Acrylic Speeds & Feeds for Shapeoko -

[@billpackman3370]

Excellent video. Have been running big CNCs for years but first time cutting acrylic. Lots of shouting and frustration (and quite a few quid in broken bits) before I found this gem. Top work. Thanks.

[@RC-Flight]

Thanks for including metric speeds and cut depths!

[@danmartinguit]

Thank you very much from Canada !

[@koos42]

Oh! I recognize that waste board scar at 3:23, I too have had an up-cut bit auger itself into the spoil board and out of the chuck! I have been a bit more shy about my DOC since then.

[@ricknull3337]

Great video! I’m brand spanking new to CNC work and I even understood this… kind of.

[@threeque]

You make the BEST cnc videos. Love them.

[@mirage3rd]

You are a well of knowledge. Thanks for all the insights.

[@kiloohm]

Thank you Winston!

[@SerialPyro]

I'll have to give these a try, when i tried to run acrylic on Saturday i had alot of issues

[@Revvek]

Great video! What 1/8” end mill did you use in that section? Single flute? We are trying to cut acrylic on somewhat upgraded xcarve, and though we got the 1/4 cuts working we seem to be having issues with 1/8 cuts with a single glue upcut.

[@carbide3d]

Single flutes are the way to go with Acrylic. We have a pair of single-flute endmills that excel in acrylic projects. Here is the 1/8": shop.carbide3d.com/collections/cutters/products/274z-125-single-flute-zrn

[@Revvek]

We found that dual flute worked much better yesterday, because the spindle speed was slower and less inclined to make melted acrylic and also let us move the the bit away from the cut faster.

[@lijack8740]

Great video, we will try.

[@joe_fabricator]

Will try some of these toolpaths. Luckily, VCarve has ramping options which is great. Nice video.

[@KalebQi]

So how do you adjust these parameters if you’re using a single flute or 4 flute cutter instead of a 2 flute cutter for example?

[@danielacohen7064]

Excellent thanks. I was wondering if there is a problem with the smell when you use the machine, do you need a filter? and I wanted to know if it also engraves on acrylic-PVC and what is its quality? and how many mm must the acrylic be . Thank you

[@StephensCustomModels]

This was a very helpful starting point, thank you.

[@buddyturner]

Good video, what are your recommendations for engraving acrylic and type of bits? I’m getting build up on my vbits which is marring the surface white, thanks!

[@carbide3d]

Hi Buddy. Diamond tip drag engravers are the go to for acrylic. 90° and 120° varieties of the McEtcher. Reverse your art, engrave the back side of the acrylic for best results. shop.carbide3d.com/collections/cutters/products/mcetcher-diamond-cnc-drag-bit?variant=39271659634749

[@boxofrocks3212]

Are acrylic and polycarbonate similar? If not do you have any tips for speeds and feeds for polycarbonate?

[@piotrhasse8165]

Summary in description is nice but I miss same information in metric units as it is in video and lack of links to shop (like in previews videos was done).

[@markadamarnold]

"Finding limits is an exercise left to youth..." I love this quote. Thanks for the laugh. Great info in this video. Definitely bookmarking for future reference.

[@flavianojose8423]

hey there, hope you are doing great, i have a 3018 cnc, and i bought now one flute from HQ Master, and still dont get the best settings to cut my acrylics, its always melting the acrylics, do you have better settings to recommend?

[@theguncouple]

bump

[@SolarBurrito]

What bit do you use to engrave tiny word labels into acrylic? Words about 1/4 tall

[@Superdupershaun]

Depends, if you need to keep the paper on to paint it then you need to use a downcut carbide inlay bit. If you don't need to paint it then use a uncut o flute bit.

[@FriedrichKegel]

Use air cooling to keep the tool cool for longer operations ;) And only use single flute endmills which are new/very sharp/only used for plastics!

[@gmack4097]

So, did you buy that Mechatron HF spindle systems? For a Shapeoko?

[@FriedrichKegel]

@@gmack4097 Haha no - putting such a spindle on a shape oko is a bit the wrong ratio right? I have a simple Datron M1 100x50cm ;)

[@gmack4097]

@@FriedrichKegel Yup - but their HFP-6508-60-ER11 would be awesome on Shapeokos - albeit likely quite expensive!

[@FriedrichKegel]

@@gmack4097 Dont get me wrong, i love their portfolio but I dont belive that you can justify a spindle at the same price of the machine. It makes totally sense if you jump to ATC spindles, but before that, get a 300$ 800W-2,2kW Spindle and you are good forever ;)

[@Ioan-mihaiGradina]

How many flutes cuter are you using in this video?

[@carbide3d]

Single or O-Flute bits are best suited for machining acrylic on Shapeoko machines.

[@Mageikman]

I used the exact setting for the 1/16" endmill and snap goes the bit

[@theguncouple]

any tips for avoiding build up on smaller bits? the build up is really bad that it ruins what im trying to drill/cut

[@johnhoran5669]

Can you use a 60 degree vee in acrylic? If so speeds and feeds?

[@Superdupershaun]

I'm having a hard time finding the right settings for small bits for engraving. I have a .8mm bit or 1/32bit and I'm engraving on cast acrylic. I got the depth at .02in but unsure of the rpm or feed rate?

[@carbide3d]

Shaun. Many times going faster is better with acrylic. However with a 1/32” you get into issues of potential breakage of the endmill. Go faster and shallower and see if that yields better results.

[@oasiscustomfirearms]

What mills are you using? 0,1, or 2 flute flats?

[@carbide3d]

Single flute endmills are best for acrylic.

[@gmack4097]

Winston - which software package(s) did you use to produce those various toolpaths?

[@carbide3d]

Fusion. I disabled lead-in/out to make Contour/Pocket comparable to CC.

[@gmack4097]

@@carbide3d Does CC now support pocketing starting at the perimeter rather than the center?

[@mdikker]

Great video, Can you make a feed and speed video for PVC?

[@carbide3d]

Cellular/Expanded PVC (or trim board) is meant to be treated just like wood for the most part. Maybe drop RPMs slightly, but if you know how to machine wood, you know how to machine PVC. Solid stuff, like in a PVC pipe would require speeds and feeds closer to that of hard plastic (like this).

[@omermalik4993]

Hi winston, where did you get those clamps from ?

[@lylet100]

Omer Malik ==I’ve asked the same question and got the same answer if you have found them could you Please share. [e-mail]

[@carbide3d]

These were given to me by another machinist and are no longer for sale. Closest thing we sell are the Gator Tooth clamps in the store. -W

[@dcstang67]

Can these settings also be used for a single O-Flute endmill?

[@WinstonMakes]

You can likely push similarly hard, but other than doing some empirical testing to find exact values, your best bet is to consult the tool manufacturer as they know best.

[@racreativenwa]

What type of cooler nozzle is that on your spindle mount?

[@Juslisn83]

would like this answer also

[@NaqashAfzal]

what is plung rate

[@AllanScheSar]

2:26 it looks like a popcorn action :D

[@bernardtarver]

2:00 feed rate is 72 IPM, not 50.

[@215Xavier]

pretty sure it's meant to say 1270mm, I'm just going off what carbide create says(1143mm on CC)

[@cyberlizardcouk]

i simply use my co2 laser for cutting acrylic. much easier.

[@briandodds]

For cutting I would agree, but you can't make a pocket with a laser cutter.

[@cyberreefguru]

Those clamps are pretty sexy. What are they?