Trying To Carve PVC With My CNC

See me failing, and somewhat succeeding at carving a sign out of a sheet of PVC from Home Depot. I'm learning, but I get so frustrated sometimes! This is a sign I made for a local person who saw the sign I made for my daughter in this video: • Making An Outdoor Sign...
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Bit I used for clearing and profile paths in this video:
SpeTool 1/4 inch compression bit
amzn.to/3I9v2Bd
Wrong bit I was using in this video:
SpeTool 60° V Bit: amzn.to/49fkHzs
Correct bit I just ordered for my next PVC carve:
SpeTool 45° V Bit amzn.to/3IdI5Sa
MAYBESTA Bluetooth microphones:
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XFasten double sided tape for woodworking:
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Onefinity Elite Foreman CNC:
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Dust boot system used in this video can be found here:
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Link to get the best CNC accessories:
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Use coupon code “BILLTRACY” to get 5% off!

[@doug9121]

Hello just saw the vide thought someone was filming me in my garage. I just started last year working with a CNC machine. Thank God for you tube and some forums for advice. I haven't started doing sign work with pvc but what I have read is o flute bit. Also, I use oramask all the time on wood signs works great don't know how it would be on pvc. Keep plugging it gets better.

[@TerrapinCreations666]

Thanks! I have an o flute and I have a better v bit coming that will be better for PVC. I chose the PVC since I think it will last a long time outside.

[@elerileigh7926]

Realized there weren’t many comments on here so I wanted to say hi, thank you for video

[@TerrapinCreations666]

Thanks!

[@blazegbs]

Yes, you can surface PVC. As mentioned below, go order some King Starboard for out door signage. Works like a charm.

[@TerrapinCreations666]

That stuff is two to three times the cost of PVC tho. If I’m going to practice, learn, and destroy materials, I like sticking with much cheaper materials, lol. I replied similarly to that comment below 😉👍

[@jsjohnst]

Try using blue vinyl stencil mask when doing the original style. It helps hold edges around fine details. Usually used for wood vbit engraving, but also works for hdpe especially when painted. Also, if you’ve got an air compressor, you could consider building a vacuum table with a Venturi adapter. Not as good as an actual vacuum table, but works.

[@TerrapinCreations666]

I just got a big roll of Oramask that I want to try. Thanks!

[@greevous]

Have a try using air blast nozzle pointed at the tip of your bit, 1 it will cool it to reduce melting and 2 will help evacuate chips so they do not end up attaching to your bit and producing plastic chains that can cause damage to your work surface, I've had this issue when carving fibrous wood and it binds around the tip of small v-carve bits and can cause fine details to be damaged as it works. while watching your vid you can see that the plastic is building up on the cutting edge of your bit so with long cuts it will end up rubbing the plastic causing the uneven levels and strings that can damage work.

[@TerrapinCreations666]

That’s a great idea! I have something like that for my laser. I’ll work on getting that set up on this too, thanks!

[@bryan5070]

In that PVC board, you should be running low RPM on the spindle with a high feed rate so it doesn't melt. You should definitely be able to cut through that 1/2" in one pass too. Use "o flute" bits when possible too. Fewer flutes, less heat. Were you using a 1/4" end mill? If so, an 1/8" might work out better. It would remove a lot more on your clearance pass where a 1/4" just couldn't fit. The vbit would have to do a lot less work then, and have a cleaner result. The point of a sharp vbit doesn't leave a good bottom pocket. Good luck, keep at it!

[@TerrapinCreations666]

Thanks! I think the reasons I thought the 1/4 would be better is mainly to leave a smoother surface, since it’s wider and I can set it for say a 10% step over. I’ll have to order some 1/8 bits and try them. And on the RPMs and feeds, yes, I’m hearing that from several people. Thanks for the solid advice!

[@TerrapinCreations666]

The trick is figuring out what exactly are low RPMs and high feed rates? Nobody has a definitive answer with exact numbers.

[@bryan5070]

@@TerrapinCreations666 I cut through the entire 1/2" PVC with an 1/8" o-flute at 80ipm, 40ipm plunge, 10k on my router.. one full depth pass. I think even that's probably pretty conservative. This stuff is about as soft as butter. Let that machine eat :)

[@RalfRoot]

From my experience engraving text on large acrylic plates is hard to master because any slight difference in height is easily visible. make sure your plate is dead even when trying to engrave. it would be optimal to have a vaccum pulling it down because using tape to lock it in place is good enough for the single flute mill, but for a flat surface its horrible. maybe try to use a large face mill if tape is your only option. bolting it down can also create an arch in the middle, so your best bet is a vaccum table

[@RalfRoot]

im talking less than 0.1mm if possible but if i remember correctly i had to bring it further down. more to something like +-0.05mm

[@TerrapinCreations666]

I'm hoping someday to get a vacuum table. I've seen small ones that are maybe 24x24 selling for just under $1,000 that you just add on top of your spoilboard. For now it's just the double sided tape, and I'm hoping the bit I just ordered will be better for the v carving portion. That compression bit does a great job for the initial bulk clearing tool path.

[@TerrapinCreations666]

I had to do just about the same thing as going super shallow really showed off how inconsistent the thickness is with this PVC stuff. So I just kept trying a little bit deeper each time until it started to look acceptable.

[@ClintonCaraway-CNC]

Using the correct material should help. Kings ColorCore is what you are trying to replicate. HDPE machines better, holds details better (obviously) and doesn't need to be painted.

[@TerrapinCreations666]

True but I can’t get that stuff locally. I’d have to order online and pay for shipping. Plus clients want custom colors that just aren’t available in colorcore, but I guess I could paint it anyway. Plus this stuff, which is 24x48 costs $40 compared to colorcore which costs $105 for the same size 24x48 sheet, plus who knows how much for shipping. Maybe once I’m up and running, and actually making money, I’d consider that stuff.

[@blazegbs]

Have you flattened the spoil board to the spindle? Also trammed the spindle?

[@TerrapinCreations666]

Yes to both, thanks.

[@ClintonCaraway-CNC]

@6:15 v3/Tube Bundle

[@TerrapinCreations666]

Thanks! I thought the V3 was the larger 4 inch for dust collector systems.

[@SJSSawdust]

Man, I’ve been here about a thousand times - frustrated, throwing bad money into a project just trying to come up with a presentable final product for the customer - spending way too much time and effort, that even the final payout doesn’t come close to the energy exerted. What did you end up doing with the sign- presenting it or trashing it ? ( you said you weren’t happy with it)

[@TerrapinCreations666]

I showed it to them and they were thrilled with it, even though it had some fuzzies in a lot of places. But since I wasn’t happy, I knocked off $10. I just got in this bit which I’m hoping will do a better job, at least for the v-carve parts: amzn.to/3IhvOvU

[@TerrapinCreations666]

I want to make a video testing all different feeds and RPMS using mostly the PVC scraps I wasted. I’m hoping I can nail down the best settings for this stuff.

[@SJSSawdust]

@@TerrapinCreations666 nice! I used an O flute and cut some pvc sheet goods to make a ghost a couple years ago. I originally used a 1/4” down cut and it all melted. I think at the very least an up cut is key and O is even better. I also found, the faster IPM the better as well. Good luck, make sure you put a video out on it

[@TerrapinCreations666]

@@SJSSawdustI originally was using an upcut, and even though I had lots of double sided tape holding it down, the upcut was pulling the PVC up causing really bad grooves in open areas inside the pocket cuts. So I tried a compression bit that people on Facebook suggested. You see it in this video and it did a great job. The bit causing the problems in this video is the 4 flute v bit. I’m hoping the new 2 flute v bit I just got will do better.