Cutting Lexan
 

Help! Our team just got the lexan but we are having trouble cutting it. Any suggestions? We don't have any water-jets, or laser cutters, we're just looking for simple solutions. Any suggestions are welcome!

Re: Cutting Lexan
 

Lexan (polycarbonate) is fairly easy to machine. You can use a bandsaw, table saw, hack saw, pair of tin snips (depending on it's thickness).

Plexi-glass is a different story.

Good luck!

Re: Cutting Lexan
 

check out this thread.


http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=41571

Re: Cutting Lexan
 

If you have big sheets, you can use a table saw.

Re: Cutting Lexan
 

The aforementioned thread has a lot of info. We can perhaps help you better if you give some specific details on your situation.

What is the thickness and size of sheet that you have? Also, what operations (drilling, cutting, bending, et cetera) do you need to do?

Mike

Re: Cutting Lexan
 

Carbide blade if you have access to one

Re: Cutting Lexan
 

Leave the protective backing paper (usually with the name plastered all over it) on the material until you are finished cutting.

This reduces the risk of chips and cracks as you cut it.

Think of that paper layer as safety glass in your car. If the panel breaks, it will not turn into little airborne missles heading toward your eyes.

Re: Cutting Lexan
 

CNC if you can. If not, everyone else has given some valuable info.

Re: Cutting Lexan
 

We just use jig-saw and then smooth the edges after.

Re: Cutting Lexan
 

If its thinner than 1/8 ", possibly 3/16", leave the backing on and skor it real good with a sharp knife. Then just bend the cut open until it snaps. Just make sure the skor is even and deep all the way allong and this only works for straight cuts and will not go around corners. It leaves the best edge of any method, and makes a cool booming noise when working with big sheets.

Re: Cutting Lexan
 

a good ol fassion jig saw works just fine. i personaly cut out all of my team's lexan pieces last year using a 50 year old one in our shop, proof that teams who are too strapt for cash to buy a CNC can still do things properly.

Re: Cutting Lexan
 

Table saw is what we us, but you have to be careful and keep it moving or it will start to melt it and then eat it...and that gets ugly (experience talking here). You can also round corners with a sander. We do all of our lexan cutting in the wood shop becuase of this.

Re: Cutting Lexan
 

Has anyone cut lexan on a plasma cutter before? Would it work if I put a very high seep? Would the whole sheet melt? I need an engineer or some one who knows to tell me what will likely happen to .125 lexan.

Thanks

Re: Cutting Lexan
 

Nope, the part being cut needs to be conductive for a plasma cutter.

Sorry :(

Re: Cutting Lexan
 

we have used a jig saw and a band saw to cut out lexan