Re: Materials for machines. Was MDF for machines

Hi Tom,

Sintra is pretty soft for a table surface (dents easily). This would
then start to make the vac clamping, or even just sliding things
around; more difficult. Sintra is a good sacrificial layer on TOP OF
a router table. Used this way, the softess keeps the sintra from
damaging the "real" material.

Signmakers also use mdo which is ply with a smooth paper coating.
This is commonly used and available in 1/2 inch. It is also available
in other thicknesses, but most of the signmakers I know(and suppliers
to them) tend to keep only the 1/2 inch in stock.

MDO can be a fine table, but unless the machine is small, or the
table is WELL supported, I'd suggest going with thicker stock. After
all you have done to make an accurate machine, why lose it due to sag
and flex of the table? And thicker also means you can "plane" the
table true to the XY axes with a cutter in the spindle.

Hope this helps.

Ballendo

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "Tom Eldredge" <harmonyt@r...> wrote:
> Hi, Ballendo,
>
> Yes, that is the name of the product I used to use. I think with a
grid
> supporting it, this would make a good surface for a router table.
I am
> pretty sure it is <snip>