Cutting

 

Table and Panel Saws

Generally, straight cuts are made using a conventional table or panel saw. A saw blade specifically designed for acrylic, such as a triple-chip grind, carbide toothed saw blade works best. For a 10-inch saw blade, 80 teeth are recommended. For larger blades, equivalent tooth spacing can be utilized with good results. On a triple-chip grind saw blade, every other tooth has a beveled cutting edge, which aids in chip removal and reduces heat buildup.

Jigsaw Cutting

Hand held jigsaws work well with most plastic sheets in cutting intricate shapes and letters. For best results, use a wavy-set type blade with 8-13 teeth/inch (tpi). It is also important to ensure the blade is sharp - do not use a blade that has already been used for cutting metal or other materials. In jigsaw cutting, it is important to minimize vibration by clamping the material to a firm surface. Feed rates in the 8-12 ft/min range will yield the best results.

 

Bandsaw Cutting

Bandsaws are typically used for quick, rough cuts, as well as intricate shapes and letters. As with jigsaw cutting, the quality of the edge is dependent on the type of blade used. Generally, blades in the raker style with teeth in the 18-24 tpi range will produce the best results. Blades with fewer teeth per inch will leave a jagged, rough edge while blades with a higher number of teeth per inch will yield a smoother edge. If blades with more teeth per inch are used, it is recommended to utilize a coolant such as water, compressed air, or a combination of both to reduce melting along the cut edge. Feed rates in the 10 to 15 ft/min range will yield the best edge.



<< Back | Next >>