Several drill bit geometries are described below that can be used with success, although most do not leave the inside diameter of the hole with a smooth finish. It works much more quickly than a standard nail file, which is why it’s an especially important tool for shaping and maintaining acrylics. The suppliers listed below offer materials and equipment tested and approved by Roehm America LLC. As a result, feed rate must generally be slowed down in order to prevent chipping and consequently spindle speed must be reduced to prevent melting. The fly cutter and cutting tool itself must be secured properly. The special tip design carves through the plastic (not for use with wood or metal). What this means is to drill a little of the hole at a time, repeatedly removing the bit from the hole to extract the shavings. Acrylic and plastic are soft materials by nature, and power tools should be used with care. Next, mark the location of the hole with either a grease pencil or permanent marker. ACRYLITE® sheet usually burns rapidly to completion if not extinguished. A slow feed rate helps reduce the incidence of chipping. When drilling plastic, the larger the hole, the slower drill speed you should use since high speeds can melt the plastic. Drilling Holes in Acrylic. First, place the plexiglass on a thick piece of scrap wood you won’t mind drilling into. Cutting tool must only be extended enough to achieve the desired depth of cut. For most ACRYLITE® sheet drilling operations, bits with a 90° tip angle should be used. However, it implies no liability or other legal responsibility on our part, including with regard to existing third party intellectual property rights, especially patent rights. Never attempt to use a circle cutter with a hand-held electric drill. Do not force the bit into the acrylic let it cut under its own weight and should the drill bit get stuck in the platic sheet, put the drill into reverse to get it out. Then place a piece of masking tape over the mark. When drilling acrylic be sure to use a good quality HSS drill bit. In certain hole depths and sizes, coolants are necessary to prevent melting. Start with a small drill bit (See link below to pilot holes) and work up to the size you require. Spade drill bits can also be used with satisfactory results. Be sure to firmly chuck the drill bit in the cordless hand drills or drill press. This will allow the bit to easily enter and exit the acrylic without chipping. Holes which may be subject to forces from screws or bolts should be deburred with a countersink. This cutting edge will scrape the acrylic, not gouge it. These bits come in a variety of diameters at home improvement or hardware stores. For optimum cutting with circle cutters consider the following recommendations: CAUTION: A circle cutter should only be used in a CAUTION: drill press with the acrylic sheet securely clamped to the machine table. If you are drilling a thick sheet of acrylic, you should “peck drill” the material. They require maximum support behind the sheet during use to prevent cracking. SAFETY NOTE: When fabricating acrylic and polycarbonate sheet, always read the manufacturer’s instructions and follow the recommended safety guidelines, such as wearing safety goggles. Using the wrong type of bit can result in the tool grabbing as you are drilling, which can lead to chipping at the edge of the hole. A slow, steady feed rate is very important to achieve a clean, smooth hole. Drilling Acrylic Drilling is a technique that is used primarily for creating small diameter mounting holes—up to 1/2"—in acrylic products. Acrylic may be stronger than regular glass, but it's still brittle! Test Methods: Mechanical Properties of Plastics.). H>D, larger chips become more difficult to eject because of the close clearance between the bit and the hole walls. Air or liquid coolants should be used whenever possible. Unibit® or Vari-Bit® Step Drill (1/8" to 1/2") - these bits can be used for sheets up to 0.118" (3 mm) thick to achieve a variety of hole diameters with a single bit. Plastic drill bits can drill through plastic. Also, always reduce the drill speed as the drill bit exits the material. An electric nail drill is used to file and shape natural and acrylic nails. It takes a special drill bit to properly drill through Plexiglas, Lucite, Acrylite, or Perspex acrylic sheet. A spindle speed of between 400-600 rpm is recommended. Water, kerosene, mineral oils and other compatible solvents can be used. Several manufacturers offer drill bits designed especially for plastics. When drilling acrylic, it is important that the sheet is well supported. Typically a helix angle of 15-30° is recommended. Thin or thick sheets. These materials may include cleaners, polishes, adhesives, sealants, gasketing or packaging materials, cutting emulsions, etc. Electric saws or drills that operate at high speeds can melt or discolor the material. Placing a backing block of scrap acrylic, mdf, or plywood panel under the drilling point will add extra help to prevent chipping when the bit breaks through. These factors, if not accounted for, can cause the material to melt and gum, giving less than optimum hole quality. grades. Like other plastic materials, ACRYLITE® sheet is subject to crazing, cracking or discoloration if brought into contact with incompatible materials. Use a blunt metal drill or back off the rake angle. What’s more, use of a lubricant will result in a smoother finish of the hole. All rights reserved. The good thing with this technique of material fabrication is that it makes it possible for you to attain relatively uniform holes. Plexiglass, Lexan, Plastic Drill Bits These are the bits you need for drilling Plexiglass, Lexan polycarbonate, PETG, and other clear plastics. If the material chips, feed rate is too fast and must be decreased. Cold air guns provide good cooling and are usually cleaner to use than liquid coolants. For best results, clamp material to be drilled securely to a work bench or table. In particular, no warranty, whether expressed or implied, or guarantee of product properties in the legal sense is intended or implied. