brycesteiner
New Member
What do you you guys to do cut Acrylite without it cracking? I haven't found the key yet.
thanks!
Bryce
thanks!
Bryce
-
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How to cut Acrylite successfully?
- Thread starter brycesteiner
- Start date
Sign Works
New Member
Panel saw with a good / proper blade, never a problem.
Polycarbonate will occasionally blow out on entry or exit on the panel saw so generally I'll cut that with a hand held router and a straight edge.
Polycarbonate will occasionally blow out on entry or exit on the panel saw so generally I'll cut that with a hand held router and a straight edge.
CanuckSigns
Active Member
I assume you are talking about acrylic. Depending on thickness, if it's under 0.25" we score and snap it. Over that is either cut on the table saw with an acrylic blade set just higher than the piece or router cut.
Techman
New Member
For decades cutting plastic panels has been discussed a million times. Every one has their best way. But too many have some kind of bad results when done. How many have tried to install an acrylic panel only to have to split or run a 3 inch crack, or have a crescent chip fall out.. That is just one of the negative results.
The absolute best way to cut plastic panels is use a fine toothed paneling saw run backwards. Yes backwards. That will work because plastic cuts best with a negative rake on the saw tooth. Then you get a clean cut with absolutely no micro cracks or other negative results. The saw blade will never grab the plastic and cause a gouge or a crack in any way.
Before any one objects and say that is the wrong way,,, all one has to do is think about a miter saw. They run great for cutting plastic and aluminum and other products because the proper blade miter saw blade has a 7 degree negative rake on the teeth. That negative rake prevents the saw from grabbing and pulling the blade into the work.
The absolute best way to cut plastic panels is use a fine toothed paneling saw run backwards. Yes backwards. That will work because plastic cuts best with a negative rake on the saw tooth. Then you get a clean cut with absolutely no micro cracks or other negative results. The saw blade will never grab the plastic and cause a gouge or a crack in any way.
Before any one objects and say that is the wrong way,,, all one has to do is think about a miter saw. They run great for cutting plastic and aluminum and other products because the proper blade miter saw blade has a 7 degree negative rake on the teeth. That negative rake prevents the saw from grabbing and pulling the blade into the work.
blufftonsignguy
New Member
I normally use a carbide tip blade (60 tooth) and run it real slow. A router as was discussed earlier is also a very good was to do it.
artbot
New Member
the cleanest cut i've ever gotten, from something that is shop based (you can get a cleaner cut from a heavy duty cnc router with a diamond bit) is a track saw with using a plastics blade. yes the saw will run you about $600ish and the blade is another $135, but the edge left is almost transparent due to the lack of vibration during the cut. tracksaws reduce micro chatter and run straighter than moving the part by hand. a panel saw can do almost as good of a job (a really expensive panel saw...$3000ish) with a plastics blade.