Free: Plywood and plexiglass

[smallboat]

Just to muddy the waters - Plexiglas is cast acrylic sheet.
Many people will use the term Plexiglas as a generic for acrylic even though there are acrylics that are extruded rather than cast. d there are cast acrylic sheets that are not branded as Plexiglas.
I’m not certain if it makes any difference in machining, but imagine it could.
I’ve never had any issues with plex.

 

[ChemE75]

Just to muddy the waters - Plexiglas is cast acrylic sheet.
Many people will use the term Plexiglas as a generic for acrylic even though there are acrylics that are extruded rather than cast. d there are cast acrylic sheets that are not branded as Plexiglas.
I’m not certain if it makes any difference in machining, but imagine it could.
I’ve never had any issues with plex.

Yup, different forming methods. But it’s not exactly analogous to the distinction between, for example, forged iron vs cast iron which does affect the crystalline properties. Polymethylmethacrylate is the same amorphous plastic in both methods. I believe the plexiglass method is designed to obtain the best clarity for windows and the like. As best as I know, there is no impact on machinability.

 

[HITCH-]

I have been in the plastic industry for 18 years now. Here are fabrication guides for acrylic and polycarbonate that might be useful for folks.

https://plaskolite.com/docs/default-source/fab/fab004_opx_extruded.pdf

https://plaskolite.com/docs/default-source/fab/fab015_tuf_en.pdf

 

[patlaw]

I have been in the plastic industry for 18 years now. Here are fabrication guides for acrylic and polycarbonate that might be useful for folks.

https://plaskolite.com/docs/default-source/fab/fab004_opx_extruded.pdf

https://plaskolite.com/docs/default-source/fab/fab015_tuf_en.pdf

Is he cutting acrylic or polycarbonate? I asked because I tried cutting Lexan on my table saw exactly the way he did, and I had shards of the stuff flying everywhere.

 

[Wilsoncb]

I have been in the plastic industry for 18 years now. Here are fabrication guides for acrylic and polycarbonate that might be useful for folks.

https://plaskolite.com/docs/default-source/fab/fab004_opx_extruded.pdf

https://plaskolite.com/docs/default-source/fab/fab015_tuf_en.pdf

Did I read that right? For the polycarbonate, it says 5000-6000 ft/min. That’s 83-100 ft/second.

 

[Mike Davis]

Did I read that right? For the polycarbonate, it says 5000-6000 ft/min. That’s 83-100 ft/second.

Around 2000 rpm for a 10 inch blade.

Most table saws run 5000 rpm.

Looking at the link … it says around 6000 rpm.

 

[Wilsoncb]

Around 2000 rpm for a 10 inch blade.

Most table saws run 5000 rpm.

Looking at the link … it says around 6000 rpm.

The acrylic document says “rpm”. The polycarbonate one says “ft/min”. Type-o?

 

[HITCH-]

Is he cutting acrylic or polycarbonate? I asked because I tried cutting Lexan on my table saw exactly the way he did, and I had shards of the stuff flying everywhere.

That's acrylic. The main thing to successfully cutting either on is to hold the workpiece in a fashion that reduces chatter. I use my plywood blade in the circular saw or tablesaw.
If you look at the can he is using it says "acrylic" on it. It is a sovent weld similar to how you fuse PVC pipe.

 

[patlaw]

That's acrylic. The main thing to successfully cutting either on is to hold the workpiece in a fashion that reduces chatter. I use my plywood blade in the circular saw or tablesaw.
If you look at the can he is using it says "acrylic" on it. It is a solvent weld similar to how you fuse PVC pipe.

Understand and agree. I saw "acrylic" on the can. The problem is, I asked him which one it was, and he said polycarbonate. I think he's misremembering.