We recommend using a ramp when working with acrylic to allow the bit to enter the material at an angle as it lowers rather than plunging straight down.
Machining acrylic sheet.
Things you ll need acrylic sheets plastic scoring blade ruler permanent marker or grease pencil jigsaw optional table saw optional metal file waterproof sandpaper meant for plastic drill optional buffing edge optional polishing compound optional.
A smooth ramp of around 1 3 inches depending on the size of the part will give the best results.
You need to buy special acrylic cutting bits because they have flutes.
This is the most common method and since saw blades are easy to find it s a great option for everyone regardless of experience.
The majority of acrylic.
This will anneal the acrylic and relieve the built up stress.
In any kind.
Acrylic can present some challenges in machining but penta precision has decades of acrylic machining experience so you are in safe hands.
To prevent this make sure equipment is right for acrylite sheet.
The specifics of machining acrylic feedrates.
How to anneal acrylic.
Once you ve fixed acrylic into place it s time to cut to the chase so to speak.
Materials needed to cut acrylic or plexiglass sheets acrylic sheet larger than the size of your project use a plastic laminate scorer to cut acrylic by hand use acrylic jigsaw blades to cut acrylic with a jigsaw use a 10 plastic cutting saw blade to cut acrylic on a miter saw or table saw use a 7.
Most equipment used in machining acrylite was originally designed for wood or metal.
Here a few tool options for cutting acrylic.
For this method you can cut multiple sheets at the same time by stacking them using a table saw with closely spaced teeth such as those used when plywood.
Cast acrylic is preferable over extruded acrylic for machining purposes as it is more rigid and less prone to stress cracking after machining.
Machining acrylic sheet and plastic step by step guide.
Learn everything about the tools best parctice procedures trouble shooting when plastic machining.
Special cutting tools are a must.