Here grannies have become modern - ours, for example, called in the early morning and declares: “I want a gazebo in the garden with a transparent roof, right under a sprawling apple tree, and a new greenhouse.” No, well, what a habit to wake up good people neither light nor dawn? She gets up with roosters, and wakes us up! AT touch phone figured it out and wakes her up, she’s bored, you see, she also came up with something ...
We will build the gazebo itself, but what kind of roof to make, not glass, in fact, to put. Although why not - "plexiglass" is possible! Plexiglas is light, transparent, durable, perfect for a gazebo, and for a greenhouse too. And you can cut yourself if the size does not fit. Do you know how to cut plexiglass and how to do it right? Let's look into this issue in detail.
Tools for self-cutting plexiglass
Since plexiglass is a thermoplastic transparent plastic (it can also be called acrylic, plexiglass, acrylic glass, etc.), cutting it at home is basically not difficult, you only need ordinary tools. Often, this is done using a common hand saw for metal, circular saw, cutter, milling machine and others. If the thickness of the sheet is not more than 2 mm, then it can be easily cut with a simple clerical knife. In this way, cutting tool must be chosen based on the thickness of the sheet.
When cutting plexiglass on your own, the edges of the sheet remain sharp, so they need additional grinding and polishing. Moreover, this is necessary regardless of whether a milling machine is selected, a circular saw or another tool. That is, as cooks "bring to taste" the finished dish, so chopped plexiglass needs to be "brought to the look."
Cutting plexiglass on an industrial scale
In production, the most common method is cutting plexiglass with a laser beam. Of course, it is faster and more convenient than other methods. The laser cuts the sheet in a perfectly even line, the cuts remain slightly rough and require little effort to polish, and there is practically no waste. There are a couple of disadvantages to this method - not everyone has got a laser machine yet. This is the main disadvantage. And when cutting with a laser, internal stress appears in the material at the level of atoms and molecules - this is the second drawback. It is simply not recommended to connect Plexiglas sheets after laser processing with glue - the connection will not be strong.
Cutting at home
To begin with, we note that plexiglass has a very low thermal conductivity, and therefore it is recommended to cut sheets at home with its minimum possible thickness and maximum speed in order to avoid accidents, since the cut point heats up instantly. If a milling machine or a circular saw is used, then the plexiglass will most likely smoke and foam when cutting, so you need to think about cooling in advance - with water or a strong air flow. So, how to cut plexiglass at home, the most famous ways:
Method number 1 - use a cutter. The sheet must be placed on flat surface(floor, table), you need to put a steel ruler on it at the cut point and adjust its position so that it lies exactly parallel to the opposite edge, that is, evenly. Further, holding the ruler, you need to draw the cutter along the formed line several times - this way you will cut the sheet to half its thickness or more, after which it is easy to break off the unnecessary piece with your hands.
When all the necessary pieces are cut off, you should use the cutter to remove the excess in unsuccessful cuts, and then proceed to strip them with a joiner's jointer. And then, if necessary, you can polish with sandpaper.
Method number 2 - the use of nichrome thread. This method allows you to melt figures of completely different shapes from a single sheet of plexiglass. A nichrome thread connected to a transformer can help you melt any figurines that can be used to decorate your home and garden or use on the farm - shelves, holders, protective glazing for paintings and photographs, etc.
It turns out that plexiglass can be processed at home, if there is a desire, but our imagination is already over the edge. How grandma liked our amateur performances, after all, we made jewelry in her house from what was left, got carried away. And now rest, and do not wake me up, even if suddenly the sky decides to collapse to the ground.
It would seem, why such a skill as cutting plexiglass can come in handy, let the professionals do it, after all, their business is nothing. Only on the eve of the holidays, the question arises of what surprises and gifts to prepare for your loved ones. I want to be original, to do something special. Shops represent standard set things that can be found in every second house. It remains to make a gift with my own hands. The material is obvious - it is organic glass. Why? From it you can easily make a wonderful photo frame, an unusual lamp or an aquarium. How nice it will be then to hear the gratitude of loved ones and the praise of friends. Remember that cutting organic glass at home requires preparation and accuracy. We will tell you in detail about how and what to do.