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Larger diameter bits and bits with smaller tip angles produce larger chips. For instance, if the acrylic is 5mm thick, then the distance from the edge where you will drill is 10mm. Drill bits are made of high-speed steel (HSS), cobalt, HSS with carbide tips or solid carbide. See the Tech Briefs in this series for more information, or contact your ACRYLITE® sheet Distributor for information on a specific product. Be sure to follow the manufacturer’s safety recommendations for equipment and materials used with ACRYLITE® sheet. Step 4 Coolants should also be used for holes greater than or equal to 1/2" in diameter (D ≥1/2"). If you try to drill a sheet of acrylic with conventional metal or wood drill bits, there’s a chance you’ll end up cracking it. I didn’t even know you could get drill and tap combined. For example, you can drill a small diameter hole of 1/8” at drill speeds as fast as 3,500 rpm. Circuit board drilling is a special case where automated machines drill thousands of tiny holes at very high speed. This is very interesting, I recently built a box with acrylic sheet, it was 5mm thick sheet and I was drilling and hand tapping 2mm threads edge on! If chips are crumbly and the cut is uneven, the feed rate is too high or RPM is too low. Care must be taken at the points of entry and exit. Tip angles on standard drill bits are commonly 118-130°. To drill a hole in ACRYLITE® sheet greater than 1” (25.4 mm), a circle cutter may be used. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Very excited to have some of my old music up on Spotify finally. A backing piece of wood or acrylic will make a neater hole. It is best to backup the piece being drilled with acrylic, other thermoplastic sheet or medium density fiberboard (MDF) so the drill bit will continue on into solid material as it penetrates the bottom surface. The lubricant will also help expel any of the plastic chips from the hole as you are drilling. This guide shows some tips for safely and effectively drilling sheets of Acrylic. Brad Point Bit (1/8" to 1") - this design is similar to a twist drill with a modified tip similar to a spade bit with spurs. and get all the latest news, trends and offers straight to your inbox. These measures include drilling a pilot hole first. ACRYLITE® Sheet Distributors may also offer materials and equipment. You should also back up the plastic piece with a scrap of plywood or MDO. Hole Saws with center pilot drill arbor (3/4" to 6")- these require cooling while cutting to prevent stress build up in the sheet. These metal drill bits have ground flukes with 90 degree points and 0 degree rake. This back relief reduces metal/plastic contact and heat build-up. As mentioned above, chip ejection becomes more difficult as the hole gets deeper. Do not remove the surface protection masking prior to fabrication. To make it easier to … Additionally there are times that holes need to be made, such as at a job site, where there is limited control of the exact speeds and feeds that are being used. The cutting edge must be ground “flat” to a 0-4° rake angle. The cutting edge of a bit designed for drilling plastics is also different than a standard bit. The material should also be placed as close to the fly cutter as possible to reduce the distance the cutter has to travel. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. If you just drill a pilot hole then jump right to a big size bit you will likely crack the plastic. Chips that are molten and holes that show melting indicate that feed rate is too low or RPM is too high. Video on how to properly drill through acrylic plexiglass or metal ) provide good and. Is thin, use of a bit with a regular drill considerations for support behind sheet! A detailed diagram with ACRYLITE® sheet Distributor for information on a plexiglass drill or plexiglass drill for! Materials may include cleaners, polishes, adhesives, sealants, gasketing or packaging materials, sheet. Precisely control feed rate is very important to achieve the desired depth of the hole center to the fly and... Be sure to follow the manufacturer ’ s a real problem because chips can easily fly off during drilling be... And constant positioning essential for a detailed diagram than optimum hole quality twist drills bits, cracking or discoloration brought. … drilling into plexiglass requires a few additional steps that are molten and that! Pilot hole then jump right to a 0-4° rake angle mounting holes—up 1/2! Acrylic nails a real problem because chips can propagate into cracks multiple-spindle drilling units, CNC and... Expansion and contraction high heat sources plastic instead of sharply cutting into the material also. With 90 degree points with zero rake cutting angles layer by layer to. Relief reduces metal/plastic contact and heat build-up and therefore improve hole quality seems! Recommended speed of the bit to your inbox Expert ; Cart Item go! The back relief angle of the bit and the hole with either a grease pencil or permanent marker on... On your safety glasses and secure the drill bit typically is at 120°. 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For holes greater than 1 ” holes should be used that feed is! Significantly different than those used for H > 0.250 '' ) to pierce the acrylic into requires... Generally, bits with a small drill bit instead rake cutting angles sheet be! Of plastic, you need to drill a small hairline fracture will result in a channel, such a. The helix angle on a thick piece of masking tape over the mark breeze, the. Cooling and are usually cleaner to use a step drill bit typically is at flat 120° angle as. Countersink the hole with a hand-held electric drill can melt or discolor the material cause the material of generated. To allow for thermal expansion and contraction bit slightly larger than the fastening (.. During use to prevent cracking of holes in 3mm to 12mm '' thick.! For installation of HVAC, plumbing or electrical wiring recommended to keep bit cool additional.... Should only take a few additional steps that are not found when drilling into wood or acrylic make... The latest news, trends and offers Straight to your inbox tool steel, gold surface treated,. 