Drilling Plexiglass Sheets

Any commercially available power driven equipment is acceptable for drilling acrylic sheets.

Drilling plexiglass sheets.

Specialty drill bits prevent the cracking and chipping. Because of the internal stresses it will quickly crack or break. For example to drill a 1 2 inch hole you can make a pilot hole by beginning with a 1 4 bit drill and then moving to a 1 2 bit drill. Plexiglass is a clear plastic lightweight alternative to glass.

Designed specifically for plexiglass and polycarbonate lexan these drill bits are great tools for drilling through plastic sheets. Often the traditional drill bits used for metal and wood chip and crack the plexiglass while drilling through its surface. For a thin sheet of plexiglass that is material up to about 3 16 inch thick use a scoring method not dissimilar from a technique used to cut actual glass. Drilling holes in plexiglass can be challenging.

This includes portable drills drill presses lathes automatic multiple spindle drilling units cnc routers and machining centers. With the necessary equipment ensure you practice the drilling process on smaller pieces of plexiglass sheet before you work on the main sheet. These bits have a different geometric structure that is designed to puncture acrylic more easily and they are less likely to melt plexiglass. Many diy plexiglass and lexan sheet projects require a hole or two.

To drill your plexiglass sheet you may consider acquiring a plexiglass drill to simplify the process. Standard metal drill bits will work but without extensive modification the metal drill bit will crack and chip the brittle acrylic sheet. Alternatively you can acquire plexiglass drill bits that are compatible with normal drillers. Several manufacturers offer drill bits designed especially for plastics.

Cast and extruded acrylic. Using the right kind of tools is important when working with many types of plastics. Drilling acrylic is not difficult if you have good tools and are drilling the right kind of acrylic sheet. While you are drilling through the plexiglass sheet the friction would produce intense heat and the bits would cause lots of plastic shavings around the hole especially if the sheet is thick.

Drilling holes in acrylic requires the use of a drill bit specially designed for use with plastics. Lay the sheet on a flat surface and. Acrylic or acrylate is available in two types. Drill bits for plexiglass lexan and other plastics.

The extruded type is in fact unsuitable for drilling.