Cast sheets good for use in laser cutters
Will these sheets come with a masking?
Asked by Inventables on Apr 18, 2011
The acrylic sheets come with the following masking:
Answered by Inventables on Apr 18, 2012
- Opaque, translucent, transparent, and fluorescent acrylic sheets come with paper masking.
- Mirrored acrylic sheets come with poly masking on the mirrored side, no masking on back side.
- The one-sided matte acrylic sheets and the Ice Blue Acrylic Sheet have paper masking on one side and poly masking on the other side.
- Clear acrylic sheets can have either paper or poly masking depending on what brand we currently have in stock from our supplier.
What is the difference between acrylic, Plexiglas, Lucite, Perspex, and Lexan or clear plastic?
Asked by Inventables on Oct 31, 2011
Acrylic (polyacrylate) is marketed under many trade names including Plexiglas, Lucite, Perspex, Policril, Gavrieli, Vitroflex, Limacryl, R-Cast, Per-Clax, Plazcryl, Acrylex, Acrylite, Acrylplast, Altuglas, Polycast, Oroglass, Optix.
These differ from Lexan which is polycarbonate, and is sometimes used as bullet-proof glass. Although it is more shatter-resistant, it is more expensive than acrylic, yellows with prolonged exposure to sunlight, and is much more easily scratched. Therefore acrylic is more ideal for most interior and exterior design purposes.
Answered by Vendor on Oct 31, 2011
Is it possible to buy 6" square clear acrylic panels
Asked by Carolyn Harding on Nov 8, 2011
Yes, but you are subject to ordering a 4×8 ft sheet and having it custom cut into 6″ × 6″ squares.
Answered by Philip Lomac Inventables on Feb 28, 2012
Yes, you can buy 6" acrylic squares from several online sources. Here is one source that offers thicknesses from 1/16" to 12", and will custom cut to size and polish if desired:
Answered by Scott Gordon on Nov 14, 2017
www.acrylicland.com
Is is possible to bend the acrylic sheets?
Asked by Jon Schilling on Jan 24, 2012
Hi Jon, Most Acrylic can be cold formed. A minimum radius of 200 times the thickness of the acrylic is required to avoid stress cracking. Acrylic can also be bent using a technique called Line Bending which is a method of forming a sharp bend in the acrylic sheet. The radius of the bend can be controlled by adjusting the width of the heated area. Routing a V-groove into the acrylic prior to bending will produce a very sharp bend. Heating elements such as nicrome wire, infrared, rods, or wide strips can be used. Heat the area to be bent to a pliable state then place the sheet in a fixture to cool. Thirdly you can thermoform where the acrylic sheet is heated to its forming temperature, placed over a mold, creating an air-tight seal. Vacuum is drawn through the mold, pulling the sheet to it. Once the part takes the shape of the mold, it is slowly cooled, then released. Bending specs should be reviewed for each brand of acrylic as they might vary slightly from brand to brand.
Answered by Philip Lomac Inventables on Jan 25, 2012
Do you carry 1/4" x 48″ × 72″ Do you cut and shipping cost to 89074
Asked by John Ledwon on Mar 10, 2012
Hi John, we can do custom sizes but you have to order a minimum of one 4ft x 8ft sheet which we can cut down to your custom size. Please email help@inventables.com and we can get you a quote for the sheet, custom cuts, and freight shipping to your shipping address.
Answered by Philip Lomac Inventables on Mar 12, 2012
Pease Plastics (847) 901-4440 offers cut-to-size acrylic in thicknesses from 1/16" to 12" thick.
Answered by Scott Gordon on Nov 14, 2017
Is it possible to request only paper masked clear acrylic? The poly doesn’t work well for us. We have to leave it on to protect the products in shipping and the poly is a lot harder to remove and might confuse my customers. I’ve already had several think it was blue plastic and not clear.
Asked by Jonathan Bowen on May 22, 2012
Hi Jonathan, you have ordered both cast and extruded clear acrylic from us. The cast clear acrylic SKU 23876-15 generally will come with paper masking on it. The extruded clear acrylic SKU 23876-08 will have the poly masking.
Answered by Philip Lomac Inventables on May 22, 2012
What is the thickness tolerence of your acrylics?
Asked by Tim Morris on Jun 22, 2012
Hi Tim, for 1/8" – 5/8" thickness the thickness tolerance on most of our acrylic is +/- 8%. On the matte one side acrylics the thickness tolerance for 1/8" thickness is listed at +/- .012".
Answered by Philip Lomac Inventables on Jun 25, 2012
I would like to add that currently we have ordered a clear piece of 1/8" (.125") extruded acrylic that is .133" thick. Checking what the cast acrylic is tonight; but the extruded acrylic is outside of its 8% fluctuation.
Answered by Abney Madsen on Nov 11, 2013
Correction
Answered by Abney Madsen on Nov 11, 2013
It is .113" thick. Apologies.
Hi Abney, no worries at all.
Answered by John Hayes on Nov 11, 2013
Do you know if any of this acrylic can be used to make a small fish tank?
Asked by Dan Gregson on Aug 10, 2012
Hi Dan, yes aquariums are often made with acrylic. Advantages are that you can shape it and they are lighter weight than glass. One disadvantage to consider is that the acrylic might show scratches easily when you go to clean the tank with a material like a rough algae pad.
