Processes Involved In Working With Perspex

by Reg Burns Plastic Fabricator

As most of us know, Perspex is a popular brand of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) used for making various utilities like signage, display cases, exhibition stands and plinths. It has a multitude of advantages over glass, because it is lightweight, sturdy, impact resistant, highly transparent and has good insulating properties.

In Sydney, there are many reputed companies that deal with Perspex fabrication. Their work involves a wide range of sophisticated techniques, including cutting, drilling, finishing and gluing. Each one of these techniques has been discussed below elaborately, have a look:

Cutting :

Perspex sheets are generally manufactured with a protective covering on both of their sides. It is important to keep that covering on throughout a fabrication process for protecting the finish. There are several tools which can be used to cut Perspex, such as CNC router, water jet and CO2 laser. But no matter what method is used, extra care is taken to make sure that the tools utilised to work with Perspex do not become a source of detrimental heat. If a saw blade is being chosen to get the task done, it has to be one specially designed for cutting through PMMA.

Drilling :

While drilling through a sheet of Perspex, two situations need to be avoided at all costs - twisting the sheet and creating heat. If the drill starts generating heat, the thermoplastic can begin to melt. In addition to that, any grabbing or twisting can fracture the material. Speed of the drill also plays an important role, and is generally maintained between 500 and 1000 RPM. The task is usually begun and ended at a slow rate. Sometimes, a plywood piece is placed behind or under the Perspex sheet to keep the drill from grabbing it while slowing down.

Finishing :

There are several factors which determine how the edges of a Perspex sheet must be finished:

Usage of the project.
The kind of glue that will be used.
Kind of joint desired.

During the initial stages of the project, choosing a suitable saw blade can considerably reduce the amount of finishing required later.

Gluing :

Most professionals generally make use of solvent cements for creating transparent, durable and strong joints on Perspex pieces. The job of gluing is always done in a highly-ventilated place away from flames or heat. The most commonly used method for joining Perspex is capillary cementing. For creating perfect joints, it is ensured that all surfaces to be connected together are straight, clean and flat.

The key towards working with Perspex is understanding the guidelines associated it carefully. It makes the task easier and more comfortable to complete.