View Full Version : Cutting acrylic????
bw5then
07-27-2010, 12:23 PM
I am ordering my first CW on the 10th of August.I have a bunch of Acrylic letters that I need to cut out for some signs(2" X 1.5" X 1/4" thick) .Will the CW cut these out without a buch of clean-up? If anyone has made these would like to see some pics.
dbfletcher
07-27-2010, 12:35 PM
I think we would need to know what type of acrylic. I beleive the CW cuts cast acrylic fine, but I think I read here that extruded acrylic melts and gums up the bit.
here is a recent post on the subject: http://forum.carvewright.com/showthread.php?15788-Newbie-to-carve-Clear-Acrylic-and-wants-your-opinion&highlight=acrylic
Digitalwoodshop
07-27-2010, 12:57 PM
That is correct.... Home Depot Acrylic will gum up and stick to the bit and damage the machine.....
You need to buy the more expensive Cast Acrylic. The $2K CW will leave machine marks from the cutter and the resolution of the machine. A $30K 60 watt Laser Engraver is what you need for this task... But you can make due for $28K less as long as you understand you get what you pay for.... Even with a Laser Engraver you need to do clean up.
Go to the Sawmill Creek Forum and the Engravers Thread and there is a bunch of posts about cutting Acrylic but most important to you is the finishing part... Sanding and Flame Polishing......
I went in on the first group of Flame Polisher Buyers from China. It takes water and breaks it down into Hydrogen for a Very HOT very Clean fine flame for Flame Polishing. Many other Flame methods can leave black scorched acrylic. Plus there are some Flame Polishing Tips on You Tube too.
I plan to get into the 1/4 inch Cast Acrylic Cutting by the Holiday Buying season. LED Light the base units.
Good Luck.
AL
lynnfrwd
07-27-2010, 03:12 PM
The 1/16" cutting bit (the itty bitty bit, I call it) will do a fine job on the cast acrylic for your project, since they are 1/4" thick. You shouldn't have too much clean up and as Al said, for the price...you can't beat it.
mabco12
07-27-2010, 05:11 PM
My students cut their name signs in the home depot cast acrylic and I didn"t get any gumming on my 1/16 carving bit. They love to do these signs and then decorate them with sharpie markers as you can see!!374303743137432
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