Rotary Cutter Guide Jig

thingiverse

This is a tool that uses a rotary cutter blade to make straight cuts. It relies on 3/4" x 1.5" Cellular PVC board as a guide, which helps ensure accurate and precise cutting. Quilter's templates are attached to the bottom of the PVC board using double-sided foam tape to assist with alignment and provide a secure grip while sliding the cutter jig down the PVC board. I assembled the quilter's templates by taping them together to achieve the desired size, 24" in my case. Then I aligned the quilter's templates with the PVC board and secured them with double-sided foam tape so that the first grid line on the template would be cut by the rotary cutter blade. With this setup, I was able to make a clean pass of the cutter jig and remove excess material from the template. This provides a clear visual alignment guide, making it easy to see where subsequent cuts will be made. I needed to cut 4mm thick PVC tile into strips, but I lacked the skill to do so with a utility knife. So, I turned to my wife's rotary cutter, which proved to be very effective. To further improve the cutting process, I created this jig to guide the rotary blade in straight lines more easily. This design also works well for cutting foam board. Two jigs are included, one with the blade extending 9mm and another with it extending 6mm, allowing you to choose the best option based on the thickness of the objects being cut. The jig features two keeper designs that can be attached to the end of the PVC board. One keeper allows the rotary cutter jig to be magnetically held in place while making multiple cuts. However, this design does not accommodate the installation of a blade protector. The other simple keeper securely holds the jig with or without the blade protector installed. This tool utilizes the blade, screw, and nut from a 45mm rotary cutter. I used a Fiskars cutter, but other models may work as well. For reference, here are some recommended products: * Fiskars Classic Stick Rotary Cutter, 45mm: https://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-Classic-Stick-Rotary-Cutter/dp/B005NAG9BQ * 0.75" x 1.5" PVC Board: https://www.lowes.com/pd/Royal-Mouldings-Limited-Actual-0-75-in-x-1-5-in-x-8-ft-Common-PVC-Board/50092306 * Quilter's Templates: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YZ8T3Q * OLFA 24" x 36" Double-Sided, Self-Healing Rotary Mat: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006SDOFO * Dollar Tree foam board: https://www.dollartree.com/readi-board-white-foam-boards/809955 * 2 ft. x 2 ft. Smooth Pro Lay-in Ceiling Tile Model # 202795766: https://www.homedepot.com/p/Genesis-2-ft-x-2-ft-Smooth-Pro-Lay-In-Ceiling-Tile-740-00/202795766 * 10mm ring magnets: https://www.aliexpress.com/item/100pcs-N50-10-x-3mm-Hole-3mm-Strong-Ring-Magnet-D-Countersunk-Rare-Earth-Neodymium-Magnets/32755395980.html * 3mm Screws: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01GBLNBOI