Answered by Philip Lomac Inventables on Aug 10, 2012
What is the difference in results when vector cutting and rastering cast vs extruded?
Asked by Elliott Gersowitz on Oct 25, 2012
Hi Elliott, I need to double check but I believe the cast sheets frost nicely when engraving and rastering but extruded doesn’t.
Answered by Philip Lomac Inventables on Oct 26, 2012
Hi Elliott, this link is in the product summary. You can see in the picture the differences between how etching looks on extruded vs cast clear acrylic
Answered by Philip Lomac Inventables on Oct 29, 2012
What is the best way to seamlessly glue two acrylic sheets together (a clear to a black)?
Asked by Marco Gallio on Dec 8, 2012
Hi Marco, you should be able to use this IPS Weldon Adhesive to do that.
Answered by Philip Lomac Inventables on Dec 10, 2012
Is it possible to buy a bigger acrylic sheet at approx. 160in x 48in?
Asked by Eng Soon on Feb 7, 2013
Hi Eng, the largest size we currently offer is 48″×96″.
Answered by Philip Lomac Inventables on Feb 7, 2013
Hi there! I was looking to purchase much larger sheets of acrylic at 1/32" – How would I go about custom ordering?
Asked by Tess Stephens on Apr 17, 2013
Hi Tess, we don’t offer custom sizes at this time outside of what is published on the website.
Answered by Philip Lomac Inventables on Apr 18, 2013
Question about the 1/32" clear cast acrylic. Would the material and/or the resulting shape after cutting start to bow as it is laser cut?
Asked by Ed Maloney on Nov 9, 2013
Hi Ed, this 1/32" acrylic should not bow as it is laser cut.
Answered by John Hayes on Nov 11, 2013
heat and vac form lexan - final thickness
i have a mold in the basic shape of an suv scaled down of course. the rough dimensions are 36" long, 18" wide, 12" tall
Asked by justin allotta on Feb 20, 2014
what size sheet will i need to heat and vac form over to attain 0.065 – 0.080 in finished thickness?
Hey Justin,
The largest sheet of clear acrylic we sell is 18" x 24". Often the size of the vacuum former dictates the sheet size. You can get some more information on vacuum forming from Formtech
Best,
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Feb 24, 2014
Sam
How stable would it be to glue two end pieces together?
Essentially stacking the acrylic on top of each other (not face to face, but edge to edge) using the 1/4 thickness.
Asked by Martin Tomaj on Mar 24, 2014
Hello Martin,
The stability would depend on the size of the material. If you use a glue like Weld-on, it creates a strong chemical bond. However, depending on the size and application of the joined materials, they could be subject to breaking the seems. I would recommend testing this process for your application.
Best,
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Mar 25, 2014
Sam
What is meant by PMMA? Is it a recycled cast acrylic panel and does it change its color properties over time?
Asked by Harout Daghelian on Apr 4, 2014
Hello
PMMA stands for Poly(methyl methacrylate). It is a transparent thermoplastic commonly called Acrylic. It is made so it will not change colors over time.
Best,
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Apr 4, 2014
Sam
Colors?
I am curious about whether or not it is possible to order a 1/32" sheet, but in a transparent blue color? (8 in × 12 in) I am making a prop, and clear blue in this thickness would be ideal. Thanks!
Asked by Beata Bissett-Tyski on Apr 12, 2014
Hi Beata, unfortunately at this time we are only able to offer the items we have available on our website. However I will definitely pass this along to our merchandising team for future consideration. Thanks for your question and I apologize for the inconvenience.
Answered by John Hayes on Apr 12, 2014
Suggestions for cutting 1/4 inch clear acrylic.
Is it good to leave the paper on and what settings for 50 watt Epilog and also what settings do you recommend for engraving.
Asked by Kevin Funaro on May 15, 2014
Hi Kevin,
Answered by Lucy Silverman on May 15, 2014
I recommend leaving paper on the bottom side the acrylic (the side facing the floor once in the machine). Settings vary depending on what kind of engraving you want and I recommend running a few tests. A good place to start is 80% speed 50% power.
Best,
Lucy
CNC milling of acrylic
I plan on milling some small parts of clear acrylic on my ShapeOko 2. What would you recommend the speed be on the quiet spindle, the feed rate and the depth of cut be to get the best results?
Asked by Stephen Halasz on Oct 24, 2014
Hi Stephen,
I would recommend starting with the default acrylic settings in Easel. A depth per pass of 0.020 in and a feed rate of 25 in/min. If that works well, you can play with increasing the depth per pass in increments of .005.
Sincerely,
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Oct 24, 2014
Sam
Curving
If you curve the acrylic will it distort it?
Asked by Ron Krueger on Jan 1, 2015
Hi Ron,
You should be able to bend and form this acrylic with heat without distorting the color.
Best,
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Jan 2, 2015
Sam
PC Case
I want to make a pc case of Acrylic, and i have this question
Asked by Martin Daglio on Feb 10, 2015
what do you recomend for this, cast o extruded ?
and for 12 in × 24 in side of the case what Thickness would work
Hi Martin, cast acrylic is usually considered to be a bit higher quality, but you probably wouldn’t see too much difference unless you plan to use a laser cutter. Here’s a great article on the differences between the two and here’s an image showing these differences when laser cut/engraved.
