IGM Diamond Router Cutter Ekonomik Z1+1 is a diamond CNC router bit with combined upcut and downcut geometry (1 upward cutting edge + 1 downward cutting edge), a hardened steel body and an HW plunge tooth. The declared service life is approximately 50 times longer than standard router bits with carbide cutting edges. Available in 16 versions with diameters from 10 to 20 mm and cutting heights from 26 to 65 mm. The Ekonomik line differs from the standard series due to the reduced height of the diamond knife (2.5 mm), allowing up to 3 resharpenings while maintaining the same cutting performance. Distributed in Italy by Krollit, official IGM distributor since 2007.
- Cutting edge material: DP (polycrystalline diamond)
- Body: hardened steel
- Plunge tooth: HW (carbide)
- Geometry: upcut + downcut (Z1+1) — clean finish on both top and bottom edges
- Available diameters: 10, 12, 16, 18, 20 mm
- Available cutting heights: 26, 35, 45, 54, 65 mm depending on the version
- Shank: 12 mm (D10–D12), 16 mm (D16), 20 mm (D18–D20)
- Operating speed: 18,000 rpm
- Maximum speed: 24,000 rpm
- Feed speed D10–16 mm: 2–4 m/min
- Feed speed D18–20 mm: 4–8 m/min
- Diamond knife height (Ekonomik): 2.5 mm — up to 3 resharpenings
- Estimated service life: approximately 50 times longer than standard HW router bits
- Exclusive use: CNC machines
Who uses the Ekonomik series and what it is used for
The IGM Ekonomik Z1+1 router bit is used by furniture manufacturers, custom kitchen producers and serial panel manufacturers on CNC machining centers. The upcut+downcut geometry produces a clean finish on both the top and bottom edge of the panel in a single pass, eliminating the chipping typical of single-geometry router bits. It is the standard choice for routing melamine DTD, coated MDF and laminate on CNC nesting machines. Versions with cutting heights from 45 to 65 mm cover panels up to 65 mm thick in a single pass. The Ekonomik line is preferred by users who want the advantage of diamond tooling at a lower cost and accept fewer resharpenings compared with the standard series: 3 resharpenings versus 4–7 for the version with a higher diamond knife.
Who the Ekonomik series is suitable for
| Profile |
Compatibility |
Reason |
| Furniture manufacturer using CNC nesting with DTD and MDF |
Suitable |
Z1+1 geometry eliminates chipping on the top and bottom edge of melamine panels in a single pass |
| CNC operator with medium production volumes and limited budget |
Suitable |
The Ekonomik line offers diamond service life (50x vs HW) at a lower price thanks to the 2.5 mm knife |
| Operator with portable handheld router |
Not suitable |
The M170/Ekonomik series is designed exclusively for CNC machines — not compatible with handheld routers |
Not suitable for: solid wood with hard knots, aluminum and composite materials with abrasive fibers — polycrystalline diamond is not suitable for ferrous materials or metal alloys.
Ekonomik vs IGM standard series: when to choose which
| Parameter |
Ekonomik (this series) |
IGM standard series |
| Diamond knife height | 2.5 mm | Higher, depending on the version |
| Number of resharpenings | Up to 3 | Up to 4–7 depending on the version |
| Purchase price | Lower | Higher |
| Cutting quality | Identical to the standard series | Identical to Ekonomik |
| When to choose | Medium volumes, limited budget, occasional resharpening | High volumes, frequent resharpening, long-term cost per piece to be minimized |
Technical specifications — all variants
| Version |
Diameter D (mm) |
Cutting height I (mm) |
Length L (mm) |
Shank S (mm) |
Knives (DP) |
| D10x26 L75 | 10 | 26 | 75 | 12 | 3DP |
| D10x35 L85 | 10 | 35 | 85 | 12 | 4DP |
| D12x26 L75 | 12 | 26 | 75 | 12 | 3DP |
| D12x35 L85 | 12 | 35 | 85 | 12 | 4DP |
| D12x45 L95 | 12 | 45 | 95 | 12 | 5DP |
| D16x26 L85 | 16 | 26 | 85 | 16 | 3DP |
| D16x35 L95 | 16 | 35 | 95 | 16 | 4DP |
| D16x45 L105 | 16 | 45 | 105 | 16 | 5DP |
| D18x26 L85 | 18 | 26 | 85 | 20 | 3DP |
| D18x35 L95 | 18 | 35 | 95 | 20 | 4DP |
| D18x45 L105 | 18 | 45 | 105 | 20 | 5DP |
| D18x54 L115 | 18 | 54 | 115 | 20 | 6DP |
| D20x26 L85 | 20 | 26 | 85 | 20 | 3DP |
| D20x35 L95 | 20 | 35 | 95 | 20 | 4DP |
| D20x45 L105 | 20 | 45 | 105 | 20 | 5DP |
| D20x54 L115 | 20 | 54 | 115 | 20 | 6DP |
| D20x65 L125 | 20 | 65 | 125 | 20 | 7DP |
Common specifications for all versions
| Cutting edge material | DP (polycrystalline diamond) |
