Transparent acrylic (PMMA), also known by the brand names Plexiglas and Perspex, is a hard, transparent plastic. The material is very stiff and brittle compared to other plastics. Transparent acrylic is UV resistant and suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Applications
Transparent Acrylic has many applications, mainly in decorative industries. This acrylic can be found in display cases, interior construction, displays, facade advertising, (name) signs and models.
Because the material has a high impact resistance and is 25x stronger and 50% lighter than glass, it is often used as a replacement for glass.
Design considerations
There are few restrictions when cutting acrylic. With finger joints it is important to take into account the thickness tolerances of acrylic to prevent internal tensions and thus cracks or breakage. Acrylic is also relatively fragile in thin or long strips and sensitive to warping due to the heat released during cutting, take this into account in the design.
Laser cutting
Acrylic has protective film on both sides, which means the plates are fully protected before, during and after cutting. The cut is tight, clean and the same colour as the material. Engraving areas have a slightly whiter colour compared to the material.
If there are only cutting and engraving lines in the design, we leave the foil on both sides. If there are engraving areas in the design, we must remove the foil from the top, in some cases a small amount of smoke can then affect the material.
| Cutting width | 0.2mm (±0.05mm) |
| Smallest shape supplied | 6x6mm |
| Smallest detail (engraving) | 1mm |
Maximum size
| 120x60cm (up to 250x130cm is possible on request) |
| Additional options | Double-sided adhesive foil |
Post-processing
In principle acrylic does not need to be post-processed. The material can be glued, printed, sawn, sanded, milled afterwards and bent. With every operation it is important to take into account that the cutting process puts pressure on the cutting edge, if the acrylic is then processed then in some cases small cracks can occur.
To give line and surface engravings a greater contrast, they can be filled with paint (color fill). When the excess paint is then removed, the paint remains in the grooves.
Appearance
Depending on whether there are engraving areas in the design, the material will have protective film on both the front and back or only the back. The material is scratch-sensitive without protective film.
Acrylic has a light surface gloss, surface engravings have a matt white appearance. Engraving lines are clearly visible from close up. All parts are securely packed in a box and, if necessary, supported with wood.
Technical information
Characteristic
| Value |
| Density | 1.2 grams/cm3 |
| Thickness tolerance | <15% |
| UV resistant | Yes |
| Type acrylic | Cast |
Delivery time: Delivery possible within 1-2 working days
