Quickest Way to cut 1x 4 rectangles in 1/4 plywood or hardboard.

[David Ruhland]

I need to cut several 1inch x 4 inch rectangles into a piece of plywood or hardboard. What is the easiest way to do this? , Router, Rotozip, jigsaw, etc... ( I am sure one of them there fancy CnC machines would do it right? LOL)

When I am done it should look like one of those address label sheets we stick into our computer to print addresses on.



399540

[glenn bradley]

If it doesn't need to be one piece I would do it as an assembly to get clean inside corners. Knowing the eventual use will get you better answers. If the corners can be rounded, a template and a plunge router would get you there. So would a jig saw but, you asked for "quickest".

[David Ruhland]

Needs to be one piece. It’s for holding 3.5 hard drives in a computer server room. I do t think a rounded corner would hurt I can extend the dimensions a bit. Plunge router with spiral cutting but?

[Art Mann]

Yes, my CNC router would do it nicely.

[David Ruhland]

Yes, my CNC router would do it nicely.

Art..i dont want to hijack my own thread, but am a lil interested in a CNC machine (posted in CNC forum awhile ago) so if i had one how would i accomplish this? would i go to computer and lay it out on a piece of wood say 12 inches wide by 18 inches long and put the rectangle dimensions in, where i want them and push a button...and WALA magic happens?

[Carl Beckett]

Glue together a template (could be pieces double sticky taped right onto the workpiece), then plunge route. A reasonable approach.

Once the first one made it can be used as the subsequent template

[David Ruhland]

perfect idea! Thanks!

[Art Mann]

The first thing to do is draw an accurate representation of the sheet with rectangles that represent what you want cut out using computer aided design software. There are many such programs and some of them are free. I use a few different programs depending on the application. In this case, the design is super simple so I would probably create it on the CAD program that came with my machine (Vcarve Pro). The next thing to do is use computer aided manufacturing software to convert the design into machine movement instructions, which is usually formatted as something called "G Code". In this case, I would use the same program, Vcarve Pro, to do that job. The raw material is fixed on the cutting table in the same orientation as the original drawing. Finally, I would feed the G Code file to a machine controller program, which is highly dependent on the actual CNC hardware. That controller takes over the X, Y, Z movement of the router or spindle, which cuts out whatever it was I drew. I have left out a lot of details that aren't important for a simple visualization of how the job is done.


Art..i dont want to hijack my own thread, but am a lil interested in a CNC machine (posted in CNC forum awhile ago) so if i had one how would i accomplish this? would i go to computer and lay it out on a piece of wood say 12 inches wide by 18 inches long and put the rectangle dimensions in, where i want them and push a button...and WALA magic happens?

[Warren Lake]

what are the dimensions between there? certain amount is needed for template strength depending on what material is used and thickness. plunge router with a template bushing is easy work. I always cut out my templates but what Carl says might be easier for a thing like that only no ridges for the router to hang up on.