Router Bits
for Plastics
Fast Facts for Plastic Routing
- Plastics are replacing metal and wood as material of choice every day.
- Plastics have characteristics that make them durable, cost effective and attractive but also unique to cut.
- Generic (wood) router bits don’t cut it for productivity and finish in plastics.
- These routers have been designed, tested and improved for high volume plastic machining since 1985.
High speed steel tools will give a better finish in ductile, impact resistant, softer, warmer, readily machinable and less abrasive plastics.
Carbide tools should be used for hard, brittle, rigid, high strength, abrasive and difficult to cut plastics. They will provide much better tool life.
Materials will vary by batch, color and brand which affects tool performance. Try both single and double edge tools to determine best performance at desired speed of cut with good finish. Use shortest available cutting edge that gets the job done. Additional edge length causes deflection and vibration.
Use long enough overall length to properly seat tool in the collet.
Plastic sheet stock with protective paper should be routed with carbide bits. The paper is abrasive and will cause poor tool life for high speed steel.
