Routing sintra - possible?

I've been searching and reading madly about working with sintra - which is what I plan to make my armor out of. I haven't seen specifically any info about cutting it with a router.

Can the stuff be straight cut? Beveled? Rounded over? using a router? If so, does anyone have any experince with what cutting speeds work best?

Thanks for the info.

Regards,
Brian

id say dremmel' it or a roto-zip may be easier, especially control in those spaces where u want good contour.. idk, i would think the plastic might not respond cut wise so well with a router as it does with a rotary tool... and a medium to medium/slower speed so they dont get away from ya so easy

Routing it is possible, but the friction and heat will emit toxic fumes. Personally I use a laser

I see. Well my router's tops speed is only 23,000 rpm, so I wasn't thinking there would be any more a problem with friction/smoking vs, a dremel. I don't know what the low end speed is. I suppose the cutting surface is a bit more with the router. Maybe I'll take a piece outside (once I get some!) and give it a shot.

My goal would be to have a nice rounded edge to the top of the armor, which I'm not sure I have the control to achieve with a dremel.

-Brian

The toxic fumes of sintra can be pretty poisonous if you are around them for a long while, I also don't know how sintra would react to a router. If I were you, I'd try routing the sintra in a well ventalated area with a piece of scrap Sintra. This way you will know if it will melt, burn, crack, or anything else unfortunate. An exacto blade works pretty well with cutting Sintra, but it does dull the blade quickly.

Routing Sintra is easy at LOW speeds. It routs like wood, and machines easily and well.

High speeds will melt it. In general, you want LOW speeds and big bits for plastic, so that you don't generate a lot of friction and end up with a melted mess (and more toxic fumes).

Plastics manufacturers generally have data sheets online that give instructions for machining, thermoforming, and gluing each plastic, with specific recommendations for bits, bit speed and feed speed, adhesives, thermoforming temperatures, etc.

Here's a good document with all that stuff about doing stuff with Sintra, which is a very fun material:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&ct=re...RCAloQBf7eJdRg

I would look into the router attachment for the dremel. that way you could maybe control the speed a little better and it isn't quite so bulky.

Sintra fumes aren't toxic! They just send you to a wonderful place, which you can't quite recall when you eventually wake up; slumped on your workbench with your ears bleeding.
Ah memories.... where'd they go?

I´m using a scroll saw and it works very good.

I've used my jig saw, which is bascially a hand held scroll saw, as well as a friends band saw. Both work very well. I haven't actually tried routing yet, though I might tomorrow.

-Brian

Originally Posted by Pesh

Sintra fumes aren't toxic! They just send you to a wonderful place, which you can't quite recall when you eventually wake up; slumped on your workbench with your ears bleeding.
Ah memories.... where'd they go?

YEEEEAAAAH, way to try and trick him. In actuality it makes you feel like you're comming down with a cold.

As for routering it. there really isn't much of a bead on the edge of the armor and it's replicated easy enough with sand paper. It's possible to router it but keep in mind "sintra" is a brand name and different brands have different quality, some sintra is more brittle than others.