About Acrylic.....an idea forming

[Jack Daniels]

Is Acrylic workable on woodworking machinery just like wood?

For example, could i cut acrylic on a CNC wood cutting table in order to cut holes, shapes dimensions just like i could with plywood?

I have of course known about acrylic forever, same as you. But i always discounted it for all the usual reasons.

BUT...i have had an idea. It all depends on how machinable/workable a sheet of acrylic is with power tools.

For example, with a 25mm sheet of cell cast - could i route a 9mm slot across part of its length? What would happen to that 9mm deep routed slot across a large part of a sheet of 25mm cell cast acrlic if i then filled that routed slot with epoxy? Would it still be as strong as BEFORE the slot was cut or would it actully be stronger?

What if i routed a 9mm slot into the 25mm sheet of cell cast, put an 8mm rebar rod in the 9mm routed slot and then filled it in with epoxy? That sheet should now be mighty strong right? And water tight because of the epoxy filler covering the steel reinforcing.

Anyone good any real world experience of these types of things?

Thanks.

 

[Jack Daniels]

ok so the answer is on youtube....... ahh the changing ways of the world.

cant post the link as i dont have enough posts

 

[Jack Daniels]

But it looks like one can work acrylic same as how one would work wood ( within reason of course - i couldn't see anyone turning a length of acrylic into a balustrade for a staircase for example)

 

[Dieselhybrid]

If it gets too hot when drilling it will melt. You'll want to go slowly and pulse, I like to have a spray bottle with icewater handy and keep wetting it while drilling with hole saw or drill press. Do NOT plunge route acrylic that will be a disaster. Drill an oversized hole then set the working piece over the router bit on the table, start motor without touching edges, etc. But you can use a quality carbide bit and route the edges to desired shape and it will leave a solvent weldable finish if you want to attach to other pieces of acrylic.

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/acrylic-fabrication-q-a.224773/

Get a coffee and read that thread. You'll never have another question about acrylic again and you'll be able to build your own tanks like a champ. You can buy me a drink and thank me later.

 

[John Doe]

Well cheers! Will take a look at that. As i mentioned already - videos on youtube showing people working acrylic on cnc tables etc. It seems to work quite well - work as in , the material takes a cutting tool well.