Digital-Evolutions

Routing with the MDX-50

Roland’s MDX Series mills have a lot of flexibility in terms of cutting capability. Right out of the box they can perform engraving, routing, drilling, and milling operations. This powerhouse of tooling options makes these machines a well-rounded choice for a variety of applications. In this article, we will be looking at using the MDX-50 for routing.

Procedure: With this method, we will use Dr. Engrave to load a file, set the conditions, and perform the routing. Note that you will need a DXF format file
for this exercise.

Start off by securing a sacrificial piece of material that is of equivalent density to your intended cutting stock. Mount the material to the center of the milling bed so that there is a margin for the tool in case it is routing edge to edge on the routing stock

.Next up, secure the routing stock to the sacrificial material. Note that you will be cutting through the tape so use a thin double sided tape like banner hem tape (3M XQ series). Also, take a caliper measurement of the routing stock thickness as you will use this to set the tool depth later.
Once the routing stock is secured, load the machine with an 1/8” square end mill, then set the XYZ Origin. In Dr. Engrave, select File → Cutting Setup then edit the artboard to represent the routing stock dimensions. Import or create your paths into the program and position them on the artboard accordingly.

Once the paths are arranged, select File → Print, choose the intended mill from the pick field and select “Properties”. Then select the Tool Tab and choose a material profile that corresponds with the routing stock.

Finally, change the “Z Down Position” to the stock thickness plus one to three millimeters ensuring that the tool completely cuts through the routing stock. Click “Okay” and send the job to the mill.

Once complete, you should have a path cut through the entire depth of the routing stock. The double-sided tape will have kept the desired piece secured throughout the process and can easily be removed for finishing. This is just one of the many workflows capable on the MDX Series mills and will certainly help you get the most out of your machine.

Additional Information:

Note that the width of the tool will create a negative offset half the width of the tool when it cuts the centerline of the path, so you may need to accommodate this negative offset accordingly in a design program.
Identify if the machine has completely cut through the routing stock before removal. If it hasn’t you can resend the job after increasing the “Z Down Position” value.
Make sure to clean the tool after cutting. Adhesive from the double-sided tape may stick to the flutes.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse