Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2024-11-12 Origin: Site
Cutting acrylic with a CNC router offers many advantages, such as increased processing accuracy, efficiency, and reduced material damage. This guide provides tips for cutting acrylic with a CNC router, including choosing the right type of acrylic, selecting the right router bit, and more. In addition, it covers the benefits of cutting acrylic with a CNC router, comparisons with laser cutting, etc.
Whether you're working on decorative items, models, signs, or furniture, this guide will help you better realize the potential of a CNC router for high-quality acrylic cutting.
Selecting the type of acrylic that meets your application requirements before processing begins can effectively reduce material waste.
Acrylic, whose chemical name is polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), is an important plastic polymer material. Acrylic sheets can be divided into cast and extruded types according to the production process, both of which can be cut using CNC router. These two types of acrylic sheets have different characteristics.
The characteristics of cast acrylic sheets are: high transparency, smooth edges, scratch resistance, can be produced in a variety of different colors and thicknesses, high rigidity, UV resistance and weather resistance.
The characteristics of extruded acrylic sheets include: high flexibility, limited color selection, slightly lower transparency, and possible spots on the edges.
We recommend using a 6mm right-handed single-sided blade bit if you are just doing regular cutting. This type of acrylic router bit is suitable for most basic cutting tasks and can provide good cutting results.
If you want a clear-cut surface, a diamond polishing bit is a good choice. This type of acrylic router bit can provide a glass-smooth surface for acrylic.
If you want to engrave on acrylic, you can use a tapered flat bottom bit. This bit is suitable for fine engraving work.
When you find that your existing bit is not suitable for your current processing needs, you can purchase extra acrylic router bits online or from CNC router manufacturers.
Different processes require different tool spindle speeds and feed rates. Reasonable setting of cutting speed and feed speed is the key to optimizing acrylic processing parameters.
The following are the parameter setting rules we have obtained through practice for your reference. If you have any questions, you can consult our CNC Router experts to provide advice for your specific needs.
Regular cutting of acrylic: Use a high-speed spindle, set the speed to 40,000 rpm, and the feed speed is 6 meters (≈236 inches)/minute.
Polishing: Use a diamond polishing bit, set the speed to 12,000 rpm, and the feed speed is 3 meters (≈118 inches)/minute.
Cutting v-grooves: Use a v-type acrylic router bit, set the speed to 24,000 rpm, and the feed speed is 3 meters (≈118 inches)/minute.
Cutting chamfers: Use a v-type chamfering acrylic router bit, set the speed to 24,000 rpm, and the feed speed is 6 meters 6 meters (≈236 inches)/minute.
The key to improving CNC Router processing efficiency is to choose the right software and use its functions. Signkey's CNC Router operating software has compatibility with multiple file formats, including vector graphics (such as plt, ai, dxf) and bitmaps (such as bmp).
Users can directly import design files and automatically identify and generate processing paths through the software. The function of printing files as cutting paths without manual path making greatly improves the processing efficiency of CNC Router.
When cutting acrylic, some cutting problems often occur, and choosing a CNC Router with complete functions and good performance can help you avoid a lot of trouble and improve cutting efficiency.
Ordinary spindles (such as 24,000 rpm) may cause edge bursting during high-speed cutting and cause great damage to the tool. In contrast, Signkey's high-speed spindles (such as 40,000 rpm) can produce more delicate knife marks during high-speed cutting, less damage to the tool, and better secondary polishing.
For the cutting of small pieces of acrylic, a springboard may occur. In this case, Signkey's software with slash cutting function and CNC router with vacuum table can effectively prevent the occurrence of the springboard phenomenon.
Acrylic cutting will generate a lot of dust and waste chips, which may jam the slider or affect the normal operation of the machine if not cleaned in time. A CNC router with a good vacuum system can not only improve work efficiency, but also prevent the accumulation of waste chips from causing damage to the machine.
Signkey has the following models suitable for acrylic cutting:
ES-1325CCD & ES-Z1325CCD
ES-1325CCD-2T
ES-R1625OS
ES-R1625ODS-AT4
ES- 1325AT4
Among them, the most suitable models for acrylic cutting are ES-1325CCD & ES-Z1325CCD, ES-1325AT4.
ES-1325CCD & ES-Z1325CCD
The spindle speed of ES-1325CCD & ES-Z1325CCD CNC router can reach up to 40000rpm, which significantly improves the cutting efficiency compared with the CNC router with lower speed.
In addition, this model has the function of intelligent camera edge finding and cutting, which greatly improves the cutting accuracy.
The 3D engraving function makes this model more widely used. It is very effective in making three-dimensional decorative elements.
ES-1325AT4
ES-1325AT4 is a CNC router with an automatic tool change system. The automatic tool change system ensures precise tool change, thus ensuring high precision during machining. In addition, it also makes the CNC router flexible to cope with different machining tasks.
Acrylic cut with CNC Router is widely used, and the following are common applications:
Decoration: CNC Router can be used to make various decorations, such as exhibits, crafts, etc.
Model making: In the model making industry, CNC Router can be used for the customization of 3D models.
Advertisement: CNC Router is widely used in the advertising industry for the production of advertising signs, display materials, and other promotional materials.
Trophies: Acrylic is ideal for making trophies due to its transparent and machinable properties.
Furniture: CNC Router can be used to make a variety of furniture, including bookshelves, cabinets, lamps, etc.
Transparent Frame: CNC Router can cut acrylic to make transparent frames for display, decoration, or structural support.
In addition to application, there are many other reasons for cutting acrylic with CNC routers, which are mainly reflected in its precision, efficiency, and workmanship quality.
CNC router is controlled by a computer and can operate precisely according to the design drawings, thus ensuring that the dimensions of the cut parts are accurate. In addition, CNC router is also able to handle complex geometries and delicate designs, so that the final product has a flawless surface.
Compared with traditional manual or mechanical processing methods, CNC routers can complete a large number of complex cutting tasks in a shorter time, thereby improving production efficiency. For example, by properly setting the spindle speed and feed rate, you can avoid the problem of acrylic melting or breaking due to frictional overheating, thereby achieving efficient and high-quality cutting.
In addition, using a CNC router for acrylic cutting can also help reduce subsequent processing steps. For example, using the right tool and setting appropriate processing parameters can reduce the need for subsequent grinding and polishing, saving time and cost.
When choosing a machine to cut acrylic, CNC routers and laser cutters are two common options. The following will compare the two and summarize how to choose between them.
Pros:
CNC router is suitable for a variety of tasks, from simple cutting to complex 3D engraving. It can handle complex 3D shapes and grooves.
With the right tools and settings, CNC router can reduce additional grinding and polishing steps after cutting.
CNC router is usually faster than laser cutting, especially when processing large or heavy materials.
CNC router generally has higher precision than laser cutting, especially CCD CNC router.
Cons:
CNC routers tend to generate more dust, so it is best to choose a CNC router with dust removal function.
Materials are easily affected by tools and moved on CNC routers, so it is best to choose a model with a vacuum table.
Pros:
Laser cutters perform well when processing small acrylic parts, especially when the precision requirements are not particularly high.
During processing, the material will not shift due to force, and no clamping device is required.
Cons:
Laser cutters are not as accurate as CNC routers.
It can only cut flat materials and cannot meet 3D cutting needs.
It is difficult to process materials above a certain thickness.
When choosing between CNC routers and laser cutters, the most important thing to consider is the need for material processing. If you are processing thicker acrylic, you need to switch flexibly between different types of materials, and you have high precision requirements, CNC routers are the first choice. For those who need to cut acrylic sheets faster, laser cutters are a good choice.
