So I am trying to make a simple sign.
I got the neato whiz bang zero flute upcut 1/4 and 1/8 bits. This is the second time I am trying to make this sign. The 1" font is Impact, and I’m using the 1/8 bit. They look horrible, this one said to use 20000 rpm. Any Ideas? Or is it impossible to detail cut 1" letters with a 1/8 bit? This is so aggravating. Enclosed are the pics of the settings and the incredible botched cut.
Doesn’t allow pics? WTH
It depends on the font, some only look good with a V bit. Hard to tell, I don’t have access the to CC to look at the font you posted.
Why are there no pics allowed? This is not optimal
Could the rpm be too high at 20000?
Here are my pics. See the top large letters were the 1/4 upcut, the lower ones youll see
What feed rate are you using? I have only cut in starboard and the plastic wood stuff from HD and I had to use higher feed rates to get clean cuts. It looks like the bit is not moving fast enough on the smaller letters. Chip load is high on O flute bits and they need to move faster than normal bits. One, to clear material and two, to prevent heat buildup and “melting” of material.
I have upgraded your account to a Regular member, so you should be able to upload multiple images in a single post.
For text, it is necessary that the narrowest region be a bit wider than the tool in question, and it helps if the tool is markedly smaller than the width of the text — unless one is cutting wood and can use a V carving toolpath (not suited to plastic).
For a work-around see:
I select soft plastic. where do I see feed rates? I’m using version 8
Thank you ! This should help a lot !
The feed rates are in the bit select page when you select the bit, you can select edit and change the rates there.
Thanks man, i’ll try it with a faster rate tomorrow. Thanks guys, update tomorrow
Steve
The feed rate was 80 the recommended for the bit is 50-100 Maybe lower rpm and up the feed rate to 100 this boards trash now so I can experiment lol
For thermoplastic use a O-flute: has one cutting “tooth”.
avoid any heat to be collected at the site where that tooth cuts. Try your settings, if you cut chips you are right, if you smear around: wrong.
Rule of thumb: avoid friction at all cost in thermoplastic. Means: low rotation speed to cause as little heat as possible at the site, and feed speed as high as possible to move away the hot bit from the place as fast as possible.
GL!
For more on feeds and speeds see:
I use 10000 for 1/8" and 8000 for 1/4" when cutting soft plastic.
I program feeds at 60 ipm, but usually bump that up to 90 or 120 on the machine.
I use this 1mm bit for fine detail in PVC and acrylic. It’s cheap and works great. Amazon.com
This sign is only about 12 inches wide.
