Cut out shapes out of plastic sheets with a CNC

- Plastic,Craft,Prototyping,Product Design,Opensource

HDPE

This tutorial outlines the process of cutting HDPE sheets with an X-Carve CNC machine.

Watch the full video in Spanish with subtitles: YouTube

Browse Files

Table of Contents

  1. 1

    Measure the plastic sheet

    Measure your plastic sheet's height, width, and thickness. Our X-Carve machine operates with the CAM software Easel, which is straightforward for CNC milling.

    A notable feature of Easel is the ability to simulate your material and they offer HDPE 2-Colors in their cutting material list.

    1.jpg - Plastic,Craft,Prototyping,Product Design,Opensource

  2. 2

    Secure sheet

    Secure the sheet to the table using the CNC clamps from the X-Carve.

    3.jpg - Plastic,Craft,Prototyping,Product Design,Opensource

  3. 3

    Choosing a file to cut

    Proceed to a vector graphics editor like Inkscape to create or download a vector file from sites such as The Noun Project.

    Download the SVG file, an open-source vector format, and import it into Easel.

    4.jpg - Plastic,Craft,Prototyping,Product Design,Opensource

  4. 4

    Follow the cutting Wizzard

    With the file ready, select the desired carving width and initiate the cutting process:

    • Ensure the sheet is secured.
    • Specify the cutting bit, such as a 1/8 inch (3.175 mm) flat flute bit.
    • Set the machine’s coordinate origin at the lower-left corner.
    • Raise the bit and activate the CNC Router.
    6.jpg - Plastic,Craft,Prototyping,Product Design,Opensource

  5. 5

    Post-production and show case

    Final Version

    Take your glasses or object, post-process them, and share the results with others.

    9.jpg - Plastic,Craft,Prototyping,Product Design,Opensource

  6. 6

    Hack it and try it yourself

    Project Flexibility

    You may use different CNC machines or manual tools like routers and saws, as demonstrated in this video. Sharing your work contributes to community growth.

    Please share your ideas and comments.

    IMG_20200605_142311.jpg - Plastic,Craft,Prototyping,Product Design,Opensource

The tutorial describes an HDPE sheet cutting process using CNC machinery and vector design tools. Below are the required components organized by category:

Hardware

  • X-Carve CNC machine
  • CNC clamps (included with X-Carve)
  • 1/8” (3.175 mm) flat flute cutting bit

Software

Materials

  • HDPE sheets (specifically "HDPE 2-Colors" in Easel's material list)
  • Measuring tools for sheet dimensions

Optional Alternatives

  • Alternative CNC machines or manual tools as shown in this video
  • Post-processing tools for finishing cut objects

Citations relate to components directly named or linked in the tutorial[1][2][4].

References

YouTube

Opensource Designs