Professional on-demand CNC milling acrylic services

What are the advantages of acrylic CNC milled parts?

Acrylic is a widespread material because of its phenomenal properties. Its most important characteristic is its strength, acrylic is 5 times stronger than glass and also shock-resistant and shatterproof. Parts developed by CNC milling acrylic are 92% transparent as compare to window glass and polycarbonate which is 83-90% and 90% transparent respectively.

Acrylic milled parts do not deteriorate in UV light for a long period of time while other plastic becomes yellow and brittle. This makes it a good choice for many industries. Acrylic is also good at corrosion-resistant.

The acrylic milled parts are very durable and resistant which makes them very crucial for so many different applications. These applications include car lights, advertising and shop banners, light tubes and so many other products. These applications require the finest precision and unmatched surface finishing and that’s why acrylic is quite a good choice for these applications because of its strength and rigidity.

We have learned about the acrylic properties and some benefits. Below is the detailed list of the acrylic CNC milled parts advantages that can help in a number of applications in different industries.

• Impressive dimensional stability
• Excellent transparency comparable to glass
• Good flexural strength and tensile strength
• Superior level of insulation
• Abrasion resistance
• Sunlight and UV resistance
• Available in various colors
• Lightweight
• Good biocompatibility
• Can be bonded with solvents
• Easy to polish
• Relatively low cost
• Recyclable

Can the acrylic sheet be CNC milling?

Yes, acrylic sheets can be CNC milled. If you need to cut the specific shape from an acrylic sheet then CNC milling is one of the preferred methods. Especially when you require complex shapes and professional finishing.

In a CNC mill, the acrylic sheet is clamped and then processed with a computer-controlled multi-axis milling cutter. It is necessary to remember that the milling machine has a sharp blade and that it doesn’t get obstructed by the chips. Once you start milling the acrylic sheet, you can create multiple shapes from it. Acrylic is typically milled to create diagonal cuts, circles, house numbers, and other multiple shapes. Letters used for advertising and signage are frequently seen as examples of acrylic milled sheets.

Can the acrylic board be CNC milling?

Yes, the acrylic board can also be milled. CNC milling acrylic boards are used in multiple applications, the most prominent ones are cabinet doors and windows. Acrylic boards replace the glass of the cabinet door because they break in certain circumstances or when they become old and brittle.

This makes acrylic board increasingly popular and replacing glass in many applications. Glass is very difficult to handle and install where the acrylic board is easy to handle and to cut in exact size. It is also lightweight which makes it adhere to cabinets and windows.

Can the acrylic bar be CNC milling?

Yes, acrylic bars can also be milled. Acrylic bars are solid cylindrical in shape pieces of acrylic. They are durable and naturally UV resistant and lightweight. They are known for keeping their known shape and can not be bend and shrink easily.

Acrylic bars have so many applications such as sign holders, office interior objects, skylights, crystal chandeliers, glazing applications and are used for model making. It has the degree of flexibility that allows it to be shatter-resistant. Acrylic bars are made up of material that requires minimal maintenance. DEK also offers CNC milling acrylic services for acrylic bars, according to its client’s requirements.

What are the applications of acrylic CNC milled parts?

Acrylic CNC milled parts are used in multiple industries and have a number of applications. Below are some of the major applications of CNC milling acrylic parts.

Glass Alternative

Acrylic is a transparent material and has a certain level of clarity which makes it useful as shatterproof glass in many industries. Some of these industries are aerospace, automotive and optical industries, in these industries it is used under the brand name Plexiglass.

Acrylic is usually used as a glass alternative for the transparency purpose in window-like structures in submarines, aquariums, hockey arenas, etc. It is also used in the automotive industry for lighting parts as a headlamp. Lamps in optical and automotive applications are of complex shapes and require very tight tolerance to deliver the best optical performance.

Acrylic properties make it suitable for eyeglasses lenses and non-disposable contact lenses.

