Finish on soft plastics

[Dean jeffery]

More parts per sheet, some small parts are made from that same sheet, less tools to stock, less tool changers.

But I could get away with a 3mm cutter on that part without an extra tool change, I've done a finish pass on some 10mm acrylic with the same 2mm cutter to give a clean cut in the past.

Only really any good doing full clean up passes on new cutters or soft material other wise you still get cut lines.

[m_c]

That latest photo looks more like a flex/resonance/chatter problem, which is much harder to address.
First option would be a dial indicator mounted on the cutting area, with the needle against the spindle/cutter, and see if there is much movement when you pull/push the cutter.

[A_Camera]

More parts per sheet, some small parts are made from that same sheet, less tools to stock, less tool changers.

But I could get away with a 3mm cutter on that part without an extra tool change, I've done a finish pass on some 10mm acrylic with the same 2mm cutter to give a clean cut in the past.

Yes, more parts but also greater risk for tool deflection if you are using 2mm cutters.

Only really any good doing full clean up passes on new cutters or soft material other wise you still get cut lines.

But we are discussing soft material here... aren't we?

Also, the full pass cleaning I normally make is just shaving off about 0.1mm. That gives very good results, even if the cutter is not brand new.