CNC cutting of Lexan and PVC

[Peter Meacham]

Looking for some CNC cutting advice for Lexan (.178" thickness) and PVC sheets (.5" thickness).

What router bit is suggested for each material please - and do I presume that lower speeds and feeds are in order to prevent melting of edges?

Any advice appreciated.

Pete

[Scott Shepherd]

Peter, I'll have to recommend the O-Flute bit. Since switching over to the O-Flute, I've found it cuts most anything that's remotely soft, like acrylics, plastics, etc. I've not found much it doesn't cut and cut well.

I was even cutting aluminum sheet with one the other day.

I don't think you have to worry about melting lexan. Lexan cuts nice.

O-Flute works great on PVC too.

[Peter Meacham]

Scott

Thanks for the input. Actually, I was uncertain exactly what an 0-flute bit was. I looked it up on the Onsrud web site and it looked to me to be a "straight" bit.

So, that is what I used and it came out good cutting both materials. But, the straight bit may not exactly be an 0-flute - so, I am going to order a couple of the 0-flute bits as I will be doing more PVC for this local sign shop (now that I am their new best friend - with CNC capability).

Pete

[Scott Shepherd]

The O-Flute's come in straight and spiral. The straight helps on some materials because it packs the chips back into the kerf, so it helps keep your vacuum holding the work down. The upcut O-flute will pull the chips out and works well also.