Answered by John Hayes on Feb 13, 2015
What is the minimum bend radius needed to avoid permanently deforming the sheet?
I need to be able to roll up a (very large) sheet of acrylic (for transportation purposes and moving around parts of a building). The sheet must then be flattened when I have finished moving it around. I do not want to permanently deform the sheet of acrylic. I currently use polycarbonate but would like to switch to acrylic. So please let me know how much I can bend it as a function of the thickness of the sheet. Thanks
Asked by Bob on May 19, 2015
Acrylic plastic does not roll up. Even the thinest acrylic will not be able to roll into a cylinder. A polycarbonate would be better suited for that application.
best,
Answered by Sam Alaimo on May 20, 2015
Sam
Heat bonding
If after gluing pieces of acrylic together can you use an annealing process to obtain one piece ie want to make a rainbow multi colours
Asked by Peter on Jun 16, 2015
Thanks
My understanding is annealing acrylic will reduce internal stresses from fabrication. Annealing results in greater dimensional stability and greater resistance to crazing. While these mechanical properties improve I am not familiar with a way to make a rainbow multi colors with clear acrylic using annealing.
Answered by Zach Kaplan Inventables on Jun 16, 2015
Cost. How much does cast acrylic usually cost per square metre?
Asked by Norman Accina on Jun 19, 2015
Hi,
We only offer the pricing and sizes you see on the website.
Best,
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Jun 19, 2015
Sam
Does acrylic sheet wobble?
Hi, I wish to buy a large rectangular acrylic sheet 2500mm X 1000mm X 6mm(thickness). My concern is that the acrylic will wobble. Does it bend easily?
Asked by Alex on Jul 13, 2015
Hi,
We only have the sizes and varieties you see on the website. We get all of our acrylic pre-cut from our vendor so we do not have alternative sizes.
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Jul 14, 2015
Would an acrylic "u-shaped" shelf tolerate 40 degree temperatures in a refrigerator for items to be set on it?
Asked by Ruby Miller on Aug 28, 2015
Hi,
We have not tested anything like this, but I do not see a reason why it wouldn’t work. I would recommend testing this application.
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Aug 28, 2015
Can you set hot beverages on your acrylics?
We’re investigating options for covering a mosaic coffee table. Will a hot mug of coffee damage the acrylic?
Asked by Aaron Dietz on Nov 10, 2015
Hi,
Acrylic has a melting point of 320°F, which would be a pretty hot mug. I think it would be suitable for a coaster for a mug, but maybe not a trivet for a pot off the stove.
Best,
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Nov 11, 2015
Sam
Is it possible to join 2 large acrylic sheets together to make a large display
Is it possible to join or weld the edges of 2 large acrylic sheets together to make a large display
Asked by Dan Houston on Dec 2, 2015
You could but it could be difficult to do (probably couldn’t glue it), and you would have a seem. If you could find a way to hold the two pieces in place, like a frame, it could work best.
Best,
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Dec 2, 2015
Sam
Will two acrylic sheets of different colors glued together transmit light?
If I weld multiple pieces of acrylic together in different colors and then engrave the finished product while transmitting light through one end of the final product, will the bonded seams block the light from crossing over into the other colors?
Asked by Gudmundur Arnar Gudmundsson on Dec 13, 2015
e.g. I want to make a flag and make it glow by frosting the surface, will all the colors glow or just the base frame piece?
Hi,
We really only sell one acrylic that will have a good glow when lit, the Lucite Light Guide Acrylic Sheet. Really the light will only be transmitted through the one sheet connected to the light source.
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Dec 16, 2015
Horizontal sagging
We would like to hang a sheet of clear acrylic in a frame horizontally
the approximate size we would need is 40″ × 23″
Like a picture frame stuck to the ceilingIt will be supported in a frame all around (1/4")
Do you have any info on the thickness we would require in order for it not to sag in the middle ?Thanks
Asked by Richard MArier on Dec 17, 2015
Hi,
We do not sell material in that size, so it is hard to say if it would sag at a 1/4" thickness. The 18″ × 24″ × 1/4" do not have sagging.
Best,
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Dec 18, 2015
Sam
What material would you recommend for a car hood?
Looking to make a clear hood for my car. It needs to be molded to shape of original hood and able to handle some heat. They used to make them back in the day but no longer available
Asked by Mike panzica on Jan 5, 2016
Hi,
Acrylic can be formed with heat, but it is generally a brittle plastic. Acrylic has a melting point of 320°F.
Best,
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Jan 6, 2016
Sam
perspex outdoor use
I would like to use an acrylic sheet (perspex) outdoors. I require something that is UV resistant, non-scratch and non-reflective. Is there such a product? I also want to know how to secure attach a large piece of perspex to an outdoor wooden fence. Thanks
Asked by Shalinee Perera on Jan 18, 2016
Hi,
Acrylic will not discolor and can hold up outside. It might work for this application, but I would suggest testing a small piece to make sure.
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Jan 19, 2016
Can an 1/8" sheet be applied to a particle board core using a veneer hot press?
Asked by Brian Dylan Stuckey on Mar 2, 2016
Hi,
I have never heard of someone attaching acrylic to a board with just using heat. My guess is that a plastic with a lower melting point like PVC might be better suited. Here is some info on working with acrylic.
