Cutting rubber!!!

[yo3579]

Shouldnt be that hard i know - ive tried knife and scissors. But i have a 0.3mm thin rubber sheet and i need to cut a specific shape (lets call it a circle with bits sticking out)- scissors kinda just chops it and a knife blade doesnt do the round corners well. any other bright ideas on how to cut?

 

[TugboatEng]

You might want to try scissors with a serrated edge. This grips the rubber and keeps it from pushing forward as you cut.

https://www.mcmaster.com/36875A11

 

[yo3579]

ah good call - thank you. i was thinking about a heat knife but not sure this would work.

 

[3DDave]

A heat knife will likely burn the rubber before it more easily cuts. Find someone with a laser cutter and exhaust fan or a waterjet cutter. Some try to freeze the rubber, like in alcohol/dry ice, but that is problematic.

I see that CNC cutters can do rubber that is on a backing well enough also -

https://youtu.be/WaSPbYSrvsM

is a home hobby device, but I recall similar cutting is used to create masks for sandblasting.

 

[Tmoose]

wetting the rubber can reduce the rubber's significant friction on the sides of the knife or scissor blades.

Clamping the rubber between two sheets of plywood or metal or hard plastic , then cutting with a jig saw or router or sander.
Water soluble glue on both sides of the rubber before clamping might help stabilize the assembly a bit more.