Now many companies are engaged in the production of things from organic glass. Of course, the quality of cutting will be significantly different from what you do with your own hands. Processing specialists use a special laser that cuts organic glass without the slightest error or inaccuracy. Everything is fine, but such services are very expensive. To all other stranger will not be able to carry out your plan in its entirety. No matter how detailed explanations he was informed.
So, the process of cutting plexiglass at home is the same school labor lessons. Correct drawing, selected tools, perseverance, attentiveness, and the result will not keep you waiting. To cut in a straight line, you will need a regular jigsaw or a special knife - a cutter. First, clean the organic glass sheet. Even dust can cause difficulties during cutting. After cleaning, place the sheet of material on a horizontal surface. It must be level and stable. Otherwise, you may be injured and damage the material. Be sure to fix the plexiglass before starting work. Using a ruler, draw the desired lines with a dark marker. It is clearly visible and is washed off in one motion. Without removing the ruler, take a knife and swipe it with force on the plexiglass.
You need to do this until the sheet is cut. Do not overdo it with pressing force, because. the strength of organic glass is weak. This method is convenient in that you do not have to additionally process the edges.
You can also cut given material with the help of a wire. To do this, you must first heat it up. Fix the sheet on weight. Then draw the wire along the drawn lines. It must be well tensioned with a load. This method is great for curly cutting if you want to make unusual details, not just squares and rectangles. An ordinary hacksaw for metal can also be used to separate plexiglass. But the blade needs to be sharp. Do not forget about curly rulers, which are full in stores and supermarkets. Do not use fragile rulers.
Sometimes it is necessary, after cutting, to drill holes in the plexiglass for attaching parts, hanging, etc. This can also be easily done at home. You will need a regular drill, which is used in everyday life. To avoid jamming, you need to fix the material well. Further depending on the thickness of the material. Thin plexiglass is suitable for drills that have a sharpening angle of 45 degrees. Tolstoy - at 60 degrees. Large diameter holes are drilled at an angle of 70 degrees. Pay attention to the angle of inclination (should be 17 degrees) and the angle of the back sharpening (should be between 4 and 8 degrees). Try to avoid overheating of the material, which occurs during prolonged drilling. To do this, turn off the drill every 2 minutes. During breaks, you can remove the resulting chips or cut the edges of the sheet.
To glue the cut parts of the plexiglass, you will need to degrease, clean and make the necessary adjustments. Apply glue in an even layer, and on each part. This will make the fixation clearer and more durable. Please note that when joining glass with an overlap, you need to use a lot of glue.
Choose the most convenient way and act. Make your home special: Fill it up interesting things from organic glass. They will not only please the eyes of the owners, but also of all guests. How nice it will be to hear the praise of friends. You don't have to be an interior designer or have a laser to cut plexiglass at home. A little imagination, a little effort and a few tools will help you implement the most daring and unusual ideas.
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Plexiglas is synthetic material created from the ester of methacrylic acid. The correct name is polymethyl methacrylate, but due to the difficulty of pronunciation, several names have been assigned to it: acrylic, acrylic glass, plexiglass.
Plexiglas happens:
- made by casting;
- extrusion.
High molecular weight cast plexiglass is more durable.
Distinguish it from glass long distance pretty hard. When cutting organic glass with modern power tools, problems arise due to the adhesion of small particles of organic material to the saw blade.
clear plexiglassBefore cutting plexiglass, you need to familiarize yourself with some of its properties that affect the operation of a power tool. This plastic melts at 160 degrees, bend sheet material possible already at 90-100 °C. Therefore, thick slabs of plexiglass should be treated with ordinary circular saw won't work at high speeds. What tool to use, what to pay attention to, we will consider in this article.
Manual processing, materials and tools
How to cut plexiglass if you need to take a sheet of acrylic to work already, but there is no power tool at hand? To begin with, you can try to cut off with an ordinary hacksaw for metal.
In terms of hardness, plexiglass can be compared with beech, and sawing beech with a hacksaw for metal is a rather long task. So that it does not heat up, you need to saw slowly. On the surface of the acrylic, a trace from the felt-tip pen is clearly visible. Mark the cut line with any sharp object: a nail, a knife, etc.
This blade cuts metal, and organic glass even more so.