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Mar 2, 2016
How much pressure would it take to push through or break an acrylic sheet that is 6 ft by 4 ft by 1/4 inch thick?
Asked by david andersen on Apr 5, 2016
Hello, David –
Answered by Mo Stych on Apr 8, 2016
Thank you for your question. There are a lot of variables that make up the pressure-point attributes of acrylic. I am sending you some more information directly to your email address. Thanks!
- Mo
Considering a acrylic fence out doors . 48x96 panels. What thickness is standard for this type of fencing ? Thank You - Sherrie
Asked by Sherrie Rubin on Apr 26, 2016
Hi,
We do not have much experience in this application. All acrylic should be able suitable for outdoor use. I would probably recomend 1/4" and thicker for a sheet that larger to prevent bending.
best,
Answered by Sam Alaimo on Apr 26, 2016
Sam
how to avoid arching when bending a 150*60 cm , 3mm acrylic sheet?
When bending a 3mm acrylic sheet , 150*60 cm , using a heating wire machine , i have an unacceptable arch after it cools down . How can i avoid it?
Asked by Rad on May 1, 2016
Hi,
Unfortunately, we do not have much experience in heat bending acrylic. Here are some links that might be useful:
http://www.modders-inc.com/forums/showthread.php/3756-DIY-Hot-Wire-Acrylic-Bending-Plans
http://community.glowforge.com/t/laser-cut-acrylic-bending-jig/2070
http://forums.eteknix.com/threads/acrylic-bending-101.7065/
Answered by Sam Alaimo on May 2, 2016
Prices, shipping to México
Hi. Prices are in US dollars?. Send them to México to La Paz, Baja California Sur, Zip code 23060?. How much is the shipping cost?
Asked by Martin Rodriguez Meza on May 5, 2016
Shelves for bookcase
10″ × 27″ shelves for bookcase, what thicknesses would you recommend? I don’t want to worry about the shelf bending and something’s as rigid as similar glass shelf.
Asked by MATT FOWLER on May 8, 2016
Hi Matt, thanks for contacting us. if the area of the shelf surface is 10″×27″, you would want to use at least 1/4" acrylic sheet, though even 1/4" acrylic would have significant flex with a shelf full of books. 1/2" material would cut down on the flex significantly, though it can be quite heavy. In this case, glass may be a cheaper and thinner option. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Best, -Griffin.
Answered by Griffin Dennis on May 9, 2016
what can as a stand for a sheet of plexi glass
Answered by lynne david on Apr 26, 2020
Hi Lynne, polycarbonate or glass might be a good stand-in, though we, unfortunately, do not sell those materials. This may also be more of an aesthetic question you’ll need to ask yourself as you can make shelves out of lots of different materials. Hope that helps and thanks for your question!
Answered by John Hayes on Apr 27, 2020
How to tell or distinquish quality acrylic?
Hello
I am very mush considering buying this sheet but am researching and reading stuffs how tell if an acrylic sheet is an excellent quality from poor ones. All I know so far is that I should be looking for cast cell since it has the best quality type of acrylic. However, I am still confused…
How can you really distinguish an excellent acrylic from a good or poor ones of you are presented with different kinds of acrylic sheet that looks the same but came from different manufacturers?
I’d really appreciate help on this.
Asked by Daniel Magulado on May 18, 2016
Hi Daniel, thanks for your question. I think it’s very difficult to distinguish between sheets of acrylic by just looking at them. Between cast and extruded acrylic cast is normally considered to be a bit higher quality, but depending on what application it’s being used in, either extruded or cast acrylic might work. Check out this great article for more information on what distinguishes extruded from cast acrylic.
Answered by John Hayes on May 19, 2016
Some one told me is a antiscrash acrylic ....did you sale it????
I am building a kitcar and I need to built the door and side glass. I am thinking to doit out of acrylic but I don’t want to scrash the acrylic and make the car to look bad
Asked by Juan soto on May 30, 2016
Hello, Juan –
Unfortunately, acrylic is not scratch-proof. It does not shatter very easily, so it is a nice alternative to glass in many applications, but it can still scratch. It may be possible to remove a few small scratches, but we do not sell any acrylics that are entirely scratch-proof. You can learn more about some of acrylic’s properties here: https://www.plexi-craft.com/acrylic-plexiglass-lucite-clear-plastic.htmlI hope this helps, and thank you for your inquiry!
Answered by Mo Stych on Jun 3, 2016
- Mo
Looking for thinner cast acrylic sheets in a variety of colors
Would like to buy a selection of colors of thinner cast acrylic sheets, 2mm thick, or about .08 inches. Would need transparent colors. Hoping for light blue, violet, yellow, amber or orange, and a very see-through red and green. We would only need perhaps a 2′ × 2′ piece of each, or maybe 2′ × 3′. The material will be cut with a co2 laser. Ideally paper backed, or without backing. Is it possible to get this thickness in these colors? would also like quote for clear and smoke-tinted in that thickness (2mm or .08") Thanks! We need this for cutting a lot of small pieces for art projects – the material does not need to support weight, and the pieces we use are about 2" wide at most, but we need a fair number of them, if this helps. The tolerance on thickness does not have to be super-exact. We are told that the laser cutting requires the cast, not extruded type acrylic. Hope you can help!
