If you do not have a laser cutter, how do you cut the acrylic sheet by hand? To avoid cracking during the process of cutting plexiglass sheets of different thicknesses (including extremely thin acrylic), here are the methods and steps.
1)0.2-0.5mm acrylic sheets:
– To cut an acrylic sheet as thin as 0.2 to 0.5 mm, which is not much more than a paper, use a metal guide to ensure a straight line, and make sure it is fixed securely to prevent any movement during the cutting process.
– Gentle and perfectly aligned strokes are necessary, which can create a clear path for the cutter to move without deviating from the desired line.
– Carry out multiple soft strokes rather than applying too much force in a few strokes, to avoid the acrylic being cut too quickly, which could potentially lead to cracking.
2)1-3mm acrylic sheets:
– Use a scoring knife with a flat hook blade, which can remove a small section of the acrylic board during each stroke, creating a groove. The depth of the groove should be about one-third of the thickness of the acrylic plate.
– During the cutting process, it is necessary to flip the acrylic board and make the same movement in the same position to form the same groove on the other side. The deeper the groove, the lower the risk of breakage during cutting, and the less likely the acrylic plate will rupture.
3)4mm+ acrylic sheets:
– When cutting such a thick acrylic board, it is best to use another cutting method and tool because it’s difficult to achieve the required depth without damaging the acrylic. It is recommended to use an angle grinder equipped with a metal cutting disc.
– When cutting 4mm or thicker acrylic boards, to maintain the stability of the cutting line, two pieces of wood can be used to clamp the board as a guide for the grinder.
– Be aware the cutting disc often becomes very hot due to the high speed of rotation of the mill, use it carefully.
Note:
– To avoid the formation of small pieces of melted acrylic, it is best to apply a short and gentle cutting method, so that the blade can cool down after each cut.
– Remove burrs or melted acrylic from the edges and polish them with sandpaper to obtain a smooth finish.
– Use a straight edge and go slowly for clean cuts on any thickness.
– Clamping securely is important for control of all thicknesses.
– If the cutting is offline, start the cutting again.
– Thicker acrylic may require cutting partway and then snapping off for straight breaks.