Routing HDPE

[Ernie Martinez]

How well does HDPE route? I'm thinking of using it for a sign.

Thanks

[Mike Heidrick]

Its very messy - will shower you with rice without good dust collection and a good shoe. It machines well with good sharp bits. You can see steps in your sides with spiral straight bits. Pocketing thin can cause bending/flexing issues. Describe your sign more to us.

[Scott Shepherd]

I wouldn't use it. There are many sign materials out there that are used in buildings across the globe every day.

I agree with Mike, what's the application that you feel HDPE is the best solution for? Because I can't think of 1 application that it would be the best solution for.

[Jerome Stanek]

I have cut some signs out of it and they cut really good. You just need the proper bit

[Ernie Martinez]

It's just a basic small (11" x 7") sign, with engraved 3/4" letters .020 deep. Sign is a rectangle with routed edges and scalloped corners. Sign will be painted base color with fill color in letters. My inexperience prompted question. I considered HDPE since the signs the customer is trying to replace were made with HDPE with vinyl lettering, made by a local vinyl shop. They like the signs, they just don't like that people peel off the vinyl. My other choice was acrylic, I'm just having a hard time figuring out what spindle speed and feed rate to use with either material. My original suggestion was Rowmark Laser engraved plastics (Textures). The didn't like that it was so thin, they want 1/2" thick. I suggested the Rowmark adhered to an 1/2" HDPE back board, but for some reason they don't want anything adhered. They want a solid sign that has to be 1/2" thick. So now I'm back to a CNC only solution, unless I use the CNC to just do the edges and the Laser for the engraving.

[Jerome Stanek]

Try color core material Kingcolor has many different color combinations. I don't know how good paint will adhere to HDPE.

[Shane Sura]

I would agree as well. There is so many better choices (Corian is my first choice) for signs that HDPE would not even be up there. HDPE is good for making templates or hold downs or other one off shop tools. I may use it this weekend as a window insert for my Laser fume extraction.