<p>Option 1: CNC A DIE</p>

<p>If you have access to a CNC metal milling machine you could machine a die cutter that is the exact size of your print.</p>

<p>Make it with a CAD program the radii would all be exactly the same and in perfect alignment.</p>

<p>Stamp it out in a single go.</p>

<p>If you yourself don't have a milling machine then a local makerspace might. There is always custom machining shops but it could be expensive.</p>

<p>OPTION 2: VINYL CUTTER</p>

<p>Another option is to feed your prints through a vinyl cutter. These machines are computer guided swivel knives. Let the machine do the cutting for you.</p>

<p>Again, if you don't have a vinyl cutter then checkout a local sign making shop or a local makerspace.</p>

<p>Option 3: CUTTING GUIDE AND SCALPEL</p>

<p>One more option is to use a cutting guide and disposable scalpel (ex. X-ACTO brand scalpels). </p>

<p>The cutting guide would be machined, from metal, with a bevel angle like you require and corners rounded to the desired radius.</p>

<p>On top of a self sealing mat you would lay your board down. On top of the board you would then place your cutting guide and get it into position. Remembering to position the bevel guide in the right orientation. Once everything is in place heavy weights would be placed into the cutting guide. These weight are what are going to hold the cutting guide in place while you make the cut. Do not hold the guide down with your free hand!</p>

<p>Using a disposable scalpel you would run the scalpel following the contour of the guide. This scalpel is the reason for using the weights to hold down the guide instead of your free hand. Scalpels are incredibly sharp. They are also very dangerous! </p>

<p>Here's a sketch of what it would look like.</p>

<p>Note: I think I got the bevel edge backwards. You would probably want to cut the back of the board and not the front. Also by cutting on the back of the board you could spray adhesive to better hold the cutting guide to the board. Still use the weights. The spray adhesive and weights would hold the cutting guide very well with little worry about it slipping during the cutting process. Also by flipping bevel the other way would be easier to see exactly how and at what angle the scalpel is penetrating the board.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/qUA1e.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/qUA1e.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>Option 4: CNC MAT BOARD CUTTING MACHINE</p>

<p>Find a framing store in your area that has a computer controlled CNC mat board cutting machine and pay them to cut it for you. These machines can cut any shape and have the ability to do bevel cuts as well.</p>

<p>Example: Valiani Maximus CNC Board Cutting Machine
<a href="http://www.valiani.com/computerised_detail.php?ID=17" rel="nofollow noreferrer">http://www.valiani.com/computerised_detail.php?ID=17</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-04T03:23:05.607Z
Option 1: would the edges be beveled?  Option 2: I am not looking to alter my print. Thanks anyway
Ast Pace
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-04T16:34:55.880Z
Shoot! I missed the bevel edge requirement. I edited my answer to include a third option which allows for a beveled edge to be cut.
John Vukelic
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-04T20:35:59.213Z
+1 Forcoption 3  Though I think it would work better to use some sort of clamping arrangement and for a single shot, the guide could probably be made using Baltic birch plywood and a router with a 45 degree chamfer bit.
Ast Pace
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-03T22:23:03.377Z
2016-08-04T19:23:08.730Z
2016-08-04T19:23:08.730Z
John Vukelic
<p>They actually make tools for this. They're called circle cutters. Some of them have the option to do a beveled opening. They're designed to make full circles or ovals but I'm sure you could use them for partial ones, too.</p>

<p>As an example <a href="http://www.logangraphic.com/product/handheld-mat-cutters/logan-201-oval-circle-mat-cutter/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this one</a> has excellent reviews on <a href="http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B0018DXHNU" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Amazon</a> and is made by the same company as your straight mat cutter but it looks like it may not be small enough as the minimum circle diameter is 4-3/4 inches and you said you wanted a 2 inch diameter circle.</p>

<p>Here's an example of a mat cut with this cutter:</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/CvGw9.jpg" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/CvGw9.jpg" alt="Mat cuts with cutter tool"></a></p>

<p>Hopefully you'd be able to find a similar product with a smaller diameter.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-03T22:20:41.747Z
I actually Googled something like "cutting circular corner mat" and variations, looked for more than hour, thought I had stumper.  Silly me didn't Google "circle cutter".  Now, to do a little cost-benefit analysis.
Ast Pace
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-03T22:30:46.640Z
As for the smaller radii, the product you found gives the essence of how the cut might be achieved and suggests ways to kludge together a tool to do the job.  Might take a bit of time, but cost benefit analysis is always null and void in a do it yourself situation.
Ast Pace
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-03T22:32:07.883Z
Good point :D Another option I thought of is to see what a framing shop would charge... sometimes if you're just having them cut the mat, they'll do it pretty cheaply, so if you need this for one mat ever, it might be easier to go with that option.
Catija
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-08-03T22:05:36.153Z
2016-08-03T22:05:36.153Z
Catija
<p>I have a silk-screen print on a square sheet of paper.  The corners of the printed area are arcs with about a one inch radius.</p>

<p>I would like to cut a beveled mat for this print with the opening about a half inch larger than the print area, but I cannot come up with a way to cut the corners.  </p>

<p>If I were making a non-beveled mat, I would use a compass with a blade to make the cut, probably making multiple cuts to make it all the way through the mat. I would cut the arcs first, then join them with straight cuts.</p>

<p>One way to do the beveled arc would be freehand, following a drawn curve, but I know that I don't have the steadiness to pull this off, certainly not so that all four corners would be identical.</p>

<p>Another way would be to use a compass as mentioned above, and arrange the swing leg so that it doubles back to cut at a 45 degree angle, but for it to work it would have to be done in one pass. (If done in multiple passes, each pass would be a slightly different angle, or some magic adjustment would have to be made for each pass.)</p>

<p>For the straight cuts, I have a Logan beveled mat cutter. (in the old days I just made multiple cuts holding the knife a 45 degree angle - of course being freehand after the first pass, each cut was at a slightly different angle from the previous and the results were not always pretty.)</p>

<p>I am hoping there is some way to cut the corner arcs with a device that would produce clean bevels like I get from my straight line bevel cutter.</p>

<p>Does someone know how to do this?</p>

<cutting>
Cutting circular corners in beveled mat
Ast Pace
# Cutting circular corners in beveled mat

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-08-03)

I have a silk-screen print on a square sheet of paper. The corners of the printed area are arcs with about a one inch radius.

