MDF is the all-rounder in wood processing
MDF is the versatile base material for numerous applications - from furniture to decorative designs. But even the uncomplicated processing of medium-density fibreboard requires precision. Find out how to achieve high-quality results by selecting the right routing tools, cutting and feed speeds - without reworking. isel Germany shows you what's important.
Special features
What you need to consider when CNC milling MDF
Milling MDF boards is basically straightforward, as long as you adapt the milling tools and the cutting and feed speeds to the requirements of the material.
Milling cutter for MDF
When selecting the router head, make sure that the router bit is very sharp. The best results when milling MDF are achieved with carbide milling heads with straight cutting edges. Polycrystalline diamond tools (PCD) are ideal for large-scale production. Despite their high cost price, PCDs impress with their long service life. These are 30 to 50 times longer than carbide tools.
Cutting speed
The higher the cutting speed, the greater the risk of the material carbonising at the cutting edges and the cutter overheating and becoming unusable. If slight discolouration forms on the workpiece, reduce the speed. However, also pay attention to the feed speed. This is because it is often the combination of too high a cutting speed and too low a feed speed that leads to poor quality results.
Suction
Due to the nature of the material, MDF milling is always associated with a high level of dust generation. For this reason, you should make sure you have a sufficiently powerful extraction system. This prevents the dust from being dispersed in the surrounding area and the air you breathe is also not contaminated. For direct extraction, it is advisable to fit a suction shoe that is attached directly to the spindle - this reliably extracts the wood dust.
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about MDF milling with the CNC machine.
Milling hardwood places high demands on the machine and processing tools used. This applies equally to manual processing and wood processing with CNC milling machines.
MDF is one of the materials that is particularly easy to machine and is very suitable for milling due to its material properties.
Which router you use depends on the desired result. Some projects are easier to realise with a router. For many and, above all, more complex jobs, the CNC router is the first choice.
The speed selected for MDF milling depends on the feed rate and the performance of the machine.
The feed rate depends on the number of cutting edges on the milling head and the speed. The more cutting edges a milling head has, the higher the feed rate.