| Body | Hardened steel |
| Plunge tooth | HW (carbide) |
| Number of cutting edges (Z) | 1+1 (upcut + downcut) |
| Geometry | Combined upcut and downcut |
| Rotation | Clockwise, right-hand rotation |
| Diamond knife height | 2.5 mm |
| Possible resharpenings | Up to 3 |
| Estimated service life vs standard HW | Approximately 50 times longer |
| Operating speed | 18,000 rpm |
| Maximum speed | 24,000 rpm |
| Feed D10–16 mm | 2–4 m/min |
| Feed D18–20 mm | 4–8 m/min |
| Bearing | Not included |
| Workable materials | DTD, melamine, laminate, MDF, coated MDF, plywood |
| Use | CNC machines only |
How to read the variant code
Each variant is identified by four parameters separated by a hyphen:
| Parameter |
Meaning |
Example |
| D__ x __ mm | Cutting diameter x cutting height | D12 x 35 mm = 12 mm diameter, cuts up to 35 mm depth |
| L__ | Total length of the router bit in mm | L85 = total length 85 mm |
| S__ | Shank diameter in mm — must match your CNC spindle | S12 = 12 mm shank · S16 = 16 mm shank · S20 = 20 mm shank |
| __DP | Number of diamond knives — more knives = more possible resharpenings | 3DP = 3 knives, up to 3 resharpenings · 7DP = 7 knives, up to 7 resharpenings |
How to choose: choose the diameter according to the toolpath programmed on your CNC (D12 and D16 are the most common on nesting machines). Choose a cutting height equal to or greater than the panel thickness (e.g. 18 mm panel → 26 mm height is sufficient, 35 mm gives more margin). Check the shank: S12 for 12 mm spindles, S16 for 16 mm spindles, S20 for 20 mm spindles. The number of DP knives does not change cutting performance but determines how many times the bit can be resharpened before replacement.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Z1+1 mean and why is it important on melamine DTD?
Z1+1 means that the bit has one upward-oriented cutting edge (upcut) and one downward-oriented cutting edge (downcut). The upcut edge pushes the fibers downward on the lower edge of the panel, while the downcut edge pushes them downward on the upper edge. The result is a clean finish on both faces of the melamine panel in a single pass, without the chipping typical of single-geometry bits.
What is the difference between the Ekonomik line and the IGM standard series?
The difference lies in the height of the diamond knife: 2.5 mm in the Ekonomik line compared with higher values in the standard series. This does not affect cutting quality, which is identical, but reduces the maximum number of resharpenings to 3 instead of 4–7. The purchase price is lower. The choice depends on production volume: for medium volumes with occasional resharpening, Ekonomik is the economically correct choice; for high volumes with frequent resharpening, the standard series has a lower cost per piece in the long term.
How do you choose the correct cutting height for your panel?
The cutting height must be equal to or greater than the thickness of the panel being machined. For standard 18 mm panels, the 26 mm height version is sufficient. For 25 mm panels, 26 mm is the minimum, but 35 mm is preferable to have more margin. The 45, 54 and 65 mm versions cover thick panels and machining with multiple overlapping passes.
What is the correct feed speed on CNC?
For D10–16 mm diameters, the manufacturer indicates 2–4 m/min at an operating speed of 18,000 rpm. For D18–20 mm diameters, the feed speed increases to 4–8 m/min. Exceeding the maximum feed speed reduces the life of the diamond knife and may cause chipping. Working below the indicated minimum increases heat and wears the cutting edge by friction rather than cutting.
Can the diamond router bit be used on raw MDF as well as melamine?
Yes. The declared compatible materials include DTD, melamine, laminate, MDF and coated MDF. Polycrystalline diamond is particularly effective on high-density MDF, which is abrasive for standard HW cutting edges and rapidly reduces their service life. On MDF, the diamond service life is the main advantage compared with conventional HW router bits.
How many times can it be resharpened and where?
The Ekonomik line allows up to 3 resharpenings thanks to the 2.5 mm diamond knife height. Resharpening polycrystalline diamond requires specialized equipment and cannot be done with conventional grinding wheels. Contact Krollit at +39 0825-1494022 for information about available diamond resharpening centers in Italy.
