Finish on soft plastics

[Dean jeffery]

The photos do make things look worse than appear, the cut lines can't be felt with the nail when run on the edge.

Every time I've cut that material I've only had 2 decent results one been above, that's why I posted up I was convinced the speeds and feeds was the reason.

But I'm now leading towards the materials spec is way off, the customer sends the material I just cut it.

It's cheap from direct plastic and tbh if not personally buy from there, nothing comes new and never as protective film on.

Cheers for the help and suggestions though guys.

[magicniner]

I'm not sure in what way is a plastic likely to be "off spec" that would cause a surface finish like that, it looks more like a tooling/machine issue.

[A_Camera]

The photos do make things look worse than appear, the cut lines can't be felt with the nail when run on the edge.

I see shadows along those lines and that means the surface is not even. If it can be felt with your nails or not is another thing and depends on your own personal finger sensitivity.

[Dean jeffery]

Well same as anything that needs multiple materials to make a product, add to much of this and not enough of that even down to shelf life.

Been sent that Plastic from the same place 5 times and 3 of which was crap, the first time used it was like the pic then the next 3 times crap and now decent again.

Same machine same same tool, same speeds and feeds.

[magicniner]

It's plastic causing the poor finish then, no doubt about it! ;-)

[Dean jeffery]

Yeah I've convinced myself the plastics the issue, but the customer is not willing to use another supplier because it's cheap.

[magicniner]

The cause of the finish defect has to be a mechanical one, if it's the plastic then it is somehow deflecting the cutter or machine from the programmed path.

[Dean jeffery]

Few weeks ago I made this from 6063 DOC was .5 1.5mm 3 cutter all I had

[magicniner]

6063 makes nice chips which clear easily, you're comparing apples to oranges and that won't help you to work out the source of the problem with soft plastics.

[magicniner]

Point here was if machines out or tool deflection, then alloy is harder than the plastic I was cutting

6063 makes nice chips which clear easily.

If you don't understand that, your only option is to refuse the job unless he buys materials you like. :D