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View Full Version : Cutting Alumalite?



sgarver
04-02-2014, 05:48 PM
I am cutting some alumalite with is 6mm thick. It is a composite thin aluminum on both sides with a plastic core. It routes very easy with a hand router and a straight bit on a table. but when I try it on a cnc and use a down fluted bit it doesn't always come out good and smooth. I cut circles out and in a sheet 2x4 screwed down I get 80% come out okay but the other 20 have a rough edge one side of the sheet. on the picture you can see the bottom. I sanded the plastic out of the way.. also the plastic gets torn up pretty good with the fluted bits. when I used a straight bit on hand router the plastic did not curl up like this. any one have any experence with cutting this material?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/122171714@N04/

sgarver
04-02-2014, 05:53 PM
https://www.flickr.com/photos/122171714@N04/https://www.flickr.com/photos/122171714@N04/

cant find picture

Mike Windsor
04-02-2014, 06:43 PM
I cut quite a bit of it for the local sign shop . I use either a 1/8 " single flute upcut spiral bit or a 1/4" double flute straight bit . Speeds are usualy about 150 ipm . with the small bit I cut in two passes