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Acrylic Sheet, Rod and Tube: Cast and Extruded
Acrylic (PMMA) stock is made two ways. Cast acrylic is liquid methyl methacrylate, mixed with an initiator, poured between glass plates (cell casting) or into moulds and left to polymerise into solid sheet or rod; tube is cast in a spinning mould. Extruded acrylic is pellets melted and forced through a die and polished rollers, continuously. Cast sheet is the better grade: steadier with heat and solvents, clearer, more scratch resistant and better to machine; extruded sheet is cheaper and more even in thickness.
Advanced
Hours per cast sheet (industrial)
Instructions
1
1
Cell cast sheet
Cell cast sheet
Monomer syrup with initiator is poured between two glass plates held apart by a flexible gasket and polymerised in a heated bath or oven, then the plates are stripped off.
Materials for this step:
Methyl Methacrylate Syrup50 kgTools needed:
Annealing Oven2
2
Cast rod and tube
Cast rod and tube
Rod is cast in static tubular moulds; tube in a mould spun so the syrup lines its wall.
Tools needed:
Annealing Oven3
3
Extruded sheet
Extruded sheet
Dried acrylic pellets are melted, pushed through a sheet die and pulled through polished rollers.
Materials for this step:
Acrylic Pellets50 kgTools needed:
Pellet Dryer
Plastic Extruder
Pellet Hopper Feeder
Extrusion Die4
4
Anneal and check
Anneal and check
Sheets are annealed to relieve stress, covered with protective film and measured for thickness.
Tools needed:
Annealing Oven
Digital Caliper 6-InchMaterials
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- 50 kgPlaceholder
Tools Required
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