Another thread peaked my interest. How do you machine pocket holes on a cnc? I understand how you can do the ramp part but how about the pilot hole? Do you do that on the cnc? If not do you manually do it later or not at all?

You would need an aggregate set at an angle with a drill bit for the hole. It is possible, but not as efficient as a pocket screw machine if that is what you are asking.

I have seen this done on a 5 axis machine and can't imagine why anyone would want to do this.

Even a cheap Kreg and manual drill from Home Depot is faster.

Our Thermwood does the pocket, and yes if you want the pilot hole it is either an aggregate operation on the router or manual with the hand-held drill. Most of the pocket hole screws have a self cutting tip, and with user discretion, we've found it isn't always necessary to drill the pilot. A dedicated pocket hole machine is certainly faster, but for our time and money, if the CNC can do the heavy lifting here, then it is a savings. The CNC also gets to suck up all the dust, don't forget :)

You don't need an aggregate head. I just use a ⅜ chipbreaker down spiral and a sloped toolpath. Start at the material thickness and end at ⅜ from the top of the material.

I don't know what an aggregate would bring to the table. Is the 7º face that important when it isn't flat in the first place because of the tool diameter?

The pilot hole is needed in some materials. Others it isn't. Plywood seems to not be an issue. Mdf likes to split. Sometimes it doesn't matter if it splits too.
I don't know if you're saving much time other than nobody has to walk anywhere and they really can't forget on the bench if they're already there.

If there's a nest with a ton of pocket screws in it. CNC is way faster. If there's 1, and a tool change, (which I always have because i only use that tool for pockets) , probably faster or maybe about the same, if it were done on the Castle Machine

Like I said in the other thread, it can be handy too because you can put a pocket in places you can't reach with a castle machine. Like in the crotch of a corner.

It's not some magic bullet, just another option that can work well. I was skeptical at first too.

I pocket screw all my toe kicks on. Once the part template was created, I haven't touched it in years. They're just always there now.

I assume the aggregate is used for the pilot hole. How does no pilot hole work in particle board?

No clue. I don't use particle board for much