Micro 100 has built, and earned, an international reputation for manufacturing high quality solid carbide turning tools that are built to last.

An excellent choice for deep cavity machining operations, this long length, square, reduced neck end mill is fully stocked.

Best Blades and Bits for Cutting Plastic Router Bits | Saw Blades September 8th, 2023 6 minute read Listen to article 1x 00:00 Audio generated by DropInBlog's Blog Voice AI™ may have slight pronunciation nuances. Learn more Here's the thing about cutting plastic:  It melts. Cutting requires friction. Friction generates heat. And heat melts plastic.  If your material melts a lot, it will re-bond behind the cutting tool in a process known as "chip-weld." If it melts a little bit, you'll end up with rough, uneven edges. Neither option is pretty.  So, you need specialized router bits and saw blades to cut plastic. Watch LED Acrylic Sign Making full screen What Do We Mean by "Melt"? Don't be confused by the manufacturer's stated "melting points." That is the temperature at which plastic literally becomes a liquid; like, it flows. Most durable plastics will melt at temperatures below 500 degrees Fahrenheit, but will begin to soften -- and deform -- well before that.  High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), a hard plastic used to make park benches, pipes, industrial & commercial windows, and other building materials, starts to melt at 257°F, but it begins to soften at between 110-120°. Acrylic, or Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), a.k.a. Lucite® or Plexiglas®, is also considered a hard plastic. It's translucent, making it a good substitute for glass, at half the weight. It melts at around 320°F. It softens at around 120°F. You can actually bend the stuff with a hair dryer.  Polycarbonate, like Lexan™, is a soft plastic widely used in signmaking. It softens at about 297°F, and flows above 311°F. So; higher temperatures, but a very short window between "soft" and goo. High Density Urethane (HDU Board) is a closed-cell foam board, also commonly used in signmaking. It is rated for up to 200°F continuous exposure. In contrast, wood will begin to char at between 450°F to 500°F. Moral of the story: Plastic melts.  Watch How to Make: CNC LED Holiday Sign full-screen Other Things to Know About Plastic Feed Rates and Speeds: A good rule of thumb for plastic is to use high spindle speeds and low feed rates. This will reduce heat. Adjust speeds and feeds according to chip formation. Ideally, the chips should be small and consistent. Depth of Cut: Shallow depths of cut can also help prevent heat buildup. Two shallow passes are cooler than one deep pass. Chip Clearing: Plastics can produce long, stringy chips. Regular chip clearing can prevent these from getting entangled and affecting the machining process. Clamping: Plastics are softer and more flexible than metals, so avoid over-clamping, which can cause deformation or breakage. Use soft jaws or fixtures to prevent marring the surface. Cooling and Lubrication: Many plastics can be machined dry, but for some, a coolant or air blast can help prevent melting and improve surface finish. When using coolants, make sure they're compatible with the plastic. Some plastics might absorb the coolant, leading to dimensional changes or degradation. Surface Finish: If a smooth surface finish is required, use a finishing pass with a fine tool and slower feed rate.  Safety: Some plastics can release toxic fumes when machined. Always ensure proper ventilation and use protective equipment like masks and goggles. Watch How to Make a CNC Alphabet Piggy Bank full-screen Get the plans here Best Saw Blades for Cutting Plastic The best blades for plastic are our carbide-tipped no-melt saw blades. The modified triple-chip grind and 2° negative hook angle produce less heat than a standard blade, leaving a crisp, smooth edge.  The negative hook angle greatly reduces the tendency of chip-welding or melting of Acrylic Sheets, Plexiglas®, Lexan®, Corrugated Polypropolyene, HDPE, Polycarbonates, Coroplast®* and other plastics. Additionally, blades coated with Amana Tool's Electro-Blu™ Non-Stick Coating prevent resin build-up. Best Router Bits for Cutting Plastic Not to sound like a commercial, but you can't go wrong with the Solid Carbide Spektra™ Extreme Tool Life Coated, Plastic Cutting CNC Router Bits, made with the highest quality sub-micrograin carbide, with nACo® nanocomposite coating for less friction and heat buildup. Spektra bits have a special proprietary edge processing system and feature a super high polished cutting edge with a unique “mirror finish”, resulting in clean cuts, superior surface finish and a longer tool life. Benefits of Mirror-Finish: Razor sharp cutting edge Effortless chip removal Helps prevent chip re-welding Dissipates heat well and prevents melting Extends tool life Exceptional cut quality Start with a Spiral O Single Flute, Plastic Cutting Up-Cut Router Bit. The Spiral ‘O’ flute sharpening/finishing process increases feed rates, allowing for more linear feet routed in less time.  These can also be purchased without the nACo® coating, but the coating does extend the life of your bit up to 2.5 times. For profiling and carving, get a 3-piece or 4-piece Spektra Extreme Tool Life Coated 2D/3D Carving Set. For fine lettering and engraving, try a 30 Degree Engraving 0.005 Tip Width bit. And a Spiral Finisher leaves an extra high surface finish. People Also Ask: Is Corian® plastic? Technically, no, corian is not plastic per se. But, it is made from about 1/3 acrylic, which is a plastic. (The other 2/3 is mostly natural material.) It is prudent to treat Corian® like a plastic, taking all the precautions you would with actual plastic.  Is vinyl plastic? Absolutely, yes. "Vinyl" usually means PVC (polyvinyl chloride). The "V" is for vinyl.  Interestingly, the "C," for chloride, is the part of the compound with the most negative environmental impact. Other vinyls like EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) or PVB (polyvinyl butyral) - ones without that "C" component - are much better for the environment. But all of them are plastic. Is Formica® plastic? Yes. Manufacturers of Formica® swear it's made mostly from layers of kraft paper, which is true. What they don't tell you, is that the paper is layered between sheets of melamine resin, a thermoplastic.  Treat all laminates like plastic. See our full set of free downloadable safety posters here. « Back to Articles Related Articles Dovetail Joints: 5 Different Types and Their Uses 4 minute read September 5th, 2023 Dado Saw Blades - The Ultimate Guide 9 minute read September 1st, 2023 Best Aluminum Cutting Saw Blades 3 minute read September 15th, 2023

