Cutting holes in acrylic with Dremel Circle Cutter tool

[ooztuncer]

Hi there,

I am going to cut 2x120mm holes on an acrylic. I am planning to use dremel circle cutter: http://www.dremel.com/en-us/attachments-an...G=69679&I=69820 which I already own (don't want to buy a 114mm (4.5") hole saw).

 

Now, I think I need diamond or diamond coated drill bits not to crack the acrylic, but which one should I buy:

 

a) twisted: http://cgi.ebay.com/6pc-1-8-Diamond-HSS-Tw...1QQcmdZViewItem

 

B) or others: http://cgi.ebay.com/20pc-240-Grit-Diamond-...oQQcmdZViewItem

 

thanks kindly,

[Agent&#124Muppet]

You do not need coated cutting bits to cut acrylic. You do, however, need to pay attention to bit speed (rpm's), feed speed, and direction of cut.

[Malatory]

You do not need coated cutting bits to cut acrylic. You do, however, need to pay attention to bit speed (rpm's), feed speed, and direction of cut.

 

 

All above is true..

 

Cutting acrylic you want to go slow and not force things. Heat causes it to crack and do other unwanted things.

[radodrill]

Your best bet is to use the dremel router bit (a drill bit should work as well) and run it at slow speed. The hole cutter attachment should work well; probably better than a hole saw would.

 

edit: you might also want to spray on some WD-40 as a flux for cutting.

[General Septem]

Also, use the part of the bit closest to the shaft as possible. At the tip the bit may wander and give you a cut that isn't close to straight.

[tasr]

This is the bit I use when cutting holes in plastic. http://www.dremel.com/en-us/attachments-an...G=66357&I=66359

 

I use the same Dremel circle cutter tool. Tip: Center guide hole should be a tight fit but allow easy of movement. Practice on a scrap piece of material. Go slow but steady and practice at different RPM’s.

[ooztuncer]

Again, thank you all!

 

I will find that dremel 561 bit and try with some spare acyrlic first.

 

If I can't find it, well, you will see how an unskilled butcher cuts an acyrilic - really soon

[Redbeaver]

woW! i didnt kno Dremel has a circle cutter...

 

i cut all my fan holes using the cutting disk...going on an angle, smoothly, and voila....

 

oh well...

 

as for acrylic, go for 3,000rpm or less, and cut a smaller circle than ur intended size.. so when ur done u can use the sanding bit to clean up the debris and smoothen it out

 

good luck!

 

and yes, practice is recommended.

[radodrill]

woW! i didnt kno Dremel has a circle cutter...

 

i cut all my fan holes using the cutting disk...going on an angle, smoothly, and voila....

 

oh well...

 

as for acrylic, go for 3,000rpm or less, and cut a smaller circle than ur intended size.. so when ur done u can use the sanding bit to clean up the debris and smoothen it out

 

good luck!

 

and yes, practice is recommended.

 

The circle cutter actually makes very accurate cuts.

 

I'd recommend cutting the holes to the exact size (slow cutting speed is critical) and then round off the edges by hand-sanding them.

[Shafto]

definitly don't use a regular drill bit.. use a proper bit that's meant for side milling, like the one that was recently posted.. you don't get anywhere trying to go sideways with a drillbit that's only meant to go in... lots of other good stuff has been mentioned too.

.

[ReelFiles]

Careful if you use a bit with that Dremel, I seized my Dremel's motor up because the acrylic got too hot and melted, then stuck to the bit. The Dremel just couldn't handle it. Slow but steady is the trick