Engraving/machining acrylic

[Clive S]

anyone got any tips?

The little bit of acrylic that I have done was using a lot higher feed rate than 300mm/min so I would do some tests at say 2-3 mtr/min. There are people on here that do cut that stuff though and hopefully will chime in.

[cropwell]

I have had reasonable results using lots of air to clear chips and WD40 or Fixt spray to keep the cutter lubricated and cool. A sharp carbide single flute cutter with open architecture (lots of space in the spiral, to allow chips to get out of the way) helps. You also need to make chips that take the heat away, not rub the plastic.

[magicniner]

A sharp carbide single flute cutter

+1 to this, also the single flute cutters are easy to sharpen with a little practice.
I made some covers for Theoben airgun magazines in acrylic and flame polished the inside (machined) surface to achieve good transparency,

- Nick

[cropwell]

the single flute cutters are easy to sharpen with a little practice. - Nick

Never had one go blunt, had plenty of the feckers snap though!

[andy_con]

thanks for all the info

I have a denford micro router, which is enclosed. I did wonder if things in general were getting hot yesterday, it was a hot day and once I closed the door of the router there is no air movement inside.

how small can you get single flute cutters? I want to engrave so didn't want to go any bigger than 1mm really

[A_Camera]

thanks for all the info

I have a denford micro router, which is enclosed. I did wonder if things in general were getting hot yesterday, it was a hot day and once I closed the door of the router there is no air movement inside.

Do you have any dust extractor? In my opinion that is VERY important.

how small can you get single flute cutters? I want to engrave so didn't want to go any bigger than 1mm really

The smallest bit I am using is a 0.5mm but it is a dual flute. Feed rate is EXTREMELY critical, run it just a tiny bit faster and it snaps. But... if you are engraving for LED signs then V-bits are better unless you need to engrave large letters or remove a lot of material, because those are more rigid. Never the less, if you run it too fast or too deep you will snap off the tip, especially the tiny 10degree 0.1mm are very sensitive.

[andy_con]

yes it has dust extraction which I use.

I'm engraving so v bit would be fine. I have some v bits which I use for engraving on ally, so I could test one of them. ill reduce the speed down also

Do you have any dust extractor? In my opinion that is VERY important.


The smallest bit I am using is a 0.5mm but it is a dual flute. Feed rate is EXTREMELY critical, run it just a tiny bit faster and it snaps. But... if you are engraving for LED signs then V-bits are better unless you need to engrave large letters or remove a lot of material, because those are more rigid. Never the less, if you run it too fast or too deep you will snap off the tip, especially the tiny 10degree 0.1mm are very sensitive.

[naijin]

Do you have any dust extractor? In my opinion that is VERY important.


The smallest bit I am using is a 0.5mm but it is a dual flute. Feed rate is EXTREMELY critical, run it just a tiny bit faster and it snaps. But... if you are engraving for LED signs then V-bits are better unless you need to engrave large letters or remove a lot of material, because those are more rigid. Never the less, if you run it too fast or too deep you will snap off the tip, especially the tiny 10degree 0.1mm are very sensitive.

Hi there, I have done about 10 acrylic signs so far, I use a v bit and a 3mm end mill but I only go as high as 7000-9000 rpm and it seem to work ok.

Nick

[cropwell]

how small can you get single flute cutters?

http://www.sorotec.de/shop/Cutting-T...te--0-3mm.html

[magicniner]

Never had one go blunt, had plenty of the feckers snap though!

I use them on brass, bronze and 304 stainless as well as plastics ;-)