MechMate CNC Router Forum

Go Back   MechMate CNC Router Forum > After Building the Beast - Operating , Troubleshooting and Maintenance > Cutting various materials - bit selection, feeds, speeds
Register Options Profile Last 1 | 3 | 7 Days Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old Sat 05 May 2012, 07:59
Gene8522
Just call me: gene8522
 
Santa Fe, Texas
United States of America
Cutting PVC (polyvinyl chloride)

I need to cut out some parts using 3/8" & 1/2" PVC ( polyvinyl chloride
)plastic. Is there an end mill made to cut PVC and what RPM & feed rate are you using?
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old Sat 05 May 2012, 12:21
smreish
Just call me: Sean - #5, 28, 58 and others
 
Orlando, Florida
United States of America
Onsrud carbide down spiral bit (or compression bit). The material has a tendency to climb up off the table if you don't have vacuum. Pay attention of Climb or conventional direction of cutting small parts. They can release aggressively if your not using tabs and/or vacuum.

225-290 ipm, 11-13k (2 passes)

You can reference early in MM#5 build to see the piles of snow we once produced daily.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old Sat 05 May 2012, 14:33
Gene8522
Just call me: gene8522
 
Santa Fe, Texas
United States of America
Quote:
Originally Posted by smreish View Post
Onsrud carbide down spiral bit (or compression bit). The material has a tendency to climb up off the table if you don't have vacuum. Pay attention of Climb or conventional direction of cutting small parts. They can release aggressively if your not using tabs and/or vacuum.

225-290 ipm, 11-13k (2 passes)

You can reference early in MM#5 build to see the piles of snow we once produced daily.
Thanks smreish for the reply,
I will be cutting 16" and 14" circles from 3/8" PVC so I don't think they will lift off of the table. My big worry was the feed rate and RPM. I'll be sure to put in about 6 tabs.
Where do I find MM#5?

Last edited by Gene8522; Sat 05 May 2012 at 14:47..
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old Sat 05 May 2012, 23:12
domino11
Just call me: Heath
 
Cornwall, Ontario
Canada
Have a look here.

I'm working on a new MM quietly in the corner #5 - Orlando. FL
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old Tue 15 May 2012, 06:05
polishpickle
Just call me: Jerry
 
Medina
United States of America
I cut it all the time. My favorite bit is a single flute upcut made by Gerber.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old Tue 15 May 2012, 06:42
smreish
Just call me: Sean - #5, 28, 58 and others
 
Orlando, Florida
United States of America
Jerry - that single flute (or any single flute) is the key to PVC as I found. The bigger the chip load, the better the cut!
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old Wed 25 December 2013, 21:42
litemover
Just call me: Chris
 
Auckland
New Zealand
I've been using onsrud single "O" flute downcut for 3/16" and lower as it reduces the movement, and for 1/4" and higher a single flute "0" uncut spiral with tabs. BTW, a multi tool for cutting tabs is essential.

If you use a calculator for feeds and speeds, be sure to account for 1 flute instead of 2, as the speeds are half (about 42"/min at 10000rpm ish.)
Reply With Quote
Reply

Register Options Profile Last 1 | 3 | 7 Days Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:48.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.3
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.