Best way to cut lexan

VEX V5 General Discussion
#1

What is the best way to cut lexan, i’ve been taking a hacksaw and cutting it, but I feel like there is a way significantly better way to do it

Cut lexan better with hacksaw
#2

It depends on how thick is the lexan.
So far, we used scissors and pen-knives.

2 Likes
#3

For perfectly straight cuts I find a plastic scorer and a straight guide to be the best, yet when curves are involved we usually use a table saw and guide the sheet to what we need

2 Likes
#4

Scroll saw works very perfectly. Cheapest option is tin snips which also works very well.

4 Likes
#5

I personally use the “score and snap” method where you score the plastic with a knife and then break it in half. The High School teams at my school also use a waterjet cutter and you can get some great results with that.

1 Like
#6

if you have access to a waterjet, the results can be amazing and accurate.

other than that, a bandsaw would also work perfectly when precision isnt a problem

3 Likes
#7

Depends on what you have available. If all you have is a hacksaw, hacksaw it is. You got a dremel, then probably the dremel. If you have a bandsaw, then probably a bandsaw. If you can use a water jet cutter, probably the water jet.

1 Like
#8

There are also tools (like this one) designed specifically for cutting sheet plastic, available inexpensively at your local hardware store.

3 Likes
#9

I’m going to second tin snips. Team 10 has been using them for plastic sheeting for as long as it’s been allowed in VEX. One major thing they have going for them is that they are significantly less dangerous than a lot of other ways of cutting plastic (knives, power tools, etc.).

4 Likes
#10

Thanks for all the reply’s, I’m probably going to get the tin snip and or the scorer, im in a team with my friend so I don’t have access to the larger tools like a band saw or water jet .

#11

I would go with the Tin Snip route and sand paper, buy a decent pair and then have them in your toolbox for later in life.

#13

Is this another bot?

1 Like
#14
  • Account less than 4 days old
  • Only one prior post, just a generic “thank you” post (probably to get rid of the “This is the first time GlaucoGuerro has posted, please welcome them to our community!” banner
  • Weird reference to aquariums and safety windows, completely unrelated to vex

Yeah, definitely a bot.

EDIT: website looks sketchy as heck
image

1 Like
#15

Time for @GlaucoGuerrero to join @GalaxyGhost in @DRow’s dungeon.

2 Likes
#16

don"t forget about our good friend @kfc123abc

2 Likes
#17

ah yes… nobody in DRow’s dungeon suffers as much as @kfc123abc… oh sure, @GalaxyGhost suffers as well, but at least they’re a bot, and as such they have no conscience. while @kfc123abc on the other hand wasn’t a bot, so they have to suffer the full mental effects of DRow’s punishment.

ok I’ll stop now, I don’t want to go there too.

7 Likes
#18

There are many variations of metal shears designed for cutting left or right curves. Saw blades designed to cut plastis are available, they have a reverse hook on the tooth, some shops use a wood blade running upside down in a bandsaw. I cut using a 32 tooth per inch wood blade installed the regular way, tooth pointing down.
We do all of our 1/16" polycabonate bending at room temperature using a bending brake like Harbor Freights $44 18" brending brake. When we make machine guards at work, we use a larger press brake to “cold form"form clean square corners in 1/4” polycarbonate. For us heat causes bubbles, burns and less square corners

#19

10 Likes
Scavenger hunt