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Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is an engineered wood product. MDF is made by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibers and combining it with wax and a resin binder. Panels are then formed by applying high temperature and pressure. The end result is an aesthetic light beige panel with a fine texture.
Applications
MDF, from a technical point of view, is a material that has several benefits, both on its ease of use and on its durability. The technical properties of MDF can vary depending on the thickness but will stay quite stable regarding expansionand contraction. When cutting, MDF is not subject to any cracks or any deformation and its texture allows makes it easy to get a perfect cut.
Moreover, it can be painted, stained, dyed, painted on, fireproofed, waterproofed, molded, lacquered, or curved. Unlike solid wood, MDF does not contain knots or rings, making it more uniform for planing or sanding. All these features explain why MDF is used notably in interior design and in the furniture industry. For instance, MDF is used to make solid wood furniture, such as a coffee table, garage doors, wardrobe doors, hand tools, wood screws, and any type of DIY projects, especially for home improvement where there’s a need to replace real wood for saving money.
Pricing
Your price for laser cutting and engraving is automatically calculated when you put your vector file online on our website. It is calculated interactively and depends on some factors, such as the amount of material used, the machine time needed to cut or engrave it, and logistics costs. You can see it change in real time as you make modifications to your vector file. To get the price of your item in just a few clicks, you just have to log in and upload your vector file.
Delivery time is added to the laser cutting and engraving time and depends on the delivery method you choose.
Process
Laser Cutting:
Laser Cutting is a digital subtractive fabrication technique that consists of cutting material by means of a laser. Laser Cutting can be used on a number of materials such as acrylic , wood, cardboard , etc. The process involves cutting material using a powerful and highly accurate laser that focuses on a small area of the material. The high power density results in rapid heating, melting and partial or complete vaporizing of the material. Usually, a computer directs the high-power laser at the material and traces the path.
Laser engraving:
Laser Engraving (or Laser Etching) is a subtractive manufacturing method, that uses a laser beam to change the surface of an object. This process is mostly used to create images on the material, that may be seen at eye level. To do so, the laser creates high heat that will vaporize the matter, thus exposing cavities that will form the final image. This method is quick, as the material is removed with each pulse of the laser. It can be used on almost any kind of metal, plastic, wood, leather or glass surface.
Finishings
MDF is a material that lends itself to different types of operations. Indeed, MDF can be painted, glued, varnished, dyed, painted, fireproofed, waterproofed, molded, lacquered, and, unlike solid wood, MDF does not contain knots or rings, making it more uniform for planing or sanding.
For painting, for example, MDF lends itself well to either a solvent basedpaint , such as oil based paints, or a water-based paint, such as acrylic paint. MDF has a surface that absorbs the paint, it is best to apply a primer before painting the MDF.
Bonding operations can be easily done with wood glue such as polyvinyl acetate, better known under the name of Elmer’s glue. Thanks to the use of wood glue, you will create a great MDF product!
Laser cuts and engraves material by burning its surface. Therefore, the sides of the piece tend to be darkened, and are marked slightly on the edges. Sometimes, marks appear on the cutting line. The sides of the part cut in MDF might stain skin or clothes, as a thin layer of black wood powder remains on the part.
When burning the surface, the laser also leaves a kerf of a width that can vary, depending on the type of material and the thickness chosen.
When designing your project, you need to take this kerf into account and plan for a surplus of material accordingly.
The following chart lists the kerf sizes for MDF in the function of the thickness.
In our European catalog:
Thickness of MDF (mm)
2
3
6
8
10
Width of the kerf (mm)
0.2
0.08
0.145
0.19
0.205
In our American catalog:
Thickness of MDF (in)
1/8
Width of the kerf (in)
0.0015
In our European catalog:
Minimum dimension (mm)
15 x 15
Maximum dimension (mm)
940 x 590
In our American catalog:
Minimum dimension (in)
0.59 x 0.59
Maximum dimension (in)
32 x 18
In our European catalog:
Thickness of MDF (mm)
2
3
6
8
10
Minimum distance between two paths (mm)
2
3
6
8
10
In our American catalog:
Thickness of MDF (in)
1/8
Minimum distance between two paths (in)
1/8
For laser engraving, the laser will contour each letter, which will “bolden” the font. Therefore, when you conceive your vector file, you need to:
Give priority to narrow fonts
Space the letters
Not write your texts too small (2mm minimum)
For laser cutting, it is key to take the kerf into account when designing your text. The texts must be treated like shapes: they must be vectorized and respect the same rules as every other shape.
We offer two types of laser engraving:
Line engraving: ideal to engrave a contour. It’s the same operation as cutting, with less power. For this type of engraving, use our cutting tips when designing your file. On our website, only one line engraving level is available.
Surface engraving (also known as infill engraving): For this type of engraving, the outline of your design must absolutely be closed. We offer two levels of surface engraving depth: superficial or deep. With the superficial level, the cut can barely be felt by touch, whereas it is noticeable at a deep level.
Make sure you incorporate different colors in your vector design, according to whether you want a cut, an engraving line or a surface engraving.
Is it possible to assemble your parts?
Yes
Minimum space required for assembly
Depends on the kerf
If you wish to make MDF pieces fit into each other and make sure they’ll stay connected, we recommend that you add in nodes. Nodes are small bumps situated in a piece’s slots or tabs, that allow compensating the thickness variations of the material and the kerf. Nodes get compressed when the pieces are assembled and they concentrate the friction on specific points rather than on the slot’s whole surface. This way, the slots can be larger without coming apart, allowing the pieces to stay together.
On top of the nodes, it is important to adequately treat the end of the slots. Sharp angles are a weak point for MDF, and will always fracture at the corner, where efforts get concentrated. A solution to this issue is to add a hole at the corner of each sharp angle. This technique allows for distributing the stress across the whole surface of the hole instead of just one precise point.
Files with Multiple Objects ?
Yes
Please note: The tape that is holding the parts together should be removed with care to avoid damaging the surface of the object
MDF is better than wood in several aspects, thanks to the quality of the composite made from resin and recycled wood. One of the most interesting advantages of MDF is that the material remains stable in all weather conditions, making it more durable material and versatile.
What is MDF made of?
Medium-density fibreboard (MDF) is an engineered wood material. MDF material is created by breaking down hardwood or softwood residuals into wood fibers and combining it with wax and a resin binder.
Is MDF stronger than plywood?
MDF is a softer material than plywood, it really has a fine texture. These two wooden materials have similar applications however, MDF is not as hard as plywood and can be damaged easily when roughly handled. Indeed, MDF is stronger and denser than particleboard, but can crack or split under extreme stress.
Ready to laser cut with MDF?
With Sculpteo’s online laser cutting service you’re just a few clicks away from professional MDF laser cutting. Your model is cut with the highest quality and delivered straight to your door.
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