What Type Of Machine Would I Need To Buy To Cut Mdf Alphabets And Shapes Professionally?

[StretchyLegs]

Hi
Does anyone know what machine I should be looking for to start making MDF shapes to sell.
Many thanks, any halo much appreciated.
Gill

[Buenchico]

You'll probably need a CNC router. Full 'professional' ones will set you back many thousands of pounds, e.g.

[Buenchico]

However there are hobbyist models for much less. (The video below is a US one but it serves to illustrate my point).

So it depends whether by 'professional', in your post, you're referring to setting up a full-time business selling to lots of retailers or whether you're more of a hobbyist who simply wants to sell 'professional quality' products at local craft fairs, etc.

[Atheist]

Cheap jigsaw would be ok? Google it. (Sorry I didn't give you a better halo).

[KARL]

Relatively cheap band saws are also available. Much depends on the kind of lettering you intend to produce - some tools are better than others on certain patterns.

[woofgang]

laser cutter?

[Sunk]

MDF has a brittle coat which does not survive an up and down jig saw very well. It splinters.
A few years ago I worked at a company that did lots of signage and office interiors. They had a very expensive x-y cutter that had had different heads. They used rotating router heads rather than cutting tools.

[Crucigram]

A lot of crafters use die-cutting machines, some of which can cut through MDF and there are many dies on the market of all shapes and sizes

[woofgang]

crucigram, I have no idea who you are but home use die cutting machines DO NOT cut MDF....neither do home use plotter cutters.

[alavahalf]

What degree of Professional are you thinking of .. if I was cutting freehand using a jigsaw I would hope to cut within a millimetre or two. But I would be using a very good jigsaw. Sometimes that is just not accurate enough.
We are soon to be starting some cutting that can't be done by hand ..
we have just ordered one of these last week .. (6 weeks delivery)

https://ooznest.co.uk/product/workbee-cnc-full-kit/#size-colour

If you do consider a small CNC don't go with the cheapest, I know plenty people who have paid a few hundred quid and ended up with something that is close to useless, even when cutting shallow cuts in soft aluminium .

[Crucigram]

Woofgang - I believe the Brother Scan and Cut can do any material up to 3mm and I know MDF can come in this size but I appreciate this may be a bit thin for StretchyLegs’ requirements

[Stella1]

Wolfgang, Im afraid You are wrong. Crucigram is absolutely correct that die cutting machines DO cut MDF of a certain thickness so perhaps in future you could stick to answering the question asked instead of wrongly correcting someone else.

[woofgang]

stella do you mean one like this? Because it won't cut MDF
https://www.createandcraft.com/gb/cutnboss

[woofgang]

Crucigram, scan n cut won't cut MDF, even 3mm I know, I have got two.

[Tuvok]

https://www.popupdesigns.co.uk/about-pop-up-designs/

Is this what you are talking about?