I would like to cut a beveled mat for this print with the opening about a half inch larger than the print area, but I cannot come up with a way to cut the corners.

If I were making a non-beveled mat, I would use a compass with a blade to make the cut, probably making multiple cuts to make it all the way through the mat. I would cut the arcs first, then join them with straight cuts.

One way to do the beveled arc would be freehand, following a drawn curve, but I know that I don't have the steadiness to pull this off, certainly not so that all four corners would be identical.

Another way would be to use a compass as mentioned above, and arrange the swing leg so that it doubles back to cut at a 45 degree angle, but for it to work it would have to be done in one pass. (If done in multiple passes, each pass would be a slightly different angle, or some magic adjustment would have to be made for each pass.)

For the straight cuts, I have a Logan beveled mat cutter. (in the old days I just made multiple cuts holding the knife a 45 degree angle - of course being freehand after the first pass, each cut was at a slightly different angle from the previous and the results were not always pretty.)

I am hoping there is some way to cut the corner arcs with a device that would produce clean bevels like I get from my straight line bevel cutter.

Does someone know how to do this?

**Tags:** cutting


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-08-03. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

They actually make tools for this. They're called circle cutters. Some of them have the option to do a beveled opening. They're designed to make full circles or ovals but I'm sure you could use them for partial ones, too.

As an example [this one](http://www.logangraphic.com/product/handheld-mat-cutters/logan-201-oval-circle-mat-cutter/) has excellent reviews on [Amazon](http://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/B0018DXHNU) and is made by the same company as your straight mat cutter but it looks like it may not be small enough as the minimum circle diameter is 4-3/4 inches and you said you wanted a 2 inch diameter circle.

Here's an example of a mat cut with this cutter:

[![Mat cuts with cutter tool](https://i.sstatic.net/CvGw9.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/CvGw9.jpg)

Hopefully you'd be able to find a similar product with a smaller diameter.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: I actually Googled something like "cutting circular corner mat" and variations, looked for more than hour, thought I had stumper.  Silly me didn't Google "circle cutter".  Now, to do a little cost-benefit analysis.  
> **username_0**: As for the smaller radii, the product you found gives the essence of how the cut might be achieved and suggests ways to kludge together a tool to do the job.  Might take a bit of time, but cost benefit analysis is always null and void in a do it yourself situation.  
> **username_2**: Good point :D Another option I thought of is to see what a framing shop would charge... sometimes if you're just having them cut the mat, they'll do it pretty cheaply, so if you need this for one mat ever, it might be easier to go with that option.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-08-03. Score: 2

Option 1: CNC A DIE

If you have access to a CNC metal milling machine you could machine a die cutter that is the exact size of your print.

Make it with a CAD program the radii would all be exactly the same and in perfect alignment.

Stamp it out in a single go.

If you yourself don't have a milling machine then a local makerspace might. There is always custom machining shops but it could be expensive.

OPTION 2: VINYL CUTTER

Another option is to feed your prints through a vinyl cutter. These machines are computer guided swivel knives. Let the machine do the cutting for you.

Again, if you don't have a vinyl cutter then checkout a local sign making shop or a local makerspace.

Option 3: CUTTING GUIDE AND SCALPEL

One more option is to use a cutting guide and disposable scalpel (ex. X-ACTO brand scalpels).

The cutting guide would be machined, from metal, with a bevel angle like you require and corners rounded to the desired radius.

On top of a self sealing mat you would lay your board down. On top of the board you would then place your cutting guide and get it into position. Remembering to position the bevel guide in the right orientation. Once everything is in place heavy weights would be placed into the cutting guide. These weight are what are going to hold the cutting guide in place while you make the cut. Do not hold the guide down with your free hand!

Using a disposable scalpel you would run the scalpel following the contour of the guide. This scalpel is the reason for using the weights to hold down the guide instead of your free hand. Scalpels are incredibly sharp. They are also very dangerous!

Here's a sketch of what it would look like.

Note: I think I got the bevel edge backwards. You would probably want to cut the back of the board and not the front. Also by cutting on the back of the board you could spray adhesive to better hold the cutting guide to the board. Still use the weights. The spray adhesive and weights would hold the cutting guide very well with little worry about it slipping during the cutting process. Also by flipping bevel the other way would be easier to see exactly how and at what angle the scalpel is penetrating the board.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/qUA1e.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/qUA1e.jpg)

Option 4: CNC MAT BOARD CUTTING MACHINE

Find a framing store in your area that has a computer controlled CNC mat board cutting machine and pay them to cut it for you. These machines can cut any shape and have the ability to do bevel cuts as well.

Example: Valiani Maximus CNC Board Cutting Machine
<http://www.valiani.com/computerised_detail.php?ID=17>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Option 1: would the edges be beveled?  Option 2: I am not looking to alter my print. Thanks anyway  
> **username_1**: Shoot! I missed the bevel edge requirement. I edited my answer to include a third option which allows for a beveled edge to be cut.  
> **username_0**: +1 Forcoption 3  Though I think it would work better to use some sort of clamping arrangement and for a single shot, the guide could probably be made using Baltic birch plywood and a router with a 45 degree chamfer bit.  

---

