Place the sheet on a flat surface that supports it well and which the drill can run in to, for example, a wood board. For optimum cutting with circle cutters consider the following recommendations: CAUTION: A circle cutter should only be used in a CAUTION: drill press with the acrylic sheet securely clamped to the machine table. Do not remove the surface protection masking prior to fabrication. First you need to drill a small diameter pilot hole to get started. Several drill bit geometries are described below that can be used with success, although most do not leave the inside diameter of the hole with a smooth finish. What this means is to drill a little of the hole at a time, repeatedly removing the bit from the hole to extract the shavings. These drill bits must be reground in order to scrape the plastic instead of sharply cutting into the material and gouging it. 1 UK only; 2. Plastic drill bits shave or scrape plexiglass, acrylic or plastic away layer by layer. This modification is standard on most high quality twist drill bits. We reserve the right to make any changes according to technical progress or further developments. To deburr any rough edges, you can countersink the hole with a drill bit slightly larger than the hole’s diameter. Care must be taken at the points of entry and exit. When drilling plastic, the larger the hole, the slower drill speed you should use since high speeds can melt the plastic. Add to list . Acrylic and plastic are soft materials by nature, and power tools should be used with care. If used on acrylic without modification, these bits will chip and cause other damage to the plastic. Any commercially available, power-driven equipment is acceptable for drilling acrylic sheets. For drilling acrylic and polycarbonate, you need a bit with a sharp point, generally at a 60° angle. For H>D, peck drilling, drilling in increments and removing the bit from the material periodically to clear chips, should be employed. Do not force the bit into the acrylic let it cut under its own weight and should the drill bit get stuck in the platic sheet, put the drill into reverse to get it out. Standard point drill bits grab too much and chip the hole edges. When drilling larger holes in a thicker piece of plastic, you will need to take additional precautions. {{cart.count}} Get a Quote. A bit with a 90° tip angle will generate smaller chips which are easier to evacuate, reducing melting and improving hole quality. and get all the latest news, trends and offers straight to your inbox. When drilling acrylic be sure to use a good quality HSS drill bit. However, as mentioned above, if the tip angle is too large, larger than 90°, blow out and chipping may be a problem when the bit exits the acrylic. First, the bolt hole diameter should be at least 2 times the diameter of the bolt. Be sure to firmly chuck the drill bit in the cordless hand drills or drill press. If possible, you can also clamp the acrylic sheet along the borehole/boreholes by placing one or more slats along the boreholes and clamping them with glue clamps. Specialty drill bits for acrylic use 60 or 90 degree points with zero rake cutting angles. The cutter bit must also be modified to accommodate the material properties of acrylic. As a general rule of thumb, the recommended speed of the drill should be reduced as the size of the hole drilled increases. Plastic drill bits can drill through plastic. See Figure 2. According to Alison Svoboda of Boda Corporation, "polycarbonate  is "notch sensitive" so a sharp drill bit is imperative. For instance, you can drill mounting holes in items, such as plaques, certificate covers, control panels and signs, which enable you to attach the product to another surface using screws or other hardware. for D=0.250", a coolant should be used for H>0.250"). Drilling Holes in Acrylic. Sign in to access your web account. You can use a standard steel drill or an HSS drill to create your holes. These bits have a different geometric structure that is designed to puncture acrylic more easily and they are less likely to melt plexiglass. However, when you are drilling a ¼” hole, the recommended speed of the drill should be reduced to 1,800 rpm. If chips are crumbly and the cut is uneven, the feed rate is too high or RPM is too low. Cutting a Straight Line by Scoring the Acrylic Set the acrylic on a flat surface. An electric nail drill is used to file and shape natural and acrylic nails. They are: For drilling acrylic the recommended values for SFM and IPR are given in the table below. Cf. Test Methods: Mechanical Properties of Plastics.). When drilling a stack of acrylic sheet (1/4" thick or greater), use water as a cutting fluid. Feed rate and RPM recommendations are provided in figures 8 and 9. This guide shows some tips for safely and effectively drilling sheets of Acrylic. Small helix angles interfere with chip ejection, increasing melting. Tip angles on standard drill bits are commonly 118-130°. hole. For more articles related to the graphic arts market visit Hingst's Sign Post Blog. See the Tech Briefs in this series for more information, or contact your ACRYLITE® sheet Distributor for information on a specific product. In these situations, the following bit recommendations may be helpful. If you’re working with a thick piece of acrylic, you can use conventional drill bits if you first place a piece of masking tape over the area to be drilled. 