4mm MDF cutting on CNC...Advice please

[Nthkentman]

Hi All,

Using Vectric V Carve to design some plain flat shapes (In this case 100 x 100mm Hearts) in 4mm thick MDF.

I want to use a 2mm diameter cutter for the main routing, and when I choose this tool the stock details are available: 12000 rpm, Feed 20mm/sec, Plunge 4mm/sec.

Does this sound realistic?

I'm quite new to CNC having last played with some bigger toys when I was 20 just after my apprenticeship...I'm knocking on 55 now... and forgotten much of the stuff I learned

Any assistance is warmly welcomed...and if anyone in the NW Kent area is about I could use some help

Tea, Coffee, buns and Hob Nobs supplied FOC ;-)

[EddyCurrent]

I want to use a 2mm diameter cutter for the main routing, and when I choose this tool the stock details are available: 12000 rpm, Feed 20mm/sec, Plunge 4mm/sec.

Does this sound realistic?

Try these feed and speed calculators;

http://www.onsrud.com/xdoc/FeedSpeeds
http://zero-divide.net/index.php?page=fswizard
https://www.whitneytool.com/SpeedAndFeedCalculator.aspx
http://www.cambam.info/doc/dw/0.9.8/cam/SpeedsFeeds.htm (not sure if it's in the demo version but most likely is)

[GEOFFREY]

Hi, I do quite a lot of routing with 3.2 and 6.3mm HDF/MDF. I mainly use 2mm PCB endmills and run the spindle at 2400+ rpm and a feed of about 2M/min. I do sometimes (if in a hurry) run at 3or4m/min, but worry a bit about tool breakage. at 2M/min the tools last for ages.

[EddyCurrent]

Hi, I do quite a lot of routing with 3.2 and 6.3mm HDF/MDF. I mainly use 2mm PCB endmills and run the spindle at 2400+ rpm and a feed of about 2M/min. I do sometimes (if in a hurry) run at 3or4m/min, but worry a bit about tool breakage. at 2M/min the tools last for ages.

That's a very slow speed, "2400+", what depth of cut do you use ?

[Clive S]

That's a very slow speed, "2400+", what depth of cut do you use ?

I think that might be a typo for 24,000 rpm. ..Clive

[GEOFFREY]

Yes, thanks Clive, of course I did mean 24000rpm. the slowest my spindle will run is 1500rpm.

I always cut HDF/MDF in a single pass, but only cut up to 9.2mm. For the 9.2mm I use a 3.172 cutter. G.

[Nthkentman]

Thank you Geoffrey for your input.

I'm looking to use mainly 4mm MDF for making shapes, letters and the like for craft workshops, customers and sell on the internet.

I'm assuming at the 24000 rpm at 2m/Min I can get away with one pass.
Using Vectric V Carve Pro I am leaving "Tabs" to prevent breakout of the shape within the main board as it's cut. Half depth and 2mm long at 3 or 4 points around the outside where the nibs after the shape is pressed out of the panel by hand can be sanded off with a bobbin sander to finish

The faces I hope to use a Jet occillating drum/belt sanding machine to just kiss off any rough edges, but have been advised that there is a rotary triple wire brush machine which provides good results without lining or gouging. Yet to find that machine as I'm not sure of the proper name.



Thanks to the other guys that have replied as well, I am working my way through various tables to find out about speeds and feeds, depths and types of cutters as well.

Hi, I do quite a lot of routing with 3.2 and 6.3mm HDF/MDF. I mainly use 2mm PCB endmills and run the spindle at 2400+ rpm and a feed of about 2M/min. I do sometimes (if in a hurry) run at 3or4m/min, but worry a bit about tool breakage. at 2M/min the tools last for ages.