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Lexan insert

zhaddock

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 22, 2014
Messages
247
Location
Kansas City
What's the consensus on the best way to get a clean accurate edge when cutting 1/4 lexan sheet? It will have strait and curved sections. I thought about a router or trim router but I'm afraid it will melt and gum up instead of cut.
 
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Nor'Easter

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 30, 2012
Messages
718
Location
Maine
It cuts on a table saw alright, just wear glasses.

Also could be done with a scroll saw or jig saw.
 
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TauntDevil

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 19, 2014
Messages
194
Location
Mesa, AZ
any band saw or jig saw, dremel, one of those wood edge tools (forgot the name) any of these will work as long as you get the correct blade / setup. There is a video somewhere that shows all the available options and also informs the correct blade name/numbers to get. Sorry that I cant search for it at the moment.
 

EdT

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 21, 2010
Messages
1,104
Location
North Georgia
Depends on how "clean and accurate" you need. For reasonably clean and accurate, I would make a pattern that looks like the part from some MDF or whatever falls to hand. Then rough out the lexan as close a you can to the final shape with a bandsaw, jigsaw, table saw or method of your choosing. I would then fasten the pattern to the rough part with double sided tape and cut the final profile on a router table with a trim bit with the bearing following the pattern. By removing most of the material in the roughing step, the router bit is less likely to gum up because the chips have a place to go. If there are any inside corners, make sure your router bit is small enough to get in there. You're not going to cut a 1/8" radius inside corner with a 1/4" radius cutter. If it's all outside corners, the size of the bit doesn't matter too much. If you've not done this before, try a couple of test cuts just to see what happens. The feed speed matters(slow to give the chips time to clear) as does the router speed (probably slower that MAX). A bit of paraffin wax (candle) on the bit will help the chips to not stick. WD 40 will work too, but it will compromise the double sided tape fairly quickly. I have cut lexan shapes using this method and it works for me. It may not work for you. For less clean and accurate, rough it out and cut to the line with a belt sander depending on what the part looks like. Again, inside corners are a pain so a rotary sanding drum on a Dremel would probably work. Remember, I don't have a clue what your part looks like so all the above may be inappropriate.
 
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