How fast can you cut?

[Blacknbart]

I am trying to understand how fast a Shopbot machine with a router or spindle attached will cut these simple requests.

How long would it take to cut six 24’’circles out of a:
I know the circle might be sized a little less to accommodate the board in the width and length.

4’ x 8’ sheet of ½ MDO plywood.

4’ x 8’ sheet of 3/4 MDF plywood.

4’ x 8’ sheet of ¼ Acrylic.

4’ x 8’ sheet of 13mm Sintra




How long does it usually take to carve out some text and simple detail artwork out of HDU sign foam. Sizes are sizes:

2’ x 4’

4’ x 8’


Thanks for the help!!

Bart

[srwtlc]

Bart, by the looks of your profile picture, maybe you outta lay off the coffee and slow down a bit.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[knight_toolworks]

the plywood can be cut 3ips though I usually do a cleanup pass so figure about 5 minutes or so.
plastic is a fair amount slower only 1.ips or so. the sintra two passes and say 2ips.

[srwtlc]

Depending on the tool size, veneered MDF can be cut fairly fast. I will often cut at 6"/sec with a 3/8" compression and 5"/sec with a 5mm compression at 0.375"/per pass. Lots of dust!

[Blacknbart]

Thanks for the helpful information it's a little clearer how fast a router can cut these materials. Providing the machine is set at the correct settings and I'm using the correct bit and compression. So I can I assume if I had a 2' x 4' HDU Sign to carve out it would take no less the 10 minutes to route and carve any letters and or shapes given.

[curtiss]

take good care of that good eye...


Depending on how you hold things down, more time can be spent with hold down procedures compared to cutting procedures.

[wberminio]

Bart

You can't give accurate times.It all depends on many variables.
Material/How complex the design and /or letters......

No matter how long it takes,It will be more accurate and faster in the long run then any other method

[jerry_stanek]

I cut Sintra and Acrylic all the time. Sintra I cut at 4.5 IPS .26 deepapass and acrylic at 3 IPS

[dlcw]

Bart,

I cut 1/2", 5/8" and 3/4" plywood at about 6 inches per second and always make two passes. First pass (climb cut) leaves a 1/32" skin and the second pass (conventional cut) trims to exact size and cuts 1/64" thru the ply into the spoil board. I can turn a sheet of 3/4" plywood into cabinet parts, ready to assemble, in about 10-20 minutes. All depends on the number of parts that are being cut.

I cut 1/4" and 1/2" MDF at 3-4 inches per second as well and cut hundreds of parts for a local sports plaque company. Everything from 4" circles to 25" circles as well as football shapes. The 1/4" takes awhile because I'm cutting 230 circles with a .1875" downcut spiral bit at 3ips. The 1/2" MDF I cut with a 1/4" downcut spiral at 4ips.

Carving something takes longer depending on the amount of detail you want to end up with. Most carving I do with a 1/8" ballnose using a 6% stepover rate. This makes for a very detailed carving with little sanding left to do. Most carving is a 2 step approach where the roughing is done with a larger bit and the a second pass is done with a smaller bit. The attached business sign I use at shows plaque took about 4.5 hours to carve to give you an idea of timing.

[chiloquinruss]

Don, I love that border on your sample sign, how was it accomplished? Russ