I have 30lb hdu, and a new CNC router set up. What bit do you recommend using to flat route into the HDU. Is it much harder than wood, or much more abrasive?
Thank you!
-------------------- Jeff Wisdom SignWorks info@oregonsignworks.com Posts: 456 | From: Oregon | Registered: Dec 2005
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30 lb HDU (Precision Board) is pretty much all we cut on our CNC router, While 30 lb board is as hard as wood iIt cuts much easier than wood and is not abrasive on tooling.
We currently use X-EDGE bits with great success. Give them a call and they will recommend the perfect bit for your application.
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8775 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Gee, not my post, but I like the answer. Good route bit store to know of.
-------------------- Signs by Alicia Jennings (Mudflap Girl) Tacoma, WA Since 1987 Have Lipstick, will travel. Posts: 3973 | From: Tacoma, WA. U.S.A. | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Jeff, that is actually a very good question. I had a Gerber Dimension 200X for years and it only had a 1/4" collet so I always used 1/4" bits, specifically I used a Gerber #P50530B, which had a 2.25" cutting length and always worked well. When I got my current router, a Multicam 3000, I thought OK, I'm going to get some new great bits for cutting 2" thick HDU and since I primarily use Onsrud bits now, I figured they would have a perfect one. Well, as it turns out they do not have a 1/4" bit that can cut 2" HDU. They have a bit #52-564 for cutting "Foam" however, this is NOT for cutting HDU but is for cutting styrofoam or something, it is terrible for HDU. Now I was really perplexed as I always thought the Gerber bits were re-branded Onsrud bits and I couldn't understand why they didn't have a good bit so I called them to see if they could custom make a 1/4" bit for HDU but they never came through. I also contacted other bit manufacturers including XEdge Tools but they do not have a 1/4" bit either capable of cutting 2" thick HDU. Therefore I concluded that Gerber is the only one that has such a bit unless you go up to at least a 3/8" shank bit or even 1/2". I recently inquired with XEdge tools with the very same question and here is the reply I got:
posted
Dan, I'd be curious to know exactly which end mill bit you use for cutting 2" HDU. I know you do a lot with ball nose bits and many time are cutting thicker than 2" so I wouldn't be surprised if you are using 1/2" bits in even longer lengths. For the "typical" shop however, cutting the 2" thick material with an end mill is a most basic routine process.
-------------------- Gary Boros SIGNWORKS STUDIOS LLC Monroe, Connecticut, USA Posts: 271 | From: Monroe, Connecticut, USA | Registered: Dec 2007
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I will be in your area this weekend, as my son lives right across the road from you on Nutmeg Lane.
I believe I have cut 2" with the 4" long Onsrud 1/4" bit. I cannot recall the speed and feed though. It was slow from what I remember, due to the 25 degree helical, but then again, cutting-out a sign generally does not take long to begin with.
For many years we used a 3/8" x 4" long onsrud bit to cut our 2" 30 lb Precision Board with good success. I have tried a 1/4" bit bout found it was extremely noisy and broke often - signs that the bit is not working right.
We now use a X-Edge 3/8" x 4" bit. The good folks at x-Edge made up a longer version for me to try on 3" board but like the 1/4" bit it was noisy. For thicker board x-Edge offers a longer 1/2" bit which works fabulous!
For our dimension and textured surfaces we use a X-Edge 1/2 - to 1/8" taper that does away with rough passes.... just go to the final cut. We've got a super long one that tapers from 3/4 - 1/8 as well for when we are using our fourth axis and getting crazy.
-dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8775 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
Dan, are you saying that you are doing the 3D in one pass with a 1/8" bit now? That seems like a lot of routing for that small bit but I guess it covers the same path whether it's cleaning up after a larger rough pass or just cutting it all out the first time around. Are you using the 2.5" bit XCT518 or the 7" XCT3418 as your regular go to bit?
Bob, we never had a chance to meet up but hopefully if you are down here again we can see if we can make it work. I'm literally just a few hundred feet from your son.
[ February 10, 2021, 01:37 PM: Message edited by: Gary Boros ]
-------------------- Gary Boros SIGNWORKS STUDIOS LLC Monroe, Connecticut, USA Posts: 271 | From: Monroe, Connecticut, USA | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
We have both the 5" and 7" tapered bits and both are awesome! We use the 5" most of the time as it has a 2.75" cutting edge. We most often cut 2" material and save the big bit for thicker stuff. We cut up to 2.75" in one pass generally. We don't do rough passes with larger diameter bits much these days... just no need.
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8775 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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