Plunge Roundover for Plastic

[gabepari]

Howdy all,

I need to cut a whole herd of little parts out of acrylic and they need to have a radius'd edge on one surface. I don't want to run each part through the router table, so I was thinking of using a plunge roundover bit for the initial pass and then o-flute to cut them free. I'm not too concerned about the variation in thickness across the sheet as I don't need the full roundover, so I will set the depth a little high.

Anyone know of an o-flute roundover? Or do I just use a standard bit and play with feeds/speeds until I get a nice edge??

Thanks,

Gabe

[Gary Campbell]

Gabe...
Check the plastic & sign websites, I have seen the exact bit you are looking for in an O, if I remember correctly. Sorry I dont have the site, but look up 66-000 series Onsrud. Single O for plastic and either single or double radius.
Gary

[gabepari]

Close, but no see-gar...

They have one that rounds the top and bottom edge at the same time, and one that cuts and chamfers. But not one that rounds just the top.

Thanks, still looking


Gabe

[cnc_works]

Go here

http://www.whitesiderouterbits.com/catalog.html

and look at the plunge roundovers.

Donn

[gpari]

Donn, I was hoping to find something that was plastic specific (ie o-flute). But if I can't, those are exactly the bits I am going to try.

Thanks

[cnc_works]

Also, Gabe, there are the new insertable engraving bits from Amana. They indicate they will custom cut inserts in quantity 10. Might be a little small for your needs, though.

http://www.amanatool.com/ingroove/

Donn

[knight_toolworks]

I doubt you will ever find something made just for plastic without having it custom made. but I bet a regular roundovew would work ok.

[don]

Gabe,
That straight flute that Donn pointed out on Whiteside's catalog will work. One trick to keep the plastic from melting to the tool is to polish the flute to a mirror finish. We have customers that specify this on their prints when we regrind their tooling for plastics and soft guage metals.

I am waiting on a quote from Southeast Tools on a:
.750 diameter shank
2 flute up spiral 1.25 flute length and a .500 diameter.
At the top will have a .25 radius roundover.
I have 400 peices that need the round over and profile and then a pocket on the backside.

Will be set up on to vacuum pucks.
With 3 different tool paths with the same tool
that has a .25 radius at the top

[gpari]

Thanks for the tip Don.

Gabe