Factory cut slots

[tracehardin]

I am very new with this field so please bare with me. I am trying to cut/mill a 2" by 1/8" slit into the side of a clear plastic box. I want to mass produce a product with these slits. I have used a dremmel and it just doesn't give that perfect, factory cut. How do I go about making perfect cuts in plastic boxes? Are there plastic machining shops that can do that? This is so foreign I don't even know where to start... Thanks for any assistance!

 

[MacGyverS2000]

Laser...

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

 

[telecomguy]

Depending on the properties of the plastic and accessibility, you might be able to punch it. Picture a custom hole punch.

http://xternal.me

 

[MikeHalloran]

Lasers may or may not have trouble cutting plastic, depending on how opaque the plastic is at the laser wavelength.
Waterjets should have no trouble with it, though you may have to clean the grit off.
Most any machine shop should be able to mill plastic. Shops with serious plastic experience will have cutting tools that are used only for plastic, and will know the right cutting parameters without melting or splitting any workpieces.

Ideally you will sell enough product to justify the tooling to mold the exact box you want, with the holes and slots made by the mold.



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[MacGyverS2000]

CO2 wavelengths will be absorbed by pretty much any plastic a box is made from. Now, whether or not that material lasers with a quality cut is a horse of another color, but so far the OP hasn't specified the material. The fact that it's clear narrows the choices considerably.

The Dremmel "just doesn't give that perfect, factory cut" could mean two things... the cut line itself isn't straight and/or the edge is no longer clear. Lasering would give you back that clear cast edge... CNC would require flame polishing afterwards. I think I'd rather wash waterjet grit off rather than flame polish. Depending upon material, a hot punch might be an option that would keep the clear edge look.

Dan - Owner

http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com