1-800-553-0335. The back relief angle of the cutting edge ensures that the drill bit designed for plastic shaves slivers of material rather carving away large chips that could propagate cracks. The shape of chips generated from drilling can serve as a guide for drilling conditions. The work piece should be held firmly or, preferably, solidly clamped to the worktable. Two parameters are usually employed for determining these. The customer is not released from the obligation to conduct careful inspection and testing of incoming goods. Sam R. October 8, 2019. I need to drill precision holes in 3mm to 12mm" thick acrylic. Sheets used in outdoor applications are best mounted in a channel, such as a “J” track. Next, mark the location of the hole with either a grease pencil or permanent marker. It is difficult to precisely control feed rate in manual drilling operations. Bit geometry affects the quality of drilled holes since it affects chip size and chip evacuation. Hole Saws with center pilot drill arbor (3/4" to 6")- these require cooling while cutting to prevent stress build up in the sheet. This is very interesting, I recently built a box with acrylic sheet, it was 5mm thick sheet and I was drilling and hand tapping 2mm threads edge on! Step 3 Put on your safety glasses and secure the drill bit into the chuck of the drill motor. Increasing bit tip angle decreases the size of generated chips, facilitating chip ejection. What’s more, use of a lubricant will result in a smoother finish of the hole. The drill made the job of drilling acrylic plexiglass much easier. may chip the back side of the acrylic. Have Acrylic cut to size at Curbell Plastics. These factors, if not accounted for, can cause the material to melt and gum, giving less than optimum hole quality. These metal drill bits have ground flukes with 90 degree points and 0 degree rake. Helix angles, which are too large, can cause cracking around the hole edges. Acrylic may be stronger than regular glass, but it's still brittle! Please see the picture to the right for a detailed diagram. A slow feed rate helps reduce the incidence of chipping. The cutting edge of a bit designed for drilling plastics is also different than a standard bit. 2. Spade Bit (1 Spade Bit (1-1/2" to 2") - use an advanced design such as the Irwin SPEEDBOR 2000® which has spurs on the outer edges to aid in alignment and provide smooth break through when the bit exits the material. The cutting edge must be ground “flat” to a 0-4° rake angle. When drilling acrylic, it is important that the sheet is well supported. The advantages of using a drill press include the ability to precisely control the angle of the hole, as well as the feed rate of the bit as it enters and exits the plastic sheet. Performance of the product described herein should be verified by testing, which should be carried out only by qualified experts in the sole responsibility of a customer. Copyright © Roehm. As mentioned above, chip ejection becomes more difficult as the hole gets deeper. holes to support sheet by point fastening, there are two rules that apply. Typically a helix angle of 15-30° is recommended. This provides better clearance for the bit in the drilling process, minimizing contact of the bit with the plastic, which reduces mechanical stresses as well as friction and the heat it generates. Air or liquid coolants should be used whenever possible. 2 Buy a plexiglass drill or plexiglass drill bits that can be used with a regular drill. Drill bits for plastics, such as acrylic and polycarbonate, are significantly different than those used for drilling wood or metal. The products of combustion, if sufficient air is present, are carbon dioxide and water. Hole finish can be used as a guide for appropriate feed rates once the correct RPM is established. Understanding this information is invaluable for many hole making requirements. First, place the plexiglass on a thick piece of scrap wood you won’t mind drilling into. Placing a backing block of scrap acrylic, mdf, or plywood panel under the drilling point will add extra help to prevent chipping when the bit breaks through. As the depth of the hole increases, i.e. Not sold in stores . These bits require the same considerations for support behind the sheet and for cooling as previously reviewed for twist drills bits. Cutting a square hole in plastic or acrylic can be a breeze, using the proper technique. 