Cutting Perspex

[marct]

What is the best way to cut perspex sheets. We have a fletcher 3100 and having probs getting a nice clean cut have tried the various different blades. I have had more success with scoring both sides with the glass blade, but the perspex isnt always cut to exactly 90 degrees on the edges so score marks not matching up.
any advice greatly appreciated.
Marc

[Keadyart]

I use a stanley with a perspex scoring blade like this
http://www.stanleytools.com/default.asp ... nife+Blade
Works fine
all the best
Brian

[Keadyart]

sorry,should have added, a few scores on one side only and snap
Brian

[prospero]

It's not like glass in that you can score it as many times as you like. If you are doing it by hand, do a light score first just to establish the blade track and then lean harder for a few more scores. On thin stuff it often breaks just by doing this. Thicker than 3mm and I would saw it.

[Dermot]

Some information about processing acrylice here http://www.altuglas.com/literature/pdf/124.pdf from Altuglas

[Dermot]

And some more from “Art Business News” …..somewhere in the article I get a mention on how I cut acrylic. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... ntent;col1

[Nigel Nobody]

I cut perspex on my 3100 using the scoring blade provided. As far as I know there aren't 'various' blades for this, just one type and it has to go into the holder the right way so that it scrapes not slices!
Usually score it 5 or 6 times, then break it along the score line using the mechanism on the machine.

Scoring and snapping will often give an edge that isn't pretty, but is adequate for use in a frame.

[marct]

by various i mean the glass cutting, scoring, board cutting and mat cutting knives on the 3100. tried them all cos i wasnt happy with any of the results. Problem is i have to cut approx 1000 perspex windows for frames in january and trying to get a fool proof way sorted out before then I'll check all the links in thread hopefully something will do the trick

[Dermot]

1000 units get the cut to size it will not cost you very much more than buying the acrylic in sheets.

What size acrylic do you need and I will check with my supplier in Dublin how much it would be....the shipping would not be that much...

[markw]

The scoring blade goes in backwards - its the back edge that scores - not the cutting edge. That way the blade doesn't track off course but tends to stay straight.

[Roboframer]

The noise that makes is one of the things that gives me goose pimples - like nails on a chalk board. I'd get them all cut to size anyway.

[robbiez]

http://www.tabmaster.co.uk/show_product ... 9%20Manual

That will do the job.
30 minutes work to cut 1000 pieces of acrylic and mdf.

[janeyjaney]

We use our Fletcher 3100 but would buy in pre-cut for that quantity. We find Glass & Mirror are competitive so may be worth a try

Jo

[Nigel Nobody]

I agree with everyone else who advises to get them cut to size, by an acrylic supplier. The 3100 is not a production acrylic cutter!
I wouldn't consider cutting 50 pieces let alone 1000. It would take weeks!

[Roboframer]

http://www.tabmaster.co.uk/show_product ... 9%20Manual

That will do the job.
30 minutes work to cut 1000 pieces of acrylic and mdf.

That's impressive - I doubt I could even load that many sheets, or even a quarter of that amount in 30 mins - so, guessing you'd be cutting about 8 sheets at a time? In fact that would still be pushing it.

[Jonny2morsos]

For 1000 units I would definitely buy it in ready cut. Cutting from sheets means you have all the waste bits to dispose off which I find a real headache.

[JamesC]

Ignoring the fact you are probably best buying them in, perfectly cut - save you a lot of effort and waste maybe...

I have a Keencut Excalibur 5000 which I imagine is similar to the Fletcher you talk about but I'm too lazy to look up just now.

My plastic scoring blades are just utitlity blades turned the wrong way round and are fine.

Some tips I have found for cutting acrylic with my set up.

1) Use the right blades - the shorter thicker ones are best as they don't flex i.e. not the normal stanley baldes you may put in your knife.
2) While many people say score both sides of acrylic I find it is unnecessary. I just make a deeper score in one side and apply the pressure with my thumb rather than trying to drag the blade over the plastic in a set position (think a previous post mentions this don't try to score it all at once). Doing just one side means no problems of being perfectly square then, as long as it is reasonably straight you can get it in your square frame rebate. You should also check that your cutter is set up as well as it can be and has no missing or worn parts such as plastic runners for the cutting head. With the Keencut these are easily and cheaply replaced by going on their website and choosing your bits from the diagrams. I got my machine second hand and it was missing a few at first which made the head wobbly. With new bits it is like new.
3) If you need a square sheet you could trim a bit off each edge of two opposite sides of the sheet first. With the price of acrylic that may be painful but you may be lucky and cutting off what would be scrap anyway once you plan your jobs up. Maybe find a better supplier if really bad.
4) I have a big solid bench and lay the plastic with the score on the edge while I snap it with the score i.e. score on top, push scrap down. Works every time.
5) Some plastics are nicer to work with than others e.g. some are harder to snap but snap cleaner (the thick good quality acrylic I like and find styrenes unacceptable from a clarity/uniformity perspective anyway).

Good luck anyway that's my two penneth.

[marct]

right then going by what has been posted in this thread I think i'll arrange for them to come in pre cut. 21"x6" for anyone thats interested they are to fit these

[janeyjaney]

I like the modern twist on the school photo! My sons school had something simialr to this done a couple of years ago & about half the parents were up in arms about it. 'Won't go with the others' was a common complaint.

I thought they were great - clearly not everyone like change!

Jo

[marct]

there are a lot of secretaries/heads worried about changing to our new formats, but once they try them out sales tend to go up. Most schools we visit (about 600ish) that have taken on these new styles have been pleased with the increase in sales volume as it gives them a larger commision cheque. We are waiting for figures on schools that are on their second year to see if sales drop of now which will mean I have to think up something else for them to have.