MDF - CNC Milling Guide

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.

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. 

• 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

MDF is extremely easy to mill 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. 

• 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

• 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 it is damaged
  • use the shortest tool possible for the job to avoid tool deflection
  • Test different feeds/speeds (most likely : reduce feed rate or increase spindle speed, within the machine's capabilities and while maintaining an acceptable chip load).

You can find here a link to a feed and speed calculator for the most classic materials, and safe values adapted to each of our machines.

MEKANIKA CNC FEED & SPEED CALCULATOR 

IMPORTANT NOTE: this is made to help you find parameters for your milling, but you should always think by yourself and enter cutting parameters that are matching your own setup.
Calculating the theorical values in this table is easy, but many parameters in your setup may make them unfit for your case. Always start with low engagement and speed, and test deeper/quicker parameters progressively.