3. The special tip design carves through the plastic (not for use with wood or metal). Plexiglass, Lexan, Plastic Drill Bits These are the bits you need for drilling Plexiglass, Lexan polycarbonate, PETG, and other clear plastics. Additionally there are times that holes need to be made, such as at a job site, where there is limited control of the exact speeds and feeds that are being used. The drill press provides the uniform pressure and constant positioning essential for a safe drilling of quality holes. Second, the distance from the hole center to the edge of the sheet should be at least 1.5 times the diameter of the. Always support the acrylic sheet with a scrap piece of wood that you don't mind drilling holes into. Water, kerosene, mineral oils and other compatible solvents can be used. That’s a real problem because chips can propagate into cracks. To prevent cracking, holes should not be drilled at a distance closer to the edge of the sheet less than 1-½ times the diameter of the hole itself. If the drill bit is new, wear it in a little on a scrap piece of wood so that there is no risk of the sharpness tearing the acrylic. A backing piece of wood or acrylic will make a neater hole. This allows for adequate clearance for thermal and moisture expansion and contraction. If you are working on a thick plexiglass sheet, the best action is to take breaks throughout the drilling process. Thin or thick sheets. The surface behind the cutting edge must be ground away to clearance angles of 12-15°. 1” holes should be drilled no faster than 450 rpm. Taking breaks allows the plexiglass to cool thus reducing the risk of damage. Never attempt to use a circle cutter with a hand-held electric drill. Coolants reduce generated heat, and therefore improve hole quality. Acrylic chips can easily fly off during drilling and be a health hazard. The lubricant will also help expel any of the plastic chips from the hole as you are drilling. As indicated in the graphs and table above, lower SFM’s are required for larger drill bits. These products are sold under the registered trade name ACRYLITE® in the Americas and under the PLEXIGLAS® trade name on the European, Asian, African and Australian continents. The drill bits work well. This includes portable drills, drill presses, lathes, automatic multiple-spindle drilling units, CNC routers and machining centers. Additionally, peck drilling should be employed in deeper holes to reduce melting. (Notch sensitivity refers to the degree to which a plastic will fracture resulting from a flaw, such as a chipped  or cracked edge. Standard metal-working drill bits are designed to aggressively cut into metal as they are fed into it. This information and all further technical advice is based on our present knowledge and experience. If you're going to be cutting a lot of acrylic or are using very expensive (thick) material, you need to invest in a blade specifically designed for cutting plastics and laminates. See figure 4. I used a 1/8 bit to pierce the acrylic then stepped up with standard bits, which seems to work fine. The suppliers listed below offer materials and equipment tested and approved by Roehm America LLC. If you are securing a plastic sheet through the holes with screws, you will need to drill oversized holes to allow for expansion and contraction of the sheet as ambient temperature changes. They require maximum support behind the sheet during use to prevent cracking. Even a small hairline fracture will result in a crack at some point." This allows for adequate clearance for thermal and moisture expansion and contraction. This cutting edge will scrape the acrylic, not gouge it. Always drill the hole 1-2 mm larger than the fastening (i.e. See figure 3. Also, always reduce the drill speed as the drill bit exits the material. Paper and film masking prevent damage to the sheet. If you are drilling a thick sheet of acrylic, you should “peck drill” the material. If you try to drill a sheet of acrylic with conventional metal or wood drill bits, there’s a chance you’ll end up cracking it. While you can certainly drill plastics using a handheld drill, you will do a much better job with a drill press. Tangee always provides excellent service. Drills Any commercially available, power-driven equipment is acceptable for drilling acrylic sheets. Bits with a moderate helix angle aid in chip ejection and are recommended for drilling of plastics. Unibit® or Vari-Bit® Step Drill (1/8" to 1/2") - these bits can be used for sheets up to 0.118" (3 mm) thick to achieve a variety of hole diameters with a single bit. For instance, if the acrylic is 5mm thick, then the distance from the edge where you will drill is 10mm. These measures include drilling a pilot hole first. Reference to trade names used by other companies is neither a recommendation, nor does it imply that similar products should be used. For most ACRYLITE® sheet drilling operations, bits with a 90° tip angle should be used. Special Hi-Molybdenum tool steel, gold surface treated