Choosing the right type of acrylic material

There are many types of acrylic materials, including different sizes, colors, shapes and molding processes. The first step in making an acrylic work is to choose the type you need. Here, we have the following two suggestions:

1. Choose transparent acrylic. Clear acrylics are also known as plexiglass, they are lightweight, shatterproof and can be used to create beautiful works of art.

2. Choose cast acrylic. Cast acrylic is easier to cut, while extruded acrylic can become sticky during the cutting process.

Cutting acrylic with a CNC router requires more care than cutting wood. Therefore, you have to pay attention to some factors to get a smooth surface. The following tips will help you avoid irregular cuts and help you maintain smooth cuts.

1. Make sure the acrylic material is firmly fixed on the CNC router table

Acrylic is easy to vibrate, and excessive vibration will make the acrylic cutting rough and uneven, thus completely destroying your acrylic work. If your CNC mill has an aluminum T-slot table, you'll want to check that the clamps can hold acrylic. If your machine is a vacuum table, fixing the acrylic is a no-brainer.

2. Use a special electric drill

When cutting acrylic, you won't get the best results with a drill bit designed to cut wood or metal. Because standard wood or metal drill bits don't remove chips well, this can result in very rough cuts on the edges of the acrylic. We recommend using a drill bit designed specifically for cutting acrylic.

For good chip removal we recommend using a larger drill bit size. This also increases the depth and stability of the cut. Also, make sure the drill remains sharp during the machining process. Because a dull drill bit will not only reduce cutting efficiency, but also damage the quality of the acrylic edge.

3. Prevent acrylic from sticking after heating and melting

One of the most common problems when cutting acrylic with a CNC mill is that the cut edges tend to melt and reshape when the acrylic heats up due to friction. This may result in the separated pieces gluing back together after cutting the acrylic. This problem can be minimized by increasing the IPM so that the cutter tip is not in contact with the acrylic for too long.

4. Cutting process

For handicrafts or other products that require fine cutting, we suggest that you can divide the cutting process into two parts: roughing and finishing, and use different tools to complete each part. This results in a higher quality finished workpiece.

When it comes to acrylic cutting, a powerful 3-axis CNC mill is a critical starting point for a successful project. You'll want to invest in a heavy-duty CNC mill that's sturdy and durable, which will help minimize vibration and maintain cutting stability.

In addition, smooth control and drive systems also play a very important role in cutting quality. In the case of high-speed cutting, it can minimize the vibration of CNC milling and engraving machines. This enables higher productivity without sacrificing cut quality.

With the above process, you can use a CNC router to cut acrylic for the best results.

At SUNNA, we help you increase your productivity by providing users with the best quality CNC router at the most affordable prices. From making intricate signage to crafting exquisite crafts, SUNNA CNC router will bring a greater reach to your CNC router projects.