Asked by Kerin M Schiesser on Aug 9, 2016
Hi Kerin, thanks for contacting us. The availability of acrylic can vary widely based on color and production method. Generally cast sheets will start out at .125" at least with American suppliers. You may have better luck with Alibaba, particularly for metric thicknesses. As far as the sheet sizes you’re looking for, we don’t really offer them since we get everything pre-cut from master sheets, but a supplier like E&T Plastics may be able to sell you larger custom sizes or at least master sheets. Both cast and extruded acrylic can be cut with a laser, though cast acrylic tends to cut a bit cleaner and gives a nice ‘frosted’ effect when engraved and is generally a stronger material. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Best, -Griffin.
Answered by Griffin Dennis on Aug 10, 2016
Custom Cut
Would it be possible to get the 18×24 1/4in piece (23876-01) cut into two 9×24 pieces?
Asked by Liz Pham on Aug 18, 2016
Hi Liz, unfortunately we don’t do any custom cutting of our materials. Best, -Griffin.
Answered by Griffin Dennis on Aug 18, 2016
I am manufacture of recycle acrylic sheet im India
I am the manufacturer of recycle acrylic sheet in India I am having many questions to ask can you provide the solution to me
Asked by Karan Singh on Aug 22, 2016
Please use the email form here – https://inventables.desk.com/customer/portal/emails/new – for general inquiries.
Thanks!
Answered by Paul Stolz on Aug 22, 2016
Thickness vs stability
I need to do some fine cutting and complex engraving on very thin stock… think small toy pieces with lots of negative space. Is it too hopeful to assume that 1/32" can survive this without deforming from the heat? I’m going to be laminating multiple pieces together so maintaining planar stability is pretty important.
Asked by Nathaniel Ellis on Nov 1, 2016
Hi Nathaniel, because the sheet is so thin, there is some danger of it warping as it’s cut, though depending on the method used your results may vary. If you’ll be milling, you’ll just want to make sure to hold it down with something like double stick tape and have the feed rate fast enough that it doesn’t melt the plastic to the bit or itself. If you’re working with a laser, you’ll probably just have to play around with your settings until you get something that works. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Best, -Griffin.
Answered by Griffin Dennis on Nov 1, 2016
Acrylic Covering
Does the clear acrylic sheet 23876-35 (1/32" cast) come with a paper or film covering? Thanks!
Asked by Britta ritter-armour on Nov 21, 2016
Hello Britta,
The acrylic sheets come with a thin layer of protective paper-like material.
Answered by Jeffrey Ma on Nov 21, 2016
Weight bearing capacity of acrylic?
Hello, we are designing an acrylic cart with bookshelves. May I ask how we can calculate the load-bearing capacity of the acrylic shelf? Shelves will be approximately 24" wide by 12" deep, and we are planning to use .5" thick acrylic. Do you know how many pounds a shelf will support? Thanks!
Asked by Wesley Conlin on Dec 6, 2016
Hi Wesley, sadly I do not have an exact number for how many pounds an acrylic sheet of that size will support, however I can say with some degree of confidence that a 1/2" acrylic sheet of that size will have no trouble supporting a full row of books so long as they are not of extraordinary weight. This material requires quite a bit of pressure to even bow. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Best, -Griffin.
Answered by Griffin Dennis on Dec 6, 2016
Thanks, Griffin. The cart is for children’s books, for example, in a bedroom or playroom, so it seems the .5" should be fine.
Answered by Wesley Conlin on Dec 6, 2016
Hi, where can i contact you?
do you have email? or i just leave a post here? thank u
Asked by Sarah Mae Zaragoza on Jan 15, 2017
Hi Sarah, you can always email us at help@inventables.com or contact us through our support center. We will also be notified any time someone asks a question on a page. Best, -Griffin.
Answered by Griffin Dennis on Jan 17, 2017
Vivarium build
Hello . Will a piece of cast acrylic 4 feet by 4 feet and 3/4 inch thick warp ? I am making an acrylic vivarium out of 3/4 inch cast acrylic. I am using a 4 foot by 4 foot door with latches on the top and bottom will this be okay with out warping ? thanks john
Asked by John Pisano on Feb 8, 2017
Hi John, I would expect a sheet of such specifications to be reasonably sturdy, though it may sag over time if unsupported. You would want to make sure to have proper reinforcement for the door depending on its mounting. Such a door would also be rather heavy. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Best, -Griffin.
Answered by Griffin Dennis on Feb 9, 2017
Vivarium doir
Thanks Griffen for answering my question. About the door sag? If I used two big hinges and when the door is closed I used two decent latches do I still need to be concerned about door sag ? I was more afraid of warping due to humidity of the vivarium I’m hoping the 3/4 Inch thick piece would be OK. Thanks John
Asked by John Pisano on Feb 9, 2017
Hi John, the Acrylic should be more or less impervious to humidity, though prolonged exposure to heat will cause issues. Unfortunately we usually deal with this material in decorative applications and are less familiar with its structural properties. I would get in touch with someone more familiar with using acrylic for structures. I would think that a supportive metal frame with thinner (~1/4") material might be a bit more practical than 4′×4′X3/4" sheet (which will weigh around 63lbs) Please let us know if you ahve any other questions. Best, -Griffin.
