Rubber hockey puck?!

[abomb55076]

Hello, I am trying to engrave a persons name and other info onto a regular rubber type hockey puck but when I do this, it seems like it cuts pretty well but the closer you look, you can tell that the letters are all filled with the like rubbery gummy kind of rold up stuff. I was woundering if anyone knows how to deal with this. Maybe is there a better bit to be using, I am using a 60 degree v-bit with 4 blades on it. What is usually used to get good detailed work?

[Geof]

I have turned rubber similar to a hockey puck on a lathe and the tool had to be very sharp with a large top rake; almost like a knife slicing the material off, with soapy water as a lubricant.

With an engraving cutter it is going to be difficult getting a cutting edge with a large top rake; impossible I would say with a four flute cutter. Possibly you could try grinding s single flute cutter from an old drill bit; it may be possible to get a cutting edge withe the helix of the drill providing the top rake. Some experimentation will be necessary.

Alternatively you could try freezing the puck to make the rubber firmer, and maybe even brittle in which case it will machine like a hard plastic, but you will need to get it very cold. One way to do this is get dry ice...solid carbon dioxide, which freezes at almost minus 80 degrees Celsius. You put pieces of dry ice in isopropanol and this cools the isopropanol down to that temperature and you cool the puck in that. This procedure needs protectiver gaer, face masks, gloves, etc because getting isopropanol splashed in your face and eyes is not good; it is very much worse when it is very, very cold.

Isopropanol is rubbing alcohol or propyl alcohol and I think I have seen it at Home Depot.

[cam1]

Hi:
Wow, somebody from USA is interested in hockey pucks?

cheers

[abomb55076]

Originally Posted by Geof I have turned rubber similar to a hockey puck on a lathe and the tool had to be very sharp with a large top rake; almost like a knife slicing the material off, with soapy water as a lubricant. With an engraving cutter it is going to be difficult getting a cutting edge with a large top rake; impossible I would say with a four flute cutter. Possibly you could try grinding s single flute cutter from an old drill bit; it may be possible to get a cutting edge withe the helix of the drill providing the top rake. Some experimentation will be necessary. Alternatively you could try freezing the puck to make the rubber firmer, and maybe even brittle in which case it will machine like a hard plastic, but you will need to get it very cold. One way to do this is get dry ice...solid carbon dioxide, which freezes at almost minus 80 degrees Celsius. You put pieces of dry ice in isopropanol and this cools the isopropanol down to that temperature and you cool the puck in that. This procedure needs protectiver gaer, face masks, gloves, etc because getting isopropanol splashed in your face and eyes is not good; it is very much worse when it is very, very cold. Isopropanol is rubbing alcohol or propyl alcohol and I think I have seen it at Home Depot.

Yea I was thinking about doing that actually, It was really just a quick thought that I didnt think would work just because I thought of it but now that someone else is thinkin the same thing I might have to try it. Thanks!

[keebler303]

You could also try a carbide half round v-bit. I use them for engraving and they have worked pretty well, haven't tried hockey pucks before though.

Matt