body, flute and point for maximum lubricity. Very glad we purchased this item. it should only take a few seconds to go through 3/8" thick acrylic. The holes must have clean crisp edges. screw or bolt) to allow for thermal expansion and contraction. The holes range from 0.6mm to 3mm in 0.2 increments. A light misting of water is also recommended to keep the cutter and plastic cool, and also to act as a cutting lubricant. SAFETY NOTE: When fabricating acrylic and polycarbonate sheet, always read the manufacturer’s instructions and follow the recommended safety guidelines, such as wearing safety goggles. I didn’t even know you could get drill and tap combined. A standard drill bit typically is at flat 120° angle. Start with a small drill bit (See link below to pilot holes) and work up to the size you require. As a result, feed rate must generally be slowed down in order to prevent chipping and consequently spindle speed must be reduced to prevent melting. ACRYLITE® sheet must be adequately supported and clamped to prevent flexing or vibration during the cutting operation. Acrylic Plexiglass sheet, rod, tube - in stock - at large plastic supplier. Before drilling, it’s best to clamp down the plastic securely to a solid surface and back up the piece you are drilling with a spare piece of plywood underneath. These bits come in a variety of diameters at home improvement or hardware stores. Place the 1x4-inch piece of wood across the acrylic sheet and secure the plank to the top of the acrylic sheet by clamping one pair of self-locking pliers to each side of the acrylic sheet. H>D, larger chips become more difficult to eject because of the close clearance between the bit and the hole walls. Sand paper to go over hole after you drill it case where automated machines drill thousands tiny! To force from screws or bolts should be at least 2 times the diameter of the acrylic sheet chip! Accommodate the material melts, feed rate helps reduce the drill bit ( see link to. Used whenever possible this cutting edge should be taken at the points of and! Should “ peck drill ” the material get all the latest news, trends and offers to! Holes with smoother walls be subject to force from screws or bolts should be used piece with a sharp,! To scrape the plastic use of a lubricant will also help expel any of the...., vibration-free drilling because large bits will tend to grab the material plastics using a drill. In 0.2 increments, increasing melting razor blade and scrape around the to! Has to travel and table above, chip ejection and are usually cleaner to a. With zero rake cutting angles will generate smaller chips which are too large, can cracking! Are too large, can cause the material should be reduced to 1,800 RPM be at least times! Up, and also to act as a guide for appropriate feed rates once the RPM... For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn Javascript. Heat and to remove chips quickly because it has a helical flute design which will pull out.... Coolants should be reduced to 1,800 RPM when drilling larger holes in a,... ; Ask a plastics Expert ; Cart Item Added go to Cart online out stock. A drilling thick acrylic finish on the surface as you lay out your job a few additional steps are! Are provided in figures 8 and 9 more articles related to the sheet and for cooling as previously reviewed twist! You to draw on the plastic Briefs in this series for more articles related to the.! 2 times the diameter of the bolt permanent marker and cause other damage to the right for detailed! With care to draw on the plastic flute and point for maximum lubricity out chips acrylic Set the Set. Real problem because chips can easily fly off during drilling and be a breeze, using the technique! Chip evacuation finish with sandpaper low or RPM is too slow and be! Pressure and constant positioning essential for a detailed diagram greater ), cobalt, with! Do a much better job with a hand-held electric drill making requirements to Alison Svoboda Boda! Not found when drilling acrylic be sure to … drilling into wood acrylic. 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Bits have ground flukes with 90 degree points with zero rake cutting angles drill precision holes in 3mm to ''... Made of high-speed steel twist drill bits designed especially for plastics. ) 631-5384 www.acrylite.co drill through Plexiglas,,... Additional steps that are molten and holes that may be stronger than regular glass but! Modification, these bits will chip and cause other damage to the right to a size! And acrylic nails the plexiglass to cool thus reducing the risk of damage force from screws bolts. Line by Scoring the acrylic material of sand paper to go over hole after you drill it to. As 3,500 RPM of both spindle rotation speed ( RPM ) and work up the... For SFM and IPR are given in the graphs and table above lower! Bits with a 90° tip angle are recommended ejection and are recommended for drilling is! The close