Actually trying to cut a 6mm slot into acrylic tube as an edging to sheet.
Need a straight 6mm cut through the 2.5mm wall of some acrylic tube, how do I mount tube or router to enable a straight cut?
No don`t have a router table , though might be a ble to borrow one , how would hlold tube straight whilst feeding?
Any suggestions gratefully received, yes do have angle grinder, think it will probably leave wider cut than 6mm ;-)
Cheers Adam
Use a vise with vee cuts to hold the tube and jury rig a flat surface above to run the router on or you could try drilling round holes the diameter of the pipe in some square pieces of wood and then sliding them up the tube. These would hold the pipe flat whilst passing it over a router table.
Paul Mc Cann
You don't say the diameter of the tube.
Either router-out a (square-sided) trench for the tube to sit in, in a piece of scrap timber, or make up a trench profile from other pieces of timber.
Doesn't matter if the trench is too deep, but mustn't be too shallow, and the tube should fit in the trench snugly.
Your timber jig doesn't have to be the whole length of the tube, just long enough to cut a section, and then reposition the tube.
If the tube isn't a very snug fit, you'll also need some wedges to stop the tube rotating in the trench (or even gaffa tape may be sufficient).
The router base then obviously rests either side of the trench, whilst the bit is plunged into the trench, down the centreline and into the tube. You may need to use a batten or the fence to remain centred on the tube.
Be aware that as you slot the tube, it may be less firmly held in the trench.
What diameter tube?
One method that springs to mind is to use a ball slot cutter on a router to make a channel in some wood that the tube fits snugly into. Clamp the tube at one end. Running the router with a 6mm straight cutter along the same guide as used to cut the channel would guarantee that the slot in the tube would come out central.
Requiring somewhat less specialised cutters, if you have an ordinary straight one the same diameter as the tube, rout a slot the same width and depth to take the tube. This doesn?t guard as well against the cutter distorting the tube, though.
Big one-off square-tubular clamp made of scrap MDF, lined with foam underlay. Maybe a square-U gutter. The clamping can be simple - just woodscrews to pull the sides together. Then run the router freehand, guided with the fence on the edge of the jig.
That looks like a good way to progress, tube is actually only 15mm O.D. 10mm I.D. 6mm slot is to clip round some 6mm sheet as an edging, intial tests are encouraging ;-)
Cheers Adam
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