Best Method To Cut Acrylic Sheet

Bend the overhang side of the sheet with quick and even motion.

Best method to cut acrylic sheet.

For thin sheets of plexiglass that are up to 3 16 inch 0 48 cm thick scoring the sheet and then snapping it is an easy way to cut it. An optix acrylic sheet is a type of lightweight clear plastic. Routers can be used to cut acrylic for both curved and straight cuts. Start at one edge of the mark you made.

If your project requires the acrylic to have a smoothed edge smoothing must be done after sizing cuts are made. For a thin sheet of plexiglass that is material up to about 3 16 inch thick use a scoring method not dissimilar from a technique used to cut actual glass. Clamp the sheet if needed. Cutting plexiglass to size is a simple process but often leaves the piece with very rough edges.

Be sure to use a compressor to keep the sheet in position to avoid chipping and more time needed to polish the cut. Make sure the surface is clean and clear of any objects that could impede your work or potentially mark or. Don t move too quickly as you ll create a rougher edge but don t go too slowly as you can melt the plastic. Lay the plexiglass flat on a work surface.

Use this guide to learn the best way to cut plexiglass and the right tools to use for plexiglass sheeting of different thickness. Push the acrylic through a table saw for a straight cut. Place the sheet down flat on a table or a work station so you can measure and cut on a stable surface. Place the sheet over hard edge with groove side up.

Using solvent based glues on laser cut extruded acrylic can cause cracking due to the internal stresses from temperature differences in the acrylic. Push the acrylic through the table saw at a steady pace being sure to keep your fingers out of the way of the saw. For best results use another tool like the earlier mentioned table saw to cut your acrylic roughly before getting a more exact finish with the router. Scoring preferably works on sheets less than 6 35mm in thickness.

To guard against cracking place the acrylic on a flat sheet of glass in a shop oven not the one in your kitchen at about 180ºf 82ºc for about 1 hour per mm thickness then let them air cool. You can use optix acrylic sheets for everything from storm windows to crafts and it can be cut in a straight line or in just about any design you desire.