Acrylic CNC Machining: New processing guide
Acrylic CNC machining is the perfect solution to solve acrylic machining problems. CNC machining has great advantages because it helps to obtain the material of the required size or shape. The process of acrylic CNC machining has high accuracy and involves minimal material waste.
Acrylic sheet is a specially treated organic glass with pure and rich colors. It has the characteristics of good plasticity, good transparency, strong impact resistance and high recyclability. It is widely used in lighting, construction and advertising industries. This article will talk about the characteristics of acrylic, the methods and advantages of acrylic CNC machining, how to process it, and how to achieve the best processing.
1.The concept of acrylic
Acrylic is a hard and transparent thermoplastic material, commonly known as polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). It can be melted and changed without losing its basic properties. Unlike other transparent plastics, acrylic is a UV-stable, optically transparent, lightweight, durable and hard plastic that will not fade even if exposed to sunlight for a long time. These reasons make acrylic an ideal substitute for glass in various applications, and acrylic CNC machining is often used in the automotive and test and measurement fields.
2.The characteristics of acrylic
Acrylic is a material with properties similar to glass. Its properties include transparency, clarity, strength, and translucency. It is considered one of the most durable materials used in manufacturing and is less likely to suffer damage. Some of the unique properties of acrylic are as follows:
(1) Light Transmittance
Acrylic polymer has a refractive index of 1.49, allowing it to transmit up to 92% of light. This light transmittance is greater than glass and other plastics. Therefore, custom acrylic plastics can be produced using acrylic CNC maching technology while maintaining optical transparency. In addition, due to its environmental stability, it is well suited for most outdoor applications.
(2) Resistance to UV Radiation
Most acrylic CNC machining ensure UV stability. Therefore, they can withstand prolonged sunlight exposure. This property also makes acrylic an excellent choice for outdoor applications, especially for more open air exposure.
(3) Chemical Resistance
Acrylic has strong chemical resistance. It is not susceptible to most laboratory chemical aqueous solutions. You can safely apply cleaners, alkalis, detergents, diluted inorganic acids, and other substances to acrylic resin.
(4) High Harness
Acrylic is a tough, lightweight and durable thermoplastic with a density that varies between 1.17 g/cm3 and 1.20 g/cm3. In comparison, it has excellent scratch resistance. In addition, acrylic has excellent dimensional stability, which makes it have low water or moisture absorption capacity.
3.Concept of Acrylic CNC Machining
Acrylic CNC machining is a precise manufacturing technology that can accurately cut acrylic plastic with minimal force, thereby quickly and efficiently producing precisely shaped acrylic parts. The development of acrylic CNC machining technology can help achieve better target dimensional tolerances for better long-term performance.
Best way to CNC acrylic machining:
Both CNC milling machines and lathes can be used to cut acrylic. Lathes are usually used for softer materials such as aluminum, plastic, wood, and foam. CNC milling machines can effectively cut acrylic at multiple points, and their cutting tools and angle range are conducive to improving precision. Therefore, CNC milling has become the best way to process acrylic sheets.
4.How CNC milling machines cut acrylic sheets
The router bit rotates at high speed to cut the acrylic material. The cutting speed of the router head depends on the cutting depth of the acrylic sheet.
CNC routers use computer-controlled router heads to cut acrylic materials into the desired shape and size. The router bit is mounted on the spindle, which drives the drill bit to rotate at high speed. The milling head is then moved along the X, Y, and Z axes through the gantry. In this way, the router bit can cut the acrylic material very accurately.
5.Advantages of CNC cutting acrylic sheets
High-precision cutting CNC plastic cutting machines can achieve very high precision, which is very important for many applications. For example, they can be used to make precision parts or carry out complex designs.
(1) Fast cutting speed
Cutting acrylic materials quickly saves time and money. This is especially beneficial for companies that need to cut materials regularly.
(2) Precision cutting
Acrylic CNC machining can ensure machining accuracy and meet various requirements for complex shapes and sizes of acrylic sheet materials.
(3) Repeatable cutting
Repeated cutting with the same effect very accurately is very important for applications that require consistency.
(4) Easy to use
Relatively simple to use, computer controlled, and easy to use even without cutting experience.
(5) High efficiency
It is highly cost-effective. When producing in large quantities, acrylic CNC machining can cut acrylic materials quickly and accurately, saving time and money.
(6) Wide range of processing
Wide range of processing: CNC machine tools are suitable for processing a variety of materials, including acrylic sheets. Whether it is cutting, punching or engraving, CNC machine tools can easily cope with different processing needs.
(7) Environmental protection
Acrylic CNC machining is relatively environmentally friendly because it does not produce a lot of waste like traditional plastic cutting methods.
6.Precautions for acrylic CNC machining
(1) Choose the right tool
In order to avoid acrylic melting during the cutting process, which will have a negative impact on appearance and function. Therefore, choosing a tool with sharp and sturdy edges is the key to successfully cutting acrylic in acrylic CNC machining.
(2) Control the processing speed
In the process of acrylic CNC machining, how to control the correct processing speed requires certain skills. To avoid acrylic melting, a faster feed rate is required, but too fast a speed will cause the acrylic sheet to crack or deform. On the contrary, a slower feed rate may produce incorrectly sized or unfinished parts, as well as rough surface treatment. Therefore, the setting of the optimal feed rate depends on the type of acrylic material selected and the geometry of the component.
(3) Clean up chips in time
In the process of acrylic CNC machining, chips need to be cleaned in time to avoid affecting processing accuracy and tool life.
We can discuss here whether the choice of tool has an impact on chip clearing. Specialized tools often have a single groove to maximize chip clearing. Single grooves can also be used to prevent heat buildup in the material. However, fewer grooves can help reduce the risk of catastrophic failure when chips are trapped.
(4) Cutting direction is important
Set the direction of rotation or rotation of the CNC tool in advance, including whether it rotates left or right, clockwise or counterclockwise. Setting these is critical to achieving precise design features.
(5) Set the correct revolutions per minute (RPM)
In acrylic CNC machining, the RPM you use must be related to the feed rate. Different acrylic types will dictate different settings for acrylic CNC machining. Faster RPM will require you to increase the feed rate to avoid the risk of melting the material. The correct relationship between these settings will help create the best results.
(6) Pay attention to ramp features
When using acrylic CNC machining, it is recommended to use ramps. Move your drill bit gradually down in a smooth ramping motion instead of plunging it straight in. This technique can reduce damage and achieve better precision finishing. Using a smooth slope between 1 and 3 inches will achieve the best results.
7.Summary
Acrylic, as a special material widely used in various industries today, can be effectively matched with CNC technology. Acrylic CNC machining can provide the industry with precise CNC acrylic parts. After reading this article, I hope you can understand the potential advantages and broad application scenarios of acrylic CNC machining, which will be helpful to you.
If you are looking for an experienced CNC machining manufacturers, Xavier is your ideal choice. The Xavier team is well-equipped to provide high-quality CNC machining solutions. If you want to learn more or discuss your machining needs with us, please feel free to contact us.