Micro 100's fully stocked product offering of solid carbide end mills for steels and high-temp alloys, featuring a 20° helix. . . .

Special for threading insert,universal for all stainless steel and HRC<50 steel. CP2125 Special for milling insert,High hardness PVD coating.

Chip Clearing: Plastics can produce long, stringy chips. Regular chip clearing can prevent these from getting entangled and affecting the machining process.

Add products to your Micro100.com shopping cart and then submit the cart to a participating distributor to place your order

Polycarbonate, like Lexan™, is a soft plastic widely used in signmaking. It softens at about 297°F, and flows above 311°F. So; higher temperatures, but a very short window between "soft" and goo.

Increase material removal rates with this line of solid carbide, square, 4-flute end mills, optimized for high-temp materials . . .

Designed in our world class grinding facility in Meridian, Idaho, Micro 100's Micro-Quik product line is a breakthrough system that saves machinists countless hours without sacrificing performance.

Aug 8, 2023 — [Intro] D G F#m ............. [Verse 1] D G I never hoped for the best F#m D G F#m But I'd be surprised if it got any worse, I swear D G F#m ...

Earn high performance in titanium alloys, Inconel, nickel alloys, and other high-temp materials with this Micro 100 end mill.

The design of Micro 100's PSC Holders combines a Capto® compatible connection with our proprietary Micro-Quik quick change system, which maximizes productivity by allowing for incredibly fast tool changes.

Clamping: Plastics are softer and more flexible than metals, so avoid over-clamping, which can cause deformation or breakage. Use soft jaws or fixtures to prevent marring the surface.

High Density Urethane (HDU Board) is a closed-cell foam board, also commonly used in signmaking. It is rated for up to 200°F continuous exposure.

Feed Rates and Speeds: A good rule of thumb for plastic is to use high spindle speeds and low feed rates. This will reduce heat.

Micro 100 single ended Corner Rounding End Mills feature 1° max flares that are tangent at its pilot and shoulder to avoid st . . .

Safety: Some plastics can release toxic fumes when machined. Always ensure proper ventilation and use protective equipment like masks and goggles.

Interestingly, the "C," for chloride, is the part of the compound with the most negative environmental impact. Other vinyls like EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) or PVB (polyvinyl butyral) - ones without that "C" component - are much better for the environment. But all of them are plastic.

Which types of steel are suitable for CNC machining, and how do you choose the most appropriate one?

Oct 10, 2012 — My 2 cents, I've ordered tons of stuff from miniature market and have never had any issues. I normally receive my items 2-3 days after placing ...

by DC Edelstein · 1998 · Cited by 14 — Recently, IBM announced the first silicon integrated circuit technology that incorporates copper on-chip wiring. ... copper chips'. Motivational issues are ...

If your material melts a lot, it will re-bond behind the cutting tool in a process known as "chip-weld." If it melts a little bit, you'll end up with rough, uneven edges. Neither option is pretty.

This product offering of solid carbide router end mills is outstanding for machining plastics, and features polished flutes.

Micro 100 tooling is designed to excel at vastly increased speed and feed rates while providing exceptional results in a wide array of difficult-to-machine materials.

Tungsten steel belongs to solid carbide, also known as tungsten-titanium alloy. Hardness is 10K Vickers, second only to diamonds.

The best blades for plastic are our carbide-tipped no-melt saw blades. The modified triple-chip grind and 2° negative hook angle produce less heat than a standard blade, leaving a crisp, smooth edge.

High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), a hard plastic used to make park benches, pipes, industrial & commercial windows, and other building materials, starts to melt at 257°F, but it begins to soften at between 110-120°.

