkGenerator. GetPathByAction , and all related overloads all are designed to generate the target endpoint by specifying a controller name and action name.

When using Url. Action , the current route values for controller and action are provided by the runtime:. Routing attempts to use the values in ambient values to fill in information that wasn't provided when generating a URL.

Warning : URL paths are hierarchical. This problem is rare in practice because Url. Action always explicitly specifies a controller and action value. Several overloads of Url. Action take a route values object to provide values for route parameters other than controller and action. The route values object is frequently used with id. For example, Url. Seemingly difficult curves, such as a gooseneck molding, can be easily shaped with a template.

After the rough shape of the molding is created with a bandsaw, a template and a flush-trim bit can be used to smooth away the bandsaw marks and fair the curves. Afterwards, the molding profiles can be shaped using an overarm guide at the router table—more about that later. Templates are also useful for routing grooves and dadoes, such as this dado for a partition inside a cabinet. The template precisely locates the dado. Although there are a number of ways to cut grooves and dados with a router, using a template is among the most accurate methods and in some cases the only choice available.

When constructing fine casework, a template ensures accurate alignment of dividers and partitions Photo 6. Instead of measuring and marking the location of dados for corresponding dividers, a graduated set of templates which register to the side of the case provide pinpoint accuracy.

Using a curved template is just about the only way to make a curved groove. This groove will receive a tambour door. Tambours slide in curved grooves and disappear when opened. Routing matching curved tambour grooves, both S-curved and semi-circular, is easy work with a template Photo 7. The key to making various cuts with a template is to guide the router through the intended path. There are essentially four methods of doing this:. There are many ways to guide a router bit around a template.

The simplest method is to use a bit with a guide bearing. Here, the template was fastened to the top of the workpiece. Flush trim bits also use a guide bearing. These bits are ideal for smoothing irregular shapes, such as the sloped edge on the sides of a slant-front desk, as well as smoothing tight bandsawn curves. Most flush-trim bits have a bearing below the bit, but others have a bearing above the bit, on the shank. Some flush-trim bits have two bearings, one on top and one on bottom.

These bits are ideal for avoiding tearout when routing curves. By flipping the template and workpiece, you can always rout downhill, with the grain. This bit is very useful for any S-shaped curve, where the grain of the workpiece is likely to change direction.

Designing a template to use with the guide bearing method is quite simple. Just make the template the exact size and shape as the pattern you wish to duplicate. This method is well suited for cutting grooves of any width. This means that the gap between the bit and bushing may be different on one side of the bushing than on another side. The practical result is that the distance between the bit and template may vary, depending on how you orient the router to the template. However, most of the time the slight amount of eccentricity is not an issue.

When it can be an issue, I mark a spot on the base and am careful to always guide the router from that point. This ensures that the distance from the cut to the template remains constant. To calculate the offset, measure the diameter of the bit, subtract it from the outside diameter of the guide bushing, and divide the result by two. Offset is the distance from the outside of the guide bushing tube to the cutting edge of the router bit. This dimension determines where the bit cuts the workpiece.

To figure the offset, measure the outside diameter OD of the guide bushing tube and subtract the diameter of the bit. Next, divide this figure by 2 to determine the offset. Know your alternatives There are router bits capable of template routing without guide bushings. See the chart on the next page for comparison information. Sources Adapters and subbases are available from many mail-order sources, including the following:. You can skip using a guide bushing altogether if you use a pattern bit or flush-trim bit.

Both types have a bearing that rides against the template, just as a bushing does.