Answered by Griffin Dennis on Feb 13, 2017
That should be ~75lbs
Answered by Griffin Dennis on Feb 13, 2017
Vacuuming forming 1/4" clear acrylic at home
Hi I’m trying to make a clear acrylic funnel that is 34" long, 14" diameter at the top and 5.5" wide at the bottom. It is going to be used to shrink wrap something. It will be in two halves that bolt together around the item to be shrink wrapped. I made a wooden mould on a lathe. I bought some plexiglass and tried to use a heat gun to wrap it around the mould but that is definitely not happening. I read online that I need to use extruded acrylic. I wanted to use 1/4" thick acrylic, is it possible for me to build a vacuum form setup at home that is powerful enough to bend 1/4" acrylic? How big a sheet of acrylic would I need if the wood mold is 34" long, 14" wide at the widest, 5.5" wide at the narrowest, and 7" tall? I have a picture of the mould I can send if that makes it easier to understand.
Thanks
Asked by Michael Shaffer on Feb 14, 2017
Michael Shaffer
Hi Michael, unfortunately it would likely be impractical to use a home built vacuum former with 1/4" acrylic. Extruded acrylic will generally be more forgiving, though there would likely be difficulties getting even heating, accurate molding, etc. Something like thinner ABS may be more practical. Unfortunately vacuum forming is not our area of expertise, so it might be worth talking with a company that does this professionally. They could probably give you a better idea of materials requirements, etc. Have you considered using the wooden mold to lay up fiberglass w/ epoxy or other resin? This is, of course, a bit of a dark art unto itself, though it may be more practical if you’ll just be doing a few of these molds. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Best, -Griffin.
Answered by Griffin Dennis on Feb 15, 2017
Acrylic - cracking
I am finding that when I laser cut my acrylics they are cracking around the edges. Which type of acrylic is less likely to do this and could the backing being left on or off make a difference?
Asked by ella goodwin on Mar 10, 2017
Hello Ella,
I am sorry to hear that you are having trouble with your acrylic sheets. Generally, extruded acrylic sheets are more prone to stress cracking when lasered. Cleaning the acrylic with some sort of solvent after a cut may cause cracks as well. That being said, I would recommend using the cast acrylic sheets for future projects, as they are less likely to crack.
I hope this helps!
Answered by Jeffrey Ma on Mar 10, 2017
what do mean by P95 clear acrylic
Asked by Dharmesh Rao on Mar 11, 2017
Hi Dharmesh,
This is not P95 series. It is standard clear extruded or cast acrylic.
Answered by Paul Stolz on Mar 13, 2017
Is P95 a series no
Does it has more clearity or any difference to other clear available
Asked by Dharmesh Rao on Mar 11, 2017
Hi Dharmesh,
This is not P95 series. It is standard clear extruded or cast acrylic.
Answered by Paul Stolz on Mar 13, 2017
Can I cut/engrave this with my xcarve?
Asked by Donald Plaistow on Mar 15, 2017
Hello Donald,
Yes, this material can be cut/engraved with the X-Carve.
Answered by Jeffrey Ma on Mar 15, 2017
Do you have a clear acrylic sheet transparent to UV light (at least from 355 or 360nm)?
I am a research intern, I want to use a clear acrylic sheet for an experiment but it has to be transparent to UV light, at least from 350nm. Ideally thickness would be under 1/8".
Asked by Jean Fatien on Apr 4, 2017
Hi Jean, thanks for contacting us. Unfortunately we don’t have data for the UV transmission on these materials. It will likely vary between the cast and extruded sheets. It’s probably best to purchase a sheet and test the UV transmission in a controlled setting. If precision is needed, it might be best to go with a glass element. Please let us know if you have any other questions. Best, -Griffin.
Answered by Griffin Dennis on Apr 5, 2017
Shattered
I had a 13×19 x.220 inch Acrylic piece in a shadow box free floating . It shattered into a billion small pieces.I ca’t figure out what happened. Room temperature. Can you help me?——————-Thanks————Ted
Asked by Ted Heintzeman on Aug 10, 2017
Hi Ted, thanks for contacting us. Sorry to hear that you had a piece of acrylic break- usually this will not happen unless the acrylic has been attacked by alcohol or another solvent. Did you purchase this sheet from us? Please get in touch with us via email or phone if you need any further assistance on this. Thanks, -Griffin.
Answered by Griffin Dennis on Aug 11, 2017
shattered cancell
cancel question of shattered
Asked by Ted Heintzeman on Aug 11, 2017
coating
YOU NEED TO STATE WHAT THE ACRYLIC IS COATED WITH IN YOUR AD!!!!
Asked by Richard Green on Nov 20, 2017
what is the methods to clean the instrumentation after cleanin the colours
in acrylic casting we use pure pmma to clean the equipment in the case of changing the color
Asked by mohamed abdelkarim on Dec 12, 2017
Hi Mohamed, to be honest we’re not sure what our vendors’ practices are as far as changing colors between runs. Did you receive a sheet that had irregular color? Please let us know if you have any other questions. Best, -Griffin.
Answered by Griffin Dennis on Dec 12, 2017
Lexan with a coating of Acrylic
I understand there is a lexan product used for windows that has a thin layer of acrylic on both sides for scratch resistance
Asked by Steve Whitenect on Jan 30, 2018
Hi Steve, I believe that products like that are sold by various vendors like Margard that are polycarbonate with an anti-scratch coating, though I don’t believe we distribute any of these. Please let us know if you have any questions. Best, -Griffin.
