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perspex cutting

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 12:14 pm
by spannermonkey
can i use a normal wood router on 5mm perspex?
design is quite intricate and how do i get the edges smooth and line free?
cheers for any help!

Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 1:25 pm
by ultimatehandyman
use the same cutter speeds as for wood:-Double edged cutters are preferred, ground and honed with a back clearance angle of about 12° or more.Routing is usually performed dry but provision must be made to clear all swarf from the work bench and keep the cutter cool. A compressed air jet directed at the work piece usually performs this task. HSS cutters give better results than TCT cutters although their life will be shorter. Regular sharpening is therefore necessary.

To get the edges as clear as the perspex itself you can either flame polish the edge, which is hard without the right equipment ot you can polish the edge. You can see how to polish the edge on this page, about half way down- http://www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk/diy/a ... _table.htm