A hacksaw can only cut straight lines. It is difficult to cut curved surfaces with this tool.
Tips: to prevent the blade from sticking, you need to pour a little water on the cut line to cool it.
For one-off jobs, make a cutter out of hacksaw blade.
Acrylic processing by hand
A manual cutter in the form of a tooth can really be made independently at home. To do this, you must have at least:
- grindstone or grinder;
- old hacksaw blade;
- file for metal.
How to make a homemade hand cutter, see this video:
All of the above methods are time-consuming and are suitable only for one-time small jobs thin sheets acrylic 2-3 mm thick.
For home jacks of all trades, the industry produces ready-made knives for acrylic. They are easy to buy online.
This knife cuts plexiglass easily.
To cut the workpiece in two, you do not need to cut it to the end. It is enough to make a few cuts and break off the necessary piece.
If a home master you need to process a lot of sheets will have to mechanize the cutting process. Meet the three-tooth disc for wood and plexiglass.
Cutting plexiglass with a three-pronged blade
How to cut plexiglass in large volumes? Technical improvement hand tool does not stand still. For more efficient use of the grinder, the industry has released a three-tooth saw blade for wood.
Three-tooth saw blade
In his technical specifications along with wood, organic glass is also mentioned. It excels at cutting acrylic for straight cuts. The material does not heat up, melt or stick to the saw blade. The thickness of this disk is from 5 to 10 mm.
How to work with a grinder with a three-tooth saw blade, see this video:
In addition to the grinder, craftsmen use a jigsaw with special saws for plexiglass.
Jigsaw cutting
Application electric jigsaw quite justified, but it should have a speed control. For cutting, special nail files for organic glass are used.
If you can’t buy them or you need to cut them already, then use wood files. There is a main rule here: the teeth should be small, and the cutting speed should be low. At high speeds, the cut begins to melt and turns white. For some products, such white seams are not suitable.
Tip: in order to remove burrs and make a clean cut, it must be heated with a flame gas burner. In extreme cases, you can adapt a lighter.
The jigsaw also allows you to make curved cuts. For this purpose, narrow saw blades should be selected.
Tip: When buying nail files for organic glass, pay attention to the markings. It must have latin letters MP . S .
Cutting curved parts with MP.S files
During cutting, pay attention to the feed rate of the tool. The higher the rpm, the faster the feed rate can be. The feed rate and revolutions are selected experimentally so that the acrylic does not melt. When cutting, use protective mask all over the face from fragments flying at high speed.
If the details of a complex curvilinear shape, then it is permissible to use a nichrome spiral for cutting organic glass.
Nichrome spiral cutting
Using nichrome coil it must be remembered that the melting point of acrylic glass is about 160 °C. The nichrome coil heats up to 1,000 °C. Therefore, to control the temperature, it is necessary to have a rheostat or a set of resistances.
Tips:
- remember acrylic glass burns. When processed with a nichrome spiral it is necessary to give an allowance of 0.2-0.5 mm and further refine the details required sizes manually;
- acrylic glass is perfectly polished by all numbers of grinding skins.
There are two options for using a nichrome spiral:
- horizontal straight cut;
- vertical curved cut.
Rectilinear cutting of organic glass with a nichrome spiral
For these purposes, any step-down transformer of direct or alternating current is suitable.
fixture curved cutting acrylic
Even welding machine at minimum currents will give the required heating temperature. The main thing is to adapt to the speed of penetration of the spiral into acrylic. A wood burner is also suitable for this purpose.
Video: Cutting plexiglass with a heated spiral
conclusions
Modern technologies allow the use different methods cutting organic glass with great efficiency. This material is not only easy to cut, but also bends.
Cutting plexiglass in everyday life is extremely rare, and this work is done by some craftsmen in specialized stores and workshops. But sometimes this useful skill may be required at home: when making, for example, an aquarium, a vase, a lamp, partitions, shelves, or do-it-yourself decorative accessories.
Plexiglas combines performance characteristics plastic and appearance(transparency) glass. Unlike glass, this material does not break, which makes it extremely popular for specific applications. Strength opens up areas of application in which ordinary glass is problematic and dangerous to use. This material is also called acrylex, acrylight or plexiglass. This is not a type of product, but trade marks manufacturers.