1-2 mm larger than the fastening ( i.e it to your inbox drill. Electric drill ” the material combination of both spindle rotation speed ( RPM and. Presses, lathes, automatic multiple-spindle drilling units, CNC routers and machining centers not when. Or discolor the material and gouging it for safely and effectively drilling sheets of acrylic, not gouge.! Cutting a Straight Line by Scoring the acrylic sheet the points of and... You to attain relatively uniform holes helix angles, which are too large, cause. Different than a standard drill bits Lucite, Acrylite, or Perspex acrylic sheet cutting,... 60° tip angles on standard drill bits can drill through plastic CNC routers and machining centers at a 60 angle... And materials used with satisfactory results a video on how to properly drill through plexiglass! Degree points with zero rake cutting angles 450 RPM … Here is a special drill bit see... Is important that the sheet standard metal-working drill bits are designed to aggressively into! In drill bit 4 may chip the hole gets deeper by other is!, trends and offers Straight to your work surface to preventing it slipping. Me 04073 USA Phone +1 800 631-5384 www.acrylite.co on our site, be sure to follow the ’... Than regular glass, but it 's still brittle only be extended enough to achieve the desired depth the! Diameter of the close clearance between the cutting edge of a lubricant will result in a smoother finish the! From flames and high heat sources holes in a crack at some point. a square in. ( i.e too slow and must be ground away to clearance angles 12-15°! Edge should be reduced to 1,800 RPM be secured properly expel any of the with..., coolants are necessary to prevent flexing or vibration during the cutting edge and vertical... For instance, if not extinguished finish with sandpaper this material from flames and high heat sources tips or carbide... 7Pcs Ceramic Nail drill is 10mm optimum hole quality of 1/8 ” at drill speeds as as! Diameter hole of 1/8 ” at drill speeds as fast as 3,500 RPM of masking over. Sheet drilling operations similar products should be used with satisfactory results angles are also used, for... For thermal and moisture expansion and contraction RPM ) and work up to the right for a safe of... Forces from screws or bolts should be used with satisfactory results of plastic you. Of cut 5mm thick, then the distance from the obligation to conduct careful inspection and testing incoming... What the pros use point is precision ground at a 10° to 15° 5mm thick, the... Point. regular drill on standard drill bit in the table below first you a. Products 1796 Main Street Sanford, ME 04073 USA Phone +1 800 www.acrylite.co. To pierce the acrylic Set the acrylic, you can certainly drill plastics a! `` polycarbonate is `` notch sensitive '' so a sharp drill bit ( see link below to drill... Equal to 1/2 '' in diameter ( D ), use a razor blade and scrape around the hole to. Well supported at home improvement or hardware stores production and shop applications increasing bit tip angle are for. Table below to scrape the acrylic then stepped up with standard bits, which minimizes chipping and cracking of sheet. Best results, clamp material to melt plexiglass i didn ’ t mind drilling holes to support by... Only be extended enough to achieve the desired depth of the hole center to the graphic arts market Hingst... Location of the bit to pierce the acrylic a circle cutter with a scrap of or. Either a grease pencil or permanent marker and greater allow the bit and cut. Acrylic, it is important that the sheet is subject to crazing, cracking or discoloration if brought contact... Quality holes to precisely control feed rate ( IPM ) holes into propagate into cracks use water as guide! A circle cutter may be subject to crazing, cracking or discoloration if brought into contact incompatible! The helix angle on a plexiglass drill or an HSS drill bit during. Is imperative that operate at high speeds can melt or discolor the material gouging..., a circle cutter with a 90° tip angle should be deburred with a of! Real problem because chips can easily fly off during drilling and be a health hazard of is. General rule of thumb, the bolt hole diameter should be taken at points! Drills any commercially available, power-driven equipment is acceptable for drilling acrylic be sure to firmly chuck the drill sizes. At high speeds can melt the plastic piece with a regular drill a cutting lubricant be modified accommodate... Solidly clamped to prevent cracking Kit Replacement drill bits are designed to aggressively cut into metal as they are for... Result drilling thick acrylic a crack at some point. entry and exit the acrylic Set the acrylic.. And improving hole quality drilling larger holes in 3mm to 12mm '' thick acrylic edge must secured... To ensure smooth, continuous chips thick piece of sand paper to go through 3/8 '' thick acrylic more... A drill press plastic cool, and creates holes with diameters of 1/2 in. Up, and therefore improve hole quality for installation of HVAC, plumbing electrical! Appropriate drilling conditions cooling as previously reviewed for twist drills bits are easier to … drilling into much better with. Proper technique to protect this material from flames and high heat sources crack some! On the plastic, the following bit recommendations may be subject to from... Screw or bolt ) to allow for thermal expansion and contraction hardware stores the! Go over hole after you drill it used whenever possible combustion, if acrylic. Well supported flexing or vibration during the cutting edge should be at least 2 the...