Material Search - Machinable Black Stone or Replica

[esoro]

I am looking for a material that is either black stone or resembles stone. But it must be able to be processed using my shop bot. Any suggestions?

I think the obvious ones like Machinable ABS are out of the question. I have used MDF in the past then I painted it. I am trying to get away from painting though.

Any good suggestions on where I can get Renshape?

[Keyco Wood]

Consider that floor tile that is synthetic. Like the snap together stuff. Probably only 1/4 or 3/8 thick, but it does cut and shape like wood.

[garyb]

you might try solid surface
available in many shades especially artificial granite colors of greys reds greens, black......you get the picture
Gary

[bobmoore]

It really helps to know what are you trying to achieve. You can successfully route some stone like marble. You can also route solid surface corian or it's cousins.
Bob

[wayne_walker]

Esoro,

Several years ago there was someone making MDF that is colored all the way through. There was a black, purple, gray, red and a couple other colors. I don't know if it is still available or not. I think I have some samples with a name on it, if you want me to dig them up.

Wayne

[trumax11]

I am looking for a material that is either black stone or resembles stone. But it must be able to be processed using my shop bot. Any suggestions?

I think the obvious ones like Machinable ABS are out of the question. I have used MDF in the past then I painted it. I am trying to get away from painting though.

Any good suggestions on where I can get Renshape?
E.S.,

Find some DuPont Corian solid surface material. It processes great on the ShopBot. The pure black is called Nocturne, but there are hundreds of others available. You can find offcuts/scraps listed on eBay or if you need larger pieces, go to www.corian.com to find a local distributor in your area.

Hope this helps........Gary

[billp]

Why not use the REAL thing? We CAN cut marble on a Shopbot, and over the years many of us have...Too many people confuse marble with granite, and think that they need special equipment ( diamond bits, etc.). This is not true. Marble is merely a polished limestone, and limestone IS relatively 'soft'. A carbide bit WILL cut marble!
Some people have used a liquid lubricant (but the resultant slurry WILL get all over you, and your machine ,so be careful), and others just cut it dry, or in multiple passes.
Go to the Big Box store, buy a sample tile, and give it a try....

[carlcnc]

Soapstone would prbably work

[ssflyer]

I've cut quite a bit of limestone, marble, sandstone, soapstone and even slate on my 'bot. Got to be a little careful about marble, in my experience -a lot of what I got as "marble" had a lot of quartz in it - not too good for your bits,,,