Plexiglas can be processed by almost all available methods: planing, sawing, turning and laser cutting. Both large containers () and elegant small items are made from this material.
Production methods for cutting plexiglass
1. Laser cutting is the most convenient method, but impossible at home. The laser beam ensures maximum cutting precision, smooth cuts and little waste. There is a limitation in this processing method: the laser creates a high stress on the material, so further processing is not possible.
Many companies offer this service, and if you stop at this method, prepare a product drawing in advance and select a competent craftsman. Often in such workshops you can choose the material yourself desired thickness before cutting the Plexiglas.
2. In production conditions (sometimes in everyday life), a circular and band saw is used. The first tool is designed for a straight cut with a clear cut. Band-saw more suitable for cutting blanks, since this tool does not provide even and smooth lines. To get a smooth surface, you need to use a cutter.
3. To obtain a high-quality and even cut, high-speed tools with a rotation speed of the working part up to 4000 rpm are used. Plexiglas can be machined, but do not forget about the low thermal conductivity of this material, due to which the cut zones heat up quickly. For this reason, processing is carried out at a high rotational speed.
1. A hacksaw is the most affordable tool for cutting Plexiglas at home. The resulting cut will be rough and rough, so you will need a file or needle file to grind it ( sandpaper). Also, at the end of the cutting, this process will give the details their final look.
2. You can also use a cutter, which is basically a single tooth saw. Before cutting the plexiglass with a cutter, prepare a metal ruler of the required length. The ruler is placed on a sheet of plexiglass along the line of the intended cut and is drawn several times over the plexiglass with a tool.
When the sheet is cut halfway through its thickness, it is necessary to carefully break it, and then clean the roughness with a needle file or joiner's jointer. As a cutter, a cutter knife, which is sold in any hardware store or made independently from a piece of hacksaw blade. Some masters take ordinary pointed glass for cutting, while reliably protecting their hands from accidental injuries.
3. For cutting plexiglass at home, a circular saw or cutter for metal up to 1 mm thick is used. During operation, the cutter runs out very quickly, cutting occurs with the release of smoke, and the plexiglass in the cutting zone sometimes foams from high temperature due to friction.
To avoid this, it is necessary to constantly cool the working surface of the saw. To do this, you can take a bottle of water, fix the cutters on one side and supply water to it through a plastic hose. With a hose diameter of 2.5 mm, up to 1 liter of water is consumed per hour. With this method of cooling, the cut is transparent and even.
4. Also for cutting, as well as for using a nichrome thread, which is heated from a connected transformer with a power of up to 24 V. The heated thread cuts the plexiglass by melting it. This feature allows you to get not only straight, but also curly cuts.
5. Some craftsmen successfully use other tools at home, sometimes quite simple, for example, a slotted screwdriver. A screwdriver is pressed against a sheet of Plexiglas, holding it by the very edge of the handle. The screwdriver blade is heated with a 25-watt soldering iron.
When the plexiglass begins to melt slightly, a straight line of the intended cut is drawn with a screwdriver tip. To build a straight line, a metal ruler, a hacksaw blade (naturally, the side without teeth) or another similar tool is taken. After drawing a line with a heated screwdriver, plexiglass breaks easily and quickly.
What to do if, for example, there is a need to cover the countertop of a kitchen (wooden) or computer desk this kind of glass? We have already described above how to cut straight lines of plexiglass with a cutter, without much difficulty, but with curly cuts and rounded corners, it also does an excellent job. Experienced craftsmen use at home for this case the well-known caliper.
You can also lose a little time and cut the roundings according to the template using a nichrome thread. To do this, simply cut out the shape you need from cardboard, attach / fix it to the glass and cut it off a little.
To cut a circle with a cutter, mark the center of the circle where you want to attach a good suction cup. Then, using a rail and self-tapping screws, fix the cutter (we fasten on one side to the suction cup, and on the other directly to). We cut until there is a notch, after which we beat off the extra pieces.
Video: HOW TO CUT PLUS GLASS AT HOME
Cutting plexiglass may come in handy infrequently, it is more logical to entrust this work to professionals by contacting a specialized company. But sometimes it may be necessary to perform a single cut or there is a desire to do this work yourself in order to realize your own design ideas.
