Cutting Plastic

[cunder]

I am having chatter trouble cutting some plastic. Simple square profile 1-3/4" x 2-1/2" 2.6 LOC.
Currently using a general purpose 3/4" carbide 3 flute 3" flute length.

this is the material

http://www.nylacast.com/dynamic_files/nylacast_pom_c_tech_sheet1.pdf

Anyone have some preferred tools that work well?

[Oppiz]

http://www.nylacast.com/dynamic_files/machining_nylacast_materials_1.pdf

[Machineguy]

Use End Mills for Aluminum on plastic. You need the Clearance reliefs on plastics. Garr tooling has all kinds for Aluminum. Uncoated woks best.

[workmantm]

Keep the CPT higher as well. Every bit of plastic that I've run wants a good amount of force to cut cleanly.

 

My experience is typically with Delrin, but I never run into the issues we used to see when running it now. Last time it looked like we had a snow storm in the machine when I was done.

[Machineguy]

Also, run the corn cobb end mills for roughing. It breaks the chips up better, and you can move them real fast if you run coolant ! Plastic will weld to the tool if it get to its melting temp.

[jeff]

Also, run the corn cobb end mills for roughing. It breaks the chips up better, and you can move them real fast if you run coolant ! Plastic will weld to the tool if it get to its melting temp.

Why would you use a corn cob when a 2 flute will remove more stock faster?

[Machineguy]

3 flute corn cobb makes smaller chips, and are easier to deal with when going deep. I also never use a 4 flute on aluminum or plastic.  

A 3 flute has a higher harmonic rate then a 2 flute. You can run a 3 flute faster then a 2 flute.

[jeff]

3 flute corn cobb makes smaller chips, and are easier to deal with when going deep. I also never use a 4 flute on aluminum or plastic.  

A 3 flute has a higher harmonic rate then a 2 flute. You can run a 3 flute faster then a 2 flute.

Oh well then that makes sense, at first I pictured the old school 4-5 flute HSS corn cob roughers.

I thought you were off your rocker lol.

 

[Marshal]

I use a lot of Onsrud cutters on our router for plastics.  Especially the 52-600 V-cut series, or their O-flute cutters for plastics.  They do a good job on the HDPE I cut