The negative hook angle greatly reduces the tendency of chip-welding or melting of Acrylic Sheets, Plexiglas®, Lexan®, Corrugated Polypropolyene, HDPE, Polycarbonates, Coroplast®* and other plastics.

This solid carbide, ball profile, stub flute end mill with 2 and 3-flute options, features a 20° helix and a NaCRo coating.

Micro 100's solid carbide Drill/End Mills are offered in 2 and 4-flute styles, in both uncoated and AlTiN coated styles.

These 30° helix, square profile end mills feature a center cutting design, and are offered uncoated or with AlTiN coating.

Achieve high performance in titanium alloys, Inconel, and nickel alloys with this line of long reach, 2 and 3-flute end mills . . .

O Ring Tool .06" Wire Kit (Wire and Cutter) ... Regular price $45.50 ... O Ring Tool .04" Wire Kit (Wire and Cutter) ... O Ring Tool .04" Wire Kit (Wire and Cutter).

This Micro 100's offering of solid carbide 2 Flute - Stub & Standard - Miniature End Mills features a square profile, and is . . .

Designed in our world class grinding facility in Meridian, Idaho, Micro 100's Micro-Quik product line is a breakthrough system that saves machinists countless hours without sacrificing performance.

Start with a Spiral O Single Flute, Plastic Cutting Up-Cut Router Bit. The Spiral ‘O’ flute sharpening/finishing process increases feed rates, allowing for more linear feet routed in less time.

Cooling and Lubrication: Many plastics can be machined dry, but for some, a coolant or air blast can help prevent melting and improve surface finish.

Carl Evans is the founder of Texas Pneumatic Tools, Inc. He started the business in his garage in Seabrook, Texas in 1977.

Spektra bits have a special proprietary edge processing system and feature a super high polished cutting edge with a unique “mirror finish”, resulting in clean cuts, superior surface finish and a longer tool life.

Micro 100's fully stocked product offering of solid carbide end mills for steels and high-temp alloys, featuring a 20° helix. . . .

Shop our range of Multi Purpose Drill Bit Sets at warehouse prices from quality brands. Order online for delivery or Click & Collect at your nearest ...

Is Corian® plastic? Technically, no, corian is not plastic per se. But, it is made from about 1/3 acrylic, which is a plastic. (The other 2/3 is mostly natural material.)

Engrave and v-groove on your part in various applications with this half round, drill style, solid carbide engraving cutter.

When using coolants, make sure they're compatible with the plastic. Some plastics might absorb the coolant, leading to dimensional changes or degradation.

Don't be confused by the manufacturer's stated "melting points." That is the temperature at which plastic literally becomes a liquid; like, it flows. Most durable plastics will melt at temperatures below 500 degrees Fahrenheit, but will begin to soften -- and deform -- well before that.

Micro 100 tooling is designed to excel at vastly increased speed and feed rates while providing exceptional results in a wide array of difficult-to-machine materials.

Acrylic, or Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), a.k.a. Lucite® or Plexiglas®, is also considered a hard plastic. It's translucent, making it a good substitute for glass, at half the weight. It melts at around 320°F. It softens at around 120°F. You can actually bend the stuff with a hair dryer.

Use this Micro 100 tool for predrilling 60° live center holes, as well as for countersinking and spot drilling applications.

From End Mills and Material Specific End Mills to Specialty Profiles and Holemaking solutions, Micro 100's metric offering of fully stocked, strong and durable milling tools are CNC ground in the USA.

Micro 100 tooling is engineered using the latest CNC grinding technology and manufacturing practices to create the industry’s highest quality products.

Aug 12, 2024 — My set arrived today. Black oxide 135° split point in a metal index. Chucked the 1/4" drill up in the lathe turret and plunged into 304ss ...

Is Formica® plastic? Yes. Manufacturers of Formica® swear it's made mostly from layers of kraft paper, which is true. What they don't tell you, is that the paper is layered between sheets of melamine resin, a thermoplastic.

Micro 100 has built, and earned, an international reputation for manufacturing high quality solid carbide turning tools that are built to last.

The design of Micro 100's PSC Holders combines a Capto® compatible connection with our proprietary Micro-Quik quick change system, which maximizes productivity by allowing for incredibly fast tool changes.

Depth of Cut: Shallow depths of cut can also help prevent heat buildup. Two shallow passes are cooler than one deep pass.

Add products to your Micro100.com shopping cart and then submit the cart to a participating distributor to place your order

Micro 100 tooling is engineered using the latest CNC grinding technology and manufacturing practices to create the industry’s highest quality products.

Not to sound like a commercial, but you can't go wrong with the Solid Carbide Spektra™ Extreme Tool Life Coated, Plastic Cutting CNC Router Bits, made with the highest quality sub-micrograin carbide, with nACo® nanocomposite coating for less friction and heat buildup.

A product offering of long flute, corner radius end mills designed for deep pocket milling of difficult-to-machine materials. . . .