Medical and Dental

Acrylic is a good biocompatible material, it can be used in many medical and dental applications such as cosmetic surgery where it can be used as an under-skin filler. Acrylic is also used as bone cement in orthopedic surgeries. Its properties also make it a good choice for dentistry equipment and procedures.

Consumer Goods

Acrylic’s aesthetic appearance makes it a suitable material for a wide range of consumer products like musical instruments, consumer electronics, and furniture.

Acrylic can also be found in LCD, CDs, and DVDs. Contemporary structures and artworks use acrylic because of its easier to manipulate properties.

Below is the list of some of the components that are created from acrylic and industries that use acrylic to manufacture different products.

Components

• Transparent manifolds
• As an alternative to glass
• Automotive trim
• Toys
• Lighting fixtures
• Medical devices
• Guards
• Signage
• Windows
• Electronics components
• Aerospace components
• Housings
• Appliances
• Sound barriers
• Lenses
• Household items
• Furniture
• Enclosures

Industries

• Aerospace
• Medical
• Automotive
• Electronics
• Transportation

CNC milling acrylic vs laser cutting acrylic, which is better?

The CNC milling acrylic and the laser cutting acrylic are the most popular methods used for producing precision parts for different industries. We have to discuss the differences between these two to find out which process is best suited for our applications.

CNC Milling Acrylic

CNC milling acrylic is a contact-based cutting or milling process which has obvious advantages such as versatility and flexibility. It can precisely cut and engrave acrylic material with speed like the laser cutter to close specific fiction. Design programmed in CNC milling machines provides signals to cut and carve the acrylic material with accuracy, the computer-controlled the specific velocity and positioning, back and forth, side to side movement. In CNC milling, the efficiency, speed, and ease of use increase the productivity to improve the acrylic milled part.

Subtractive precision cutting creates less waste than other conventional cutting processes which means fewer material costs. This eventually increases productivity and decreases the lead time and saves money.

Laser Cutting Acrylic

Like CNC milling, the laser cutter is also guided by a CNC machine. Cutting is a non-contact procedure, it is a thermal-based process that uses a focused high power laser beam to cut the acrylic part and carves it with shapes and designs. In this process there is no designing tool is required. Cutting is achieved by the heat to perform the accurate cutting to acquire the precise parts.  A high-energy beam burns the material rather than carving.

Because this process uses CNC machining, it can consistently produce complex designs and shapes, intricate parts, and exceptional smooth finishes than normal drills. Laser cutting acrylic parts don’t require secondary finishing such as cleaning treating and finishing. It is suitable for rapid prototyping with exceptional details with incredible speed. Prototypes can be cut in few minutes with a laser cutter and different versions can be produced quickly for testing purposes.

CNC milling and laser cutting are both highly effective, efficient, and versatile methods used for the precision cutting of acrylic parts. Though they have distinct differences they can complement each other. So the conclusion we can take from this discussion is that the use of any of these procedures for acrylic parts depends upon many factors and applications.

Does DEK offer Acrylic CNC Milling services?

Yes, we do provide CNC milling acrylic services and we are not only offering you the service but we are offering you to be our partner. Let us provide you the finest quality acrylic milled parts that fit into your applications just right.

Over the years, DEK  has been involved in different acrylic CNC milling projects and we have served multiple clients from different regions of the world. This diversity in clients means we can handle very simple to complex procedures involving CNC milling acrylic.

Our engineer team is skilled to convert acrylic into any desired shape and size with tight tolerance and precision. Our expert engineering team is always ready to provide you with a consultation to ensure you receive the finest product that lives up to your expectations. This approach helps us to determine the needs of our customers and to deliver accurate and precise acrylic milled parts. Not only the skilled team but DEK also own technology equipment, machinery, and cutting tools to provide you with the highest quality parts.

At last, all the acrylic material used to create milled parts in DEK must pass through the selection process to guarantee ideal performance. Our technicians and engineers thoroughly check the quality of the acrylic material that er take for producing milled parts. This approach helps us to create parts that can withstand harsh conditions and provides the best results.

Let us help you produce the best acrylic milled parts, write to us or fill the quotation form so that our technical support agent can get to you.