Source of CNC plastic for software proving purposes

Can anyone on the forum suggest a possible source (and common name) for the waxy type of plastic sheet/block material used for test proofing of CNC software. I have a small piece left over from a previous job which is blue in colour and when cut gives a very clean and precise finish. Ideal for proof machining purposes.

Try Easy Composites Ltd, they list foam block for hand/machine carving.

hi dont no what the material is but i use celotex which is wall insulation most builders skips have some off cuts in and its free if you are careful it can be measured i find this works to prove your G code

hope this helps Geoff

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Try googling trycut wax.

The waxy one is Trycut and you can also get Testfoam which is a low density form of the PU tooling board. College engineering do small amounts of both

Blimey, cheaper to use a lump of Ali. I wonder why it's so expensive. I think I'll stick to MDF offcuts.

Stay well,

Rod

I think our training school just used polystyrene and wood but I suppose it depends what you are proving.

Mike

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Driving a tool into a block of foam or wax is much less likely to wreck the machine than doing the same into a block of alloy. It's not the cost of making the material, it's what the market (big CNC companies) think it is worth. Even a minor crash that just needs re-alignment can cost thousands of pounds in lost production time. A easy to use test material can be a good investment

Robert G8RPI

Look up 'machinable wax' made by dissolving plastic bags (LDPE) in hot candle wax. Not tried it myself.

I imagine wax or plastic is a lot cheaper than aluminium when your program tries to run your last endmill across the table at the wrong height.

Barrie - I have sent you a pm

If it is fairly flat the offcuts of UPVC facia board work well, thats what i did some of my first cut in. This was a black surfaced one which shows the cuts well

Edited By JasonB on 14/05/2020 16:16:58

Machinable wax has one attribute that aluminium does not.

You can collect your swarf, and cast it into new blocks to use again.

Our now departed friend Lord John did an article on forming a machinable wax, he called in at my workshop once and couldn't fathom why I was still using aluminium for trial cnc runs, perhaps it was on this forum or in a ME mag, anyone know ?

Ron, you can also collect al chips to reform into castings if you have the gear.

Emgee

Edited By Emgee on 14/05/2020 17:59:58

Posted by Greensands on 14/05/2020 13:11:54

Can anyone on the forum suggest a possible
source (and common name) for the waxy type of plastic
sheet/block material used for test proofing of CNC software.
I have a small piece left over from a
previous job which is blue in colour and
when cut gives a very clean and precise finish.
Ideal for proof machining purposes.

You could try this from Artisan Foundry Shop
https://www.artisanfoundry.co.uk/
Artisan Foundry
7 Baileys Lane
Hale Village
Liverpool L24 5RG
P: 0151 425 2376
E: [email protected]

MOULD CASTING WAX 1KG FOR LOST WAX INVESTMENT CASTING
£ 8.99

It looks like the same wax that i use just a different colour .I collect the swarf
and re- melt it into usable shapes.Some machined and re-melted parts here .

John

Yes, if you have the right gear.

With wax you can recycle it in a domestic oven, if the management is not looking.

JS's cook book recipe can be found on Madmodder

Hi all - Just a thankyou to all those who took time to answered my query. Some food for thought.

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