What is the best material to test a new design on? Like I plan to do a design I have on hardwood (bloodwood specifically) however I want to ensure it will cut well. I have previewed it of course in CAD but you never know once the machine starts cutting. Would it be worth testing on MDF or some other material even though the hardness is completely different and my feeds and speeds would change?
I use MDF for a lot of prototypes — extruded PVC lumber is another affordable option.
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MDF is insidious and dangerous if inhaled, so make sure you use dust extraction and breathing protection, if you’re cutting it often.
It’s best to use at least dust extraction for most materials, but I always use a proprietary dusk mast too.
Some people probably think I look better wearing one, anyway.
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Thanks for the suggestion!
Thanks for the warning, I have worked with MDF for a while prior to getting into CNC so I do always use breathing protection with it. My CNC is also enclosed with dust extraction.
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MDF can be good for making sure you are cutting the shape you want; however, the nature of some hardwoods (I’m not familiar with bloodwood) can require changes to the cutting order to minimize tear out. Even using a different (less expensive) hardwood can require changes for the final material.
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Bloodwood is red but turns brown after exposure to uv light. So choose colors that are contrasting to the brown it will eventually turn if you are going to paint the design.
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Definitely didn’t even think about this so thank you. However, it is going to be for a set of coasters so should stay relatively safe from UV light for the most part.
This is kind of what I assumed. Any tips on the best way to prepare/plan for something like that? Any order of preference or way I should try setting up the cutting order to avoid tear out or minimize it?
Downcut endmills can help with surface chipping, but are a problem on through cuts. Trimming outside corners may require cutting the end grain to depth before cutting with the grain. Usually I just try a cut and see where the problems are, but I tend to use domestic hardwood (cherry, maple, walnut) and make small objects so mistakes are not prohibitively expensive.
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If you are going to epoxy fill or paint seal the coasters with dewaxed shellac to keep exoxy or paint from soaking into unwanted places. Zinzer makes a universal sealer that is shellac. Finish with oil based finish like polyethylene to keep water out. Water based finish can discolor the top coat. Minmax wipe on finish is easy but takes 2 or 3 coats to look good. After sanding seal with shellac to keep finish from soaking in and taking more coats of finish.
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