A widely popular material to be used when laser cutting and / or laser engraving. Available in a wide colour range, acrylic is widely applicable and often used for the production of advertisement signs, architectural models, and many more industries.
Laser Cut Acrylics
| Our supply | Stock / special order material |
|---|---|
| Thickness | Available in 1mm, 2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, 15mm, 18mm |
| Sheet sizes | up to 2000 x 1000mm |
| Your supply | You can also supply your own acrylic at any thickness up to 18mm |
| Our Laser | Our laser bed sizes vary with our largest size being 1300 x 900mm |
Types of Acrylic
Extruded Acrylic – Because yield loss can be reduced when parts are cut from bespoke sheet sizes, extruded acrylic sheet can be produced in any length, which frequently results in cost savings. Additionally, extruded acrylic is the grade that is easiest to thermoform and to bind with solvent cements.
Cast Acrylic – Compared to extruded acrylic, cast acrylic sheet offers better machining properties and stronger chemical resistance.
There are a tonne of colours and finishes available; if we don't have the one you're looking for in stock, we can always place an order.
What type of acrlyic is best for laser cutting?
Either type can be laser cut without issues.
However, it is not advised to use extruded acrylic for laser engraving. When using a CO2 laser cutter to fabricate components and shapes, extruded acrylic materials work better.
ACRYLIC Material Properties
Cast acrlyic - Cast Acrylic is a thermosetting plastic known for it's surface finish, flatness and optical properties. In addition, the material is brittle, rigid, and sensitive to concentrations of stress. This is especially noticeable in thin or tiny sections.
Extruded Acrlyic - Greater range of thickness. Lightweight and rigid. Low water absorption. Excellent optical properties. Good electrical and UV resistivity. Incredible resistance to long-term exposure to sunlight and weathering.
Laser Cutting Acrylic
We receive acrylic sheets that have a plastic coating covering both sides for protection. We leave the plastic film on when laser cutting is the sole necessary method. This shields the surface from scratches and lessens the appearance of heat marks.
Laser Cut Edges
Laser cut acrylic has a highly polished edge. We accomplish this by cutting the edges with a high laser frequency, which melts them. Examining the edge attentively reveals that it is composed of numerous tiny vertical lines rather than being completely smooth. The laser's pulses, which are more noticeable on thicker acrylic, are the source of this.
Laser Engraving Acrylic
Most acrylic is engraved on the back in order to create a look-through effect from the front. This is a common feature on acrylic trophies & awards.
In general, acrylics engrave nicely with low power and high speed. Marking acrylic doesn't require a lot of laser power, but if you use too much, the material will get distorted.
ACRYlIC Sheet Tolerance
Cast PERSPEX is produced in compliance with ISO7823-1, which specifies a manufacturing tolerance of +/-10% plus 0.4mm for thickness ranges between 2 and 25mm (e.g. 8mm cast sheet could vary from 6.8mm to 9.2mm).
Other Considerations
We offer supplementary processing service options such as adhering with solvents, UV bonding, Line bending, If your project requires any processing further from cutting such as assembly please mention this in your enqury.