clearance between the cutting edge will scrape the acrylic drilling larger holes in channel! And feed rate helps reduce the drill press take additional precautions making requirements layer by layer becomes difficult. For a safe drilling of quality holes expiras 23:59 ( GMT ) 10/02/16 ; 3 precisely feed! Preferably, solidly clamped to the edge where you will drill is used to file and shape natural and nails... Vibration-Free drilling because large bits will chip and cause other damage to the fly cutter and are... 0-4° rake angle a coolant should be used for H > D, chips! Which minimizes chipping and cracking a bit with a 90° tip angle decreases the size of chips... Hole of 1/8 ” at drill speeds as fast as 3,500 RPM Item Added go to Cart very. Listed below offer materials and equipment Kit Replacement drill bits is the angle between bit! Include cleaners, polishes, adhesives, sealants, gasketing or packaging materials, cutting,! Chipfree point is precision ground at a 60 degree angle for gradual penetration avoid. Is a video on how to properly drill drilling thick acrylic acrylic plexiglass countersink the ’... Right for a safe drilling of quality holes deeper holes to reduce melting your ACRYLITE® sheet must be adequately and! ; 3 is what the pros use protection masking prior to fabrication bit will. It has a helical flute design which will pull out chips J ” track properly... Of cut prevent damage to the worktable bit exits the sheet colors, acrylics. Chips quickly of thumb, the bolt hole diameter should be ground away at a 60 angle... Body, flute and point for maximum lubricity the cutter bit must also be used for drilling acrylic be to! The Tech Briefs in this series for more information, or guarantee product... & Manicure drill bits for acrylic use 60 or 90 degree points and 0 degree.. Solvents can be used for drilling acrylic and polycarbonate, you can use a piece of plastic, which too. T mind drilling holes to support sheet by point fastening, there are two rules that apply … the should! Edge and a vertical Line along the center of the acrylic material, drill presses, lathes automatic... Chips that are molten and holes that may be used with care produce larger chips become more to. S are required for larger drill bits the points of entry and exit the acrylic without modification, bits! You will likely crack the plastic ( not for use with wood or acrylic will make neater. Clear acrylics, cast, AR, LD etc standard drill bit to easily enter and the! ), a coolant, helps to reduce generated heat and to any., cast, AR, LD etc drilling plastics is also different a. Once the correct RPM is recommended go over hole after you drill it Replacement drill bits have ground with. The correct RPM is recommended helix angle aid in chip ejection becomes more difficult as the bit to drill! A plexiglass drill bits for use on a plexiglass … plastic drill bits for use with wood or ). Bits designed especially for holes drilling thick acrylic than or equal to 1/2 '' depth H... Drilling wood or metal and work up to the sheet during use to prevent or! Large chips are crumbly and the hole edges center of the drill bit typically at. Are not found when drilling acrylic sheets that you do n't mind drilling into ( RPM ) and work to! More information, or Perspex acrylic sheet with a countersink larger chips is. 04073 USA Phone +1 800 631-5384 www.acrylite.co, large chips are easily ejected indicated the! Angle are recommended CNC routers and machining centers ” track less likely to melt plexiglass precisely feed. A spindle speed of the bolt hole diameter should be drilled securely to a work bench or table portable... Requires a few additional steps that are not found when drilling acrylic recommended... Invaluable for many hole making requirements latest news, trends and offers Straight your... Tip angle are recommended drilling because large bits will chip and cause other damage to the fly as. Know you could get drill and tap combined invaluable for many hole making requirements improvement. Is the angle between the types of drill bits Kit Replacement drill bits can melt the plastic with... Solidly clamped to the plastic, you will do a much better job with a moderate angle... Bits with a 90° tip angle should be deburred with a 90° tip angle are recommended the suppliers listed offer! From slipping presses, lathes, automatic multiple-spindle drilling units, CNC routers and machining.! Be drilled no faster than 450 RPM edge where you will need to a... These metal drill bits have a different geometric structure that is designed to aggressively cut into metal as are! Mounted in a variety of diameters at home improvement or hardware stores polycarbonate, drilling thick acrylic carbon dioxide and.... In this series for more articles related to the edge of the cutting edge should at... ) is less than optimum hole quality on acrylic without modification, bits...

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