Cutting 1/4" polycarbonate

[Weldingrod1]

Pictures cuz it did happen ;-)
Yes, both sides have self regulating PTC heaters. There's some springs in there so they conform to the sheet surface.
If the width works, they a a slick solution! Not too spendy, either.

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[Firstram]

That is a great idea!

 

[francist]

Many moons ago (like 40 years!) I made a strip heater for bending acrylic out of an old hot plate. Took out the springy coil element, laid it straight between two edges of gyproc (the only thing I had on hand at the time that was fireproof), and laid the acrylic sheet on top. Worked fine, somewhat touchy for timing, but worked. I think I even put the element back into the hot plate afterwards.

-frank

 

[Larry$]

1/8" and down polycarb can be bent like sheet metal

Actually we've bent 1/4" in a brake by just setting the fingers back a bit more than normal. We have an 8' oven for forming plastics. Like someone said about poly carbonate, it absorbs moisture and that needs to be baked out of it at a temperature below boiling or it will steam & cause bubbles. If you need to drill plastic buy the bits made for that or modify a twist drill bit with a bit of flat on the cutting edge. Plastics can be fun & frustrating.

 

[John_Dennis]

Polycarbonate is much easier to work with than acrylic because it will not easily shatter. One thing to watch when cutting or machining plastics is that if your cut is producing stringy chips, they are very dangerous. These strings can grab and cut you severely or get tangled up in the tool or machine and break something. Plastics can also have a very sharp edge so take a file or sanding block to dull them a little.

 

[Cr2348455]

Thank You John