Acrylic Fabrication and Machining

Home Acrylic Fabrication and Machining

Acrylic Fabrication and Machining

Acrylic is a transparent plastic thermoset material with superior strength, stiffness and optical clarity. Acrylic is easy to fabricate as it bonds well with solvents and is easy to form into various shapes and sizes. Further, acrylic has outstanding weathering properties. Acrylic in many cases can outperform more widely used “commodity” plastics (polystyrene, polypropylene, PVC, etc.):

Mechanical Properties

Durability 10 times greater than glass
Dimensional stability
Low water absorption
Natural resistance to UV light
Resistance to chemicals and contaminants
Easy to solvent weld

Appearance

Superior glass-like transparency (can be tinted to appear in a variety of colors or to be made opaque)
Also available in metallic colors designed to emulate the appearance of various metals
Available with coatings that are antimicrobial, mirrored, and scratch-resistant

Sustainability

Recyclable/BPA-free

Acrylic is widely used for:

Point of purchase displays and exhibits
Transportation applications
Shelves and retail fixtures
Signage (indoor & outdoor)
Display cases

Common Brands:

ACRYLITE®
OPTIX®
Plexiglas®

Rod / Round:

Diameters: 1/4”dia to 12”+diameter
Lengths: 2 ft, 4 ft, 6 ft and 8 ft+, varies by diameter
Colors: White & Black standard, colors limited

Sheet:

.060” to 2.5+” Thickness for Clear
Sheet sizes vary, but stock sizes are usually 48 x 96, 60 x 96, 51 x 100, 72 x 96”

Tubing:

Diameters: 1.5″ to 27.625+” O.D. (Wall Thickness (inches) .125″ to .5″ )
Standard Length (feet): 6′

Grades:

General Purpose, Abrasion Resistant, Impact Modified, Sign Grade, Light Diffusing, ESD (Electrostatic Dissipative), Antimicrobial

acrylic-point-of-purchase-display-900x450

Types and Colors (custom color matching available upon request with an MOQ):

Cast

Clear
Opaque:
Black 2025, White 3015

Translucent:
White 7328, White 2447, Red 2157, Red 2283, Red 2793, Yellow 2037, Green 2108, Acid Green, Blue 2051, Blue 2050, Blue 2114Transparent:
Bronze 2412, Iridescent ECO001

Extruded

Clear

Opaque:
Black 2025, White 3015, White 7328, Gray 3001, Ivory 2146, Yellow 2037, Orange 2119, Red 2157, Green 2030, Blue 2051

Transparent/Translucent:
White 2447, White 7328, Yellow 2208, Red 2423, Magenta 2167, Purple 19180, Blue 2424, Green 2092, Light Green 3030, Amber 2422, Bronze 2412, Bronze 2404, Bronze 2370, Gray Smoke 2064, Gray Smoke 2074

Fluorescent:
Yellow 4073, Yellow 9096, Pink Red 19357, Light Orange 3127, Medium Orange 2150, Red Orange 2149, Dark Orange 9094, Green 5143, Blue 9092

Metallic:
Gold 7001, Indian Bronze 7026

Mirror

Blue 1000, Blue 2069, Blue 2424, Purple 1020, Gray 1050, Gray 2064, Orange 1119, Gold 1300, Red 1310, Red 1400, Red 2423, Bronze 2404, Bronze 1600, Green 4674, Green 2414, Pink 1450, Teal 2120, Yellow 2208, Amber 2422, Mirrored

Acrylic is ideal for a range of applications, from corneal transplants in cataract surgery to aquariums to windows in airplanes, skyscrapers, and even submarines.

Acrylic is typically extruded, cast, or continuous casted during the manufacturing process. It can be machined during fabrication using standard CNC machines or through manual operations in order to perform cutting, turning, routing, milling, drilling, and grinding. Complex shapes are often handled via laser cutting.

Learn more at our blog on Acrylic Fabrication.

Acrylic Fabrication and Machining