I was cutting a lithophane the other day and after finishing the rough cut I broke my 0.031 ball nose bit after just a couple of passes (lower right hand corner of lithophane). Last night it dawned on me that my five dollar 45 degree V-Groove bit might work. (the ball nose cost $40 and is not available locally) So I tried it using the G-Code for .031 bit... and Eureka!!!! It works!!
So because I am too cheap to throw out a 1/2 cut piece of Corian I have discovered that I can cut the lithophane with a 45 degree bit with the settings for a .031 bit, but at a higher speed AND it looks better too. The detail is much finer with the V bit than with the ball nose! I need to find a 20 degree V-bit next...
What do you think?
Bill Schober
Pine Grove, California