Answered by Griffin Dennis on Jan 30, 2018
I am using acrylic in place of glass for photographs with standoffs. Does your clear acrylic come in non glare or only glossy?
Asked by Kyle Lundquist on Feb 27, 2018
Unfortunately, we only have glossy available on our site.
Answered by Paul Stolz on Feb 27, 2018
What thickness would I need for a acrylic half wall?
The half wall with be for a viewing area. It will be 42 inches tall by 8 feet long with a corner cemented together with a 42 inch tall by 47 inch long. I need to know what thickness is needed to keep it from bowing?
Asked by John Allcock on May 3, 2018
Hi John, We unfortunately do not sell master or custom size sheets through Inventables. I will email you directly with the data sheet for the cast clear acrylic so you can see the mechanical and flexural properties of this material.
Answered by Philip Lomac Inventables on May 4, 2018
Do you have the MSDS for this acrylic?
The space that I can use a laser cutter at requires me to have it.
Asked by Patrick Duensing on Aug 14, 2018
Hi Patrick,
Are you looking at the cast or extruded sheets?
Answered by Paul Stolz on Aug 15, 2018
can i use a lucite shelf to deflect the heat from the gas fireplace up to the TV ?
is a lucite shelf heat resistant
Asked by Steven Gershonovitch on Oct 17, 2018
Hi Steven, thanks for reaching out! Unfortunately, it won’t deflect heat, it’s a thermoplastic.
Answered by Julie Bryant on Oct 18, 2018
CNC Milling Perspex
Is there anyway CNC mill clear perspex and keep the same or near clarity of clear perspex. Also if i wanted to join multiple clear sheets together how would i do this without disrupting the clarity of all the sheets.
Asked by Nathan Dunn on Jan 23, 2019
Unfortunately you will likely always have some type of artifact from the carving process preventing near clarity when milling. You might consider using a laser cutter as that will leave a polished edge. Using a solvent-based cement would be the most appropriate when joining two pieces of material, and here’s a great Make article that has more information.
Answered by John Hayes on Jan 24, 2019
How to transport without scratching?
How to transport without scratching? Can I stick clear plastic kitchen film onto the surface to protect during transportation? I have an aquarium that needs to be shipped by airplane and I need to protect with bubble wrap and air pillows etc but I want to know how to prevent scratches on the surface?
Kind regards
Asked by Carrie on Feb 6, 2019
Carrie
How to protect from scratches during transportation
How to transport without scratching? Can I stick clear plastic kitchen film onto the surface to protect while in transportation? I have an aquarium that needs to be shipped by airplane and I need to protect with bubble wrap etc but I want to know how to prevent scratches on the surface?
Asked by Carrie on Feb 6, 2019
Hi Carrie, you can use masking film or paper to wrap up the aquarium tank to prevent scratches. A layer of bubble wrap would work well over it, in case the tank is dropped during transit. If any scratches do occur, you can clean the acrylic with a plastic cleaner, such as this one: https://www.amazon.com/NOVUS-PC-10-Plastic-Clean-Shine/dp/B002UD0GFE?th=1
Answered by Julie Bryant on Feb 6, 2019
gluing a 24"x48" plexiglas on slider door glass
I am making a diy faux stained glass project on 24″×48″ × 1/4" plexiglas panels and want to eventually glue it on or hang it on sliding door panels. whichever is the best way how do i do either. (glue or hang) on sliding door panels are 32″×72″
Asked by Mayet Mendoza on Jun 29, 2019
Hi Mayet, whether you hang the acrylic or use glue entirely depends on your preference. Either one could work. If you want to adhere the acrylic to glass, a silicone caulk would be best. For hanging, standoffs would be the easiest solution.
Answered by Julie Bryant on Jul 1, 2019
What is the test same that can be done to check the quality of the qcrylic panel
It’s hard to identify the good quality acrylic sheet from the poor quality sheet by eyes only , thus I need to send the samples which I have from different manufactures for testing to know which sample is better so i can buy. Now i need to now what are the test name and what should be done in order to know with which supplier i need to go.
Please advice,
Asked by Anas Ahmad on Jun 30, 2019
Hi Anas, if you’re trying to determine the difference between cast and extruded acrylic, this may be helpful: https://www.acmeplastics.com/cast-vs-extruded
If you’re using the acrylic on a laser cutter, you can try running a test engraving. Cast acrylic will give you clear, defined lines and extruded will look softer.
Answered by Julie Bryant on Jul 1, 2019
bits for edge lit signs
I’m not interested in a laser cutter at this time. I have an x carve and I haven’t figured out what is the best bit to use for edge lit signs. Can anyone help me with choosing bits for this purpose?
Asked by Sara stone on Oct 1, 2019
Hi Sara, you would want to use a single flute or a fishtail upcut bit. We have a chart here that helps you select the best bit for your project: https://inventables.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360021943493-Color-Coded-Bit-Chart-Choosing-the-Right-Bit
Answered by Julie Bryant on Oct 2, 2019
Weight bearing?
I’m planning to make a sofa and use acrylic as the back and sides. The back and sides would be screwed into a frame on the bottom. How much weight could be placed on the back or sides? Is it strong enough for this application? To support weight of 2 people while sitting and lounging? If so, what thickness should I use?
