Cutting 3/8 plywood, which bits.

[czwalga]

I have a solsylva machine I just finished building. My goal is to cut shapes out of the 3/8" or 1/2" plywood, say 2"x4" area. However I need to leave a lip around the whole way around the outside. So the first cut would be 1/8" down around the radius of the shape. Then the next cut would be through the whole sheet.

Hopefully this makes sense. The router is 30000 rpm, 5.6amp.


So my questions:

1. Can the router make this cut on a single pass? Feedrate etc?

2. Which Bits would be the best choice.

[ger21]

1. Can the router make this cut on a single pass?

Depends on how rigid your machine is. Plus, you just said you needed two passes?
If you want to cut 3/8" in a single pass, I'd use a 3/8" diameter bit or bigger.

My question is how will you hold such small parts?

Feedrate etc?

30,000 rpm is much too high. If you can't lower it, you can cut as fast as your machine is capable of.

2. Which Bits would be the best choice.

I'd probably use a downcut 2 flute spiral

[czwalga]

The pieces will be cut out of a sheet. So i just have to hold the sheet. The lip needed is on the inside of the sheet.

I realize i need two passes haha, but i mean one pass for the lip and one to cut the inside.