Professionals use CNC machining to shape acrylic for various industrial purposes. Although it allows for flexible use, acrylic materials often decompose during compression or stretching. This means that care needs to be taken when shaping or cutting it. CNC machining is a great tool for acrylic because it can work quickly and accurately. The following are eight important matters related to CNC machining of acrylic.

1. Acrylic is fragile

Although acrylic is sturdy, durable, and versatile, it is also very fragile. Be careful when shaping it, otherwise unnecessary damage may occur. This is a common problem when using traditional processing techniques. If you use the wrong amount of extra effort, you may have more than you want, which could potentially ruin a project. Especially, there may be issues with compression and tension forces. This means that you should always be cautious when cutting acrylic.

2. Acrylic has a wide range of uses

Acrylic is an ideal material because you can use it in many different ways. It is commonly used in the optical and vehicle industries. Before acrylic can become a specific product, you must cut it into a suitable shape. This is where the problem arises due to the fragile side of the material mentioned above. Fortunately, CNC machining can easily process acrylic because it can cut quickly and accurately. You can input parameters into the machine to create the desired acrylic shape.

3. CNC acrylic reduces material waste

Due to the extremely high precision of the CNC machining process, very little material is wasted. When using CNC machining equipment to cut acrylic, there are fewer steps compared to using other types of cutting gears. This can save time. This process utilizes computer programs to ensure stable cutting. Please remember that the tool cuts at the same speed and consistency every time, which is different from traditional machining. When using traditional machines, the operator is responsible for guiding the machine, making it more prone to errors.

4. You need to receive CNC acrylic processing training

The CNC machining used for acrylic processing is technology based, so you need appropriate training to operate the equipment. CNC machining runs according to operator commands. Usually, these machines are very complex to operate. However, once you know the coding required to operate the equipment, you can cut acrylic with excellent speed and accuracy. Please remember that a small mistake may cost your employer. CNC machining is expensive due to its convenience and advanced technology, so please ensure to receive appropriate training before starting the project.

5. Benefits of Acrylic

Many companies and organizations use acrylic because it is a multifunctional material. It is stronger than glass because it is earthquake resistant. Acrylic is also shatterproof. This material is also highly transparent. In fact, its transparency is 92%. In addition to these benefits, this material will not deteriorate even after prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation. Another significant advantage of acrylic is its resistance to high temperatures and chemicals. This means that acrylic can be used to make car lights, store logos, and many other items.

6. What acrylic should be used for CNC machining?

What type of acrylic is used in CNC machining? Usually, manufacturers use extrusion or casting methods to produce acrylic billets. Extrusion is used for producing sheets, while casting is used for developing sheets and other forms of acrylic. The thickness of acrylic includes 1 millimeter, 5 millimeters, and 25 millimeters. Due to the variety of acrylic thicknesses available for selection, this material is very suitable for cutting logos and flat logos.

7. CNC acrylic operation types

CNC acrylic operations include:

Drilling

Turning

Milling

• Carving

drill hole

In CNC acrylic drilling, a multi-point drill bit forms a cylindrical hole on the acrylic. Through this operation, the machine will vertically thread the drill bit through the acrylic. Then it will form a vertical hole, characterized by a diameter equal to the size of the drill bit used for the process.

turning

For CNC acrylic turning, the machining process involves the use of a rotary single point cutting machine, which aims to eliminate materials on rotating acrylic workpieces. CNC machines used for this type of work typically feed machines along a straight line on acrylic surfaces.

milling

In CNC milling of acrylic, you will use a rotating multi-point cutting machine to remove excess material from the acrylic plate. When using this type of CNC machine tool, it usually feeds the workpiece into the cutting machine in the same direction as the machine has already rotated.

carving

CNC acrylic carving is the process of adding designs, symbols, artworks, or markings to acrylic products. Automated equipment can quickly and accurately carve something, so it looks the same every time it is completed.

8. Automation makes production safer

The important thing to know is that the characteristic of CNC machining is that it is automated. This means that operators do not personally operate the equipment as they do in other types of manufacturing. Because of this, CNC machining makes production safer. Through CNC machining, you can automatically execute all the processes required to manufacture acrylic, so your only concern is whether you understand how to combine the different tasks required to complete each project.

A complex process

Acrylic CNC service is a complex process. However, when using acrylic to shape products, CNC machining allows for higher accuracy and efficiency. This accuracy means less material waste, allowing you to limit the total cost of the project. At Polycrystalline, we provide high-quality CNC machined parts and global delivery. If you need more information, please contact us immediately.