Asked by Kels on Aug 4, 2020
Hi Kels,
We have not tested this acrylic’s tensile or flexural strength, so we are unable to give you specific recommendations. I would recommend trying qty 1 of the thickest sheet we have (1/2" 23876-38) and going from there.
Answered by Paul Stolz on Aug 4, 2020
How much deflection
how much sag/deflection will occur in a .5" thick 12"wide piece of acrylic when supported at a span of 45"
Asked by Art LaGrange on Oct 30, 2020
Hi Art, thanks for your message. Unfortunately we can only offer those sizes available on our site, so we do not have a 45" length of 1/2" thick, 12" wide acrylic. I apologize for the inconvenience. I’ve emailed you directly with some additional information.
Answered by John Hayes on Oct 30, 2020
How to edge glue 1/4 inch to 1/8 inch acrylic
I have two different thicknesses of acrylic that I’m edge gluing as the sides of a large trunk. the longer face sheet is 1/8 inch thick while the shorter pieces composing the sides (depth) of the trunk are 1/4 inch thick. I’m thinking this should be fine given the way in which plexiglass “welds” together but my question is: which end should I apply the solvent to (I’m planning to use SCIGRIP 16) the ends of the 1/4" piece or the ends of the 1/8" piece. I’m thinking that applying to the 1/4 inch piece would provide more surface area, therefore greater adhesion but I feel as though the other way around would provide a better aesthetic appearance as I would be able to polish the ends of the 1/4 inch pieces which face the front of the trunk (to my understanding gluing polished edges is very difficult). Thanks!
Asked by Nick Anthony on Dec 20, 2020
Hi Nick, thanks for reaching out. It’s difficult for me to say for sure without visually seeing what the project should look like in the end, but I would recommend applying the glue to the 1/8" piece if appearance is the most important to you. Acrylic glue causes a chemical reaction that bonds the two pieces of acrylic together, so a strong bond should still be formed. However, if this is a part where strength is important, such as a load bearing part, you may instead want to apply the glue to the 1/4" piece to increase the surface area. I hope this is helpful!
Answered by Julie Bryant on Dec 23, 2020
Labeled for laser cutting?
My school requires that all acrylic is labeled as safe for laser cutting. Specifically, they state:
Asked by peter baldwin on Jan 16, 2021
“We will not cut any acrylic which can not be identified. It must have the original manufacturer’s identification or “Laser Friendly” label from the supplier"
Do all of your acrylic sheets meet this requirement?
Can multiple sheets of acrylic be stacked and cut together on a laser cutter?
I’m looking at having some relatively large pieces (~150 inch perimeter) cut from 1/4" acrylic. To save on cutting costs, I want to know if I can stack 4 or 8 or more and have them all cut in one pass. Obviously it depends on the power of the laser to a certain degree, but assuming the power is 4000W…something that can cut 3/4 steel… Previously I’ve been charged by the linear inches being cut as well as by the hour. So if it’s by the linear inches I thought I could have them stacked and cut more slowly and if its hourly, one at a time…and just run at high speed. Thanks!
Asked by Aaron James on Feb 14, 2021
Hi Aaron,Thank you for your question.
There are a couple of things to consider when using a laser cutter for acrylic. Since you are using heat to cut the material, stacking it can cause the material to fuse together. Additionally, most lasers can cut accurately through 1/4 inch or maybe 1/2 inch thick material. Since the laser is focused to the top of the material, the cut will become inconsistent with anything much thicker than that, on most lasers. You will start to see diagonal cuts, which will lead to inconsistently shaped parts. It could also be a fire hazard, heat may become trapped between the layers of acrylic.
My suggestion would be to reach out to the company that is doing your machining to see what they suggest and what they are willing to do.
Hope this helps!
Answered by Jenna Richards on Feb 16, 2021
How thick does acrylic need to be to cross a 24" span, supported on only two sides without sagging?
Asked by Dan Schwartz on Oct 2, 2021
Hi Dan,
I would recommend at least 1/2" material if you do not want it to sag across a 24" span.
Answered by Paul Stolz on Oct 4, 2021
MSDS for clear acrylic? Both cast and extruded?
Do you have a MSDS for this clear acrylic? I easily found sheets for some other materials (https://dzevsq2emy08i.cloudfront.net/paperclip/technology_attachment_uploaded_files/444/original/0.03%22%20and%201:16%22%20Laserable%20Acrylic%20MSDS.pdf?1409330898) but not for this one.
My question is similar to Peter Baldwin’s unanswered question below. My library states materials have to be “100% acrylic” for laser cutting. The MSDS above includes some other things mixed in and I’m wondering about this clear acrylic.
Thank you!
Asked by Patrick Moran on Mar 9, 2022
Hey Patrick,
Answered by CJ Glasenhardt Inventables on Mar 9, 2022
I have emailed you directly regarding the MSDS and specifics for these sheets.
MSDS for clear acrylic, cast and extruded please
May I please have the MSDSs for this acrylic as well?
Asked by Christi Lee on Mar 24, 2022
Hey Christi,
Answered by CJ Glasenhardt Inventables on Mar 24, 2022
I have emailed you the MSDS for these sheets, as well.