Cutting plexiglass at home
Cutting plexiglass at home is not difficult, as it is a malleable and easy-to-work material. Despite the outward resemblance to ordinary glass, performance characteristics of organic glass are different, and it is processed various methods: turning, planing, sawing, etc. It is permissible to cut plexiglass using a large number fixtures.
Plexiglas processing is carried out using the following tools:
- nichrome thread;
- Circular Saw;
- cutter;
- hacksaw.
Nichrome thread
Fusion cutting is performed using nichrome wire. A voltage of up to 24 V is applied to the wire through a step-down transformer, as a result of which it is strongly heated. Nichrome thread makes curvilinear and curly cuts having good quality surfaces that do not require further polishing.
Home craftsmen use a flat-bladed screwdriver for melt cutting. Heating with an electric soldering iron metal part screwdrivers, while the end is pressed against the surface of the plexiglass. Then, holding the tool by the edge of the handle, a cut line is drawn with a heated screwdriver blade. To draw straight lines, it is more convenient to use a metal ruler or smooth side hacksaws. Plexiglas breaks easily along the traced strip. More on video:
Circular saw or metal cutter
A circular saw or cutter is also good option for working with organic glass. In this case, the cutter for metal for cutting plexiglass should be no thicker than 1 mm. It should be borne in mind that during cutting, the saw or cutter heats up the material being processed, as a result of which it melts and foams at the place of cut. In order not to spoil the workpiece, it is necessary to provide cooling. To do this, use water poured into a bottle. The vessel is fixed in some way near the cutting tool, and water is supplied to working area with a thin hose.
The circular saw must operate at high speeds. Some tools have a special mode for processing Plexiglas. For jobs that do not require High Quality cut, you can use a saw. The cutter is suitable for the production of thinner and cleaner cuts. When using a water cooling system, a smooth and smooth surface, and the cut will be transparent and neat.
cutter
Plexiglas of small thickness is perfectly cut with a construction cutter. Suitable for this purpose homemade tool made from a hacksaw blade, and even a clerical knife.
The cutter can only make a straight cut. To do this, the ruler (preferably metal) is pressed against the sheet of material along the line of the intended cut, then several times with pressure, the cutting tool is pressed along the surface of the plexiglass along the ruler. When the cut reaches the middle of the plexiglass layer, it can be easily broken. The fracture site will be uneven and rough, so additional grinding will be required.
Hacksaw for metal
The easiest way to cut plexiglass with your own hands is with a hacksaw. The cut lines must first be drawn with a pencil or felt-tip pen. In the process of work, the hacksaw must be kept level, trying not to tilt it to the side. It is desirable to fix the workpiece rigidly. The cutting surface will not be smooth. All bumps and burrs are removed with a file and sandpaper.
How to cut figured plexiglass
In some cases, it may be necessary to curly cutting. This is done in the following ways:
- Caliper. Plexiglas is cut with sharp sponges for marking.
- Nichrome thread. A template is made from cardboard, which is glued to the workpiece. For convenience, the wire can be fixed in a simple jigsaw instead of a canvas. Then you need to carefully cut the part from the plexiglass according to the template.
- A glass cutter (cutter) can cut a circle. The suction cup is attached in the center of the proposed circle, then a rail or ruler is attached to it. The glass cutter is rigidly attached to the rail with self-tapping screws. By turning the cutting tool around the suction cup, they cut a groove in the plexiglass. The excess parts are broken off.
Production methods of cutting
AT industrial scale plexiglass is processed using the following technologies:
- Milling cutting. Processing takes place on special milling machines with rotation speed up to 4000 rpm.
- Band-saw. Used for curved cuts. Final grinding is required, because the cut quality is low.
- Circular Saw. You can get a straight cut with a clean edge.
laser cutting
The most popular way to process plexiglass is laser cutting. The material is cut on special equipment using a laser beam. The method guarantees high level accuracy (up to 0.005 mm) and minimal waste. The laser allows you to make the cut edges smooth and transparent. However, after cutting laser machine high internal stress remains in plexiglass, and it is not recommended to glue parts made in this way.
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