Cutting Acrylic

[Brian Robison]

Hi folks,
Anyone have tips on cutting 3/8" thick acrylic?
I need to cut a couple of notches in a large piece.

[Robert Malone]

Hi Brian, I found this to be useful. Bob

http://www.sdplastics.com/acrylic.html

[Mike Cutler]

A nice sharp combo blade will cut acrylic on a tablesaw very well. Use a ZCI.
A plywood blade heats up too much and melts the acrylic to the blade.
A bandsaw with an 8-10 tpi blade cuts well also. Tape the cuts on the bandsaw though, and make a zci for the bandsaw.

[joe greiner]

Although I have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express, I've not yet mastered the art of high speed cutting of plastics. I've shattered a few pieces, and I've welded a blade or two into the kerf. For only a couple notches, I'd use a hacksaw, with a sacrificial piece of plywood clamped on the forward side or both sides. Dress the cut surfaces with a triangular file or other shape suitable for the dimensions of the notch.

Joe