Rounding Edges

[FSkiba]

We just got our new ShopBot going and cutting is going great! We now need to round the edges - in 2 different degrees - on one style of edge we just want to take the corner off, and the second style is a true rounding.

Anyone have any hints as to how to make this happen? We have tried many different ways and can't get the finish we want/need!

Any assistance/ideas would be appreciated!

[myxpykalix]

If you have a picture or drawing might give us a better idea of what you are trying to do but you could use a round over bit with a little offset from your outside vectors.

[butch]

Not sure if I understand correctly, but I will answer what "I" think you are asking.
Round Corners: Use the Filet function. I am using Aspire, but if I remember correctly most of the software even PW had this function. This gives a nice round corner.

Round Over: Edges? The way I do this is with a plunge veining bit. I have a 1/4in round over bit. I run this about .23" deep, and do round-overs in places I can't get to with a router table. Still most round over edges I do on the router table. It is just faster.

Hope that helps.

[rcnewcomb]

Specialized bit from Magnate.NET or Woodline.COM may help:
http://magnate.net/index.cfm?event=showProductGroup&theID=212
http://magnate.net/images/CornerRound/1251.jpg

[widgetworks_unlimited]

To "take the corner off" the easiest bit to use is a 45 degree V bit. It works better than a round over bit because small variances don't stand out with a chamfered edge the way they do with a roundover cut.

If your table isn't perfectly flat or if you material isn't perfectly uniform in thickness, all bits will cut too deep/too high. With a roundover, this error is a LOT more noticeable.

Roundover style bits can do a good job, just know what to expect - you will notice the difference from one sheet of material to the next and on rainy/dry days if you run the same file over an extended period of time. The type that Randall recommends above isn't as delicate as the veining bit that butch recommended, but they will both get the job done.