Polishing acrylic
Polishing acrylic is done because machining (sawing, milling, turning) leaves
matte surfaces. Since acrylic is mainly used visual, there is usually a desire
to polish the visible surfaces (making them clear).
Induflex is using different methods of polishing, depending on the parts geometry:
- Diamond edge polishing.
Suitable for all sheet edges.
- Flame polishing.
Used on small inaccessible surfaces.
- Manual polishing.
Larger easily accessible surfaces.
- Laser cutting.
Pars cut from acrylic sheets.
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CNC machined and polished acrylic
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Diamond edge polishing
When using diamond edge polishing, edges on acrylic sheets are moved over sharp, fast-rotating
diamonds. Properly done is the result so good that diamond polishing can be compared with cast surfaces.
Moreover, the method is relatively inexpensive and can be performed on large batches.
Diamond edge polishing may be used on edges of shelves and signs that have previously been sawn to correct dimensions.
It should be noted that diamond edge polishing is exclusively for straight or sloping sides.
Eg. it cannot be used on rounded corners.
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Diamond edge polished acrylic with laser engraved text; the base is laser cut.
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Flame polishing
Acrylic is flame polishing with a flame burning at a temperature between 2700-3300 degrees Celsius.
Hereby melts the surface of the acrylic and becomes clear.
The method is especially useful for polishing of inaccessible positions on the acrylic part - curved and tilted
surfaces, holes and inner corners. Prototypes and small batches is the most common.
For larger batches other solutions are prefered.
Flame polishing is in practice reserved for extruded acrylic in a certain thickness,
as cast acrylic has a tendency to appear burned.
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Polishing acrylic
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Manual polishing
Acrylic parts can be manual polishing either by holding the part against a rotating polishing disk
or hand-polished with a cloth bearing special polishing paste.
The method can polish larger surfaces or sloping sides.
Possibly minor scratches can be removed. It is time consuming and used
only for prototypes, small batches, expensive parts (eg. 3D) or
repairs.
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30 mm acrylic. Machine and hand polished
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Laser cutting
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Laser cutting can cut acrylic parts from sheets up to 25 mm in thickness and the edges automatic becomes flame polished.
Laser cutting is ideal for both prototypes and large batches.
Much more about
laser cutting
og
acrylic
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Signage in laser cut acrylic
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Our polishers
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Diamantkantpoler |
Pladetykkelse |
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| Edge Finisher EF-200 |
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Our polishers
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Flammepoler |
Type |
| Shannon Micro-Welder |
Super A |
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Respectively diamond polished edge, laser-cut and sawn acrylic.
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