INTRO
Medium-density fibre (MDF) is an engineered wood product made by breaking down wood residuals into wood fibre, combining it with wax and a resin binder, and forming it into panels by applying high temperature and pressure.
It has a large amount of usage and is perfectly suitable for CNC milling.
MILLING ON EVO
MDF is easily milled on EVO and you can exploit the full potential of the machine on them, reaching a feed of around 3500 mm/min in optimal conditions and with the right tool.
But remember: always start with safe parameters and increase them progressively to find the sweet spot for your own setup.
Parameters used in the video :
Machine : Mekanika EVO S / High-Z / Router AMB 1050W
End mill : Ø 6mm / 2 Flutes Carbide / Upcut spiral
Feed rate : 2 500 mm/min
Spindle speed : 15 000 rpm
Depth of cut : 3 mm
MILLING ON PRO & FAB
MDF is easily milled on PRO and FAB machines and you can exploit the full potential of the machine on them, reaching a feed of around 5000 mm/min in optimal conditions and with the right tool.
But remember: always start with safe parameters and increase them progressively to find the sweet spot for your own setup.
Parameters used in the video :
Machine : Mekanika PRO S / Standard-Z / Spindle VFD 2200W
End mill : Ø 6mm / 2 Flutes Carbide / Upcut spiral
Feed rate : 4 000 mm/min
Spindle speed : 18 000 rpm
Depth of cut : 5 mm
MATERIAL TIPS
- You can use end mills with high number of flutes, as chip evacuation isn't a problem with MDF.
- Use ramps or helixes instead of plunge to increase your tool's lifetime.
- Chips produced should not be to warm. Warm chips means the tool is rubbing and the chip load is to low (increase feed rate or decrease spindle speed)
- If the surface finish is not good, it can be related to various things:
- check that your stock is fixed strong enough and not vibrating
- check your tool's edges to see if they are damaged
- use the shortest tool possible for the job
- Test different feeds/speeds (most likely : reduce feed rate or increase spindle speed, within the machine's capabilities and while maintaining a good chip load).