ShopBot PRSalpha - Technical Basics, Maintenance, and Resources; Router Bits and Cutting Parameters

SBG 00185 Copyright 2015 22
Quick-Start Guide for PRSalpha and PRSstandard tools
Secon 3. Technical Basics
This secon provides an overview of some basics to safely and eciently plan your projects. This is not
a comprehensive guide. More informaon can be found in the user’s manual, or online from the re-
sources listed in the back of this Guide.
Please be sure to review the general safety page in front of this manual before running the machine.
Bits
Bit material: Router bits are made from a variety of materials. The most common bits are solid car-
bide, carbide-pped steel, and high-speed steel. ShopBot recommends either solid carbide or carbide-
pped bits. High-speed steel bits dull quickly and must be re-sharpened oen.
Flute type: There are four basic ute types: Straight, spiral up-cut, spiral down-cut, and compression.
Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages, which are outlined below.
Good edge quality on
most materials
May chip or fray top face,
good quality on boom face
when through-cung
Best edge quality on top face,
may chip or fray boom face
when through-cung
Clean edge on both top and
boom face
Moderate chip clearing
abilies
Excels at clearing chips and
dissipang heat, especially with
“o-ute” bits
May compact chips in a groove Designed to cut veneered or
laminated materials at full
depth in one pass
Upward force may cause part
liing
Downward force may help with
cung thin sheets
Ideal for: general-purpose
cung
Ideal for: plascs, aluminum, or
any material where heat
buildup is a concern
Ideal for: plywood and lami-
nates (pockeng)
Ideal for: plywood and lami-
nates (prole cung)