Description

Clear acrylic sheet, often called plexiglass, is a transparent PMMA plastic used in place of glass where lower weight and better break resistance matter. It transmits about 92 percent of visible light, has a glossy surface on both faces, and can be sawed, drilled, routed, polished, cemented, and heat formed with tools and methods suited to acrylic.

Common uses include displays, signs, protective covers, window panels, light fixture covers, and DIY projects. The sheet is UV stabilized for indoor and outdoor use. It is sold as either cast or extruded acrylic; the two look alike but differ in how they engrave, form, and hold thickness.

Both sides are covered with removable masking. Leave it in place while cutting and machining, peel it back from any area to be heat bent, and remove it completely before installation.

Advantages

Glass-like clarity: transparent, glossy panels for displays, glazing, covers, and frames
Lighter than glass: about half the weight of glass of the same size and thickness
Break resistant: withstands impact better than glass, although it can still crack or break
Indoor and outdoor use: UV stabilized and weather resistant
Rigid and stable: good dimensional stability for panels and fabricated parts
Easy to fabricate: saw, drill, rout, polish, cement, engrave, or heat form

Applications

Retail displays, product stands, and point-of-purchase fixtures
Sign faces, illuminated signs, and graphic panels
Windowpanes, storm panels, skylights, and interior glazing
Protective covers, guards, shields, and equipment panels
Picture frames, shelves, furniture, and cupboard doors
Light fixture covers and lenses
Models, prototypes, crafts, and general fabrication

Cast and Extruded Acrylic Guidance

Cast and extruded clear acrylic have similar clarity. They differ in cost, fabrication behavior, and available thickness.

Cast acrylic: the better choice for laser engraving; more rigid and more resistant to chemicals and crazing; the only option above 1⁄2″ thick
Extruded acrylic: more economical for general use; laser cuts, flame polishes, and thermoforms easily; holds a tighter thickness tolerance; offered up to 1⁄2″ thick

Choose cast for engraved pieces and thick machined parts. For glazing, covers, frames, and laser-cut or formed parts, extruded is usually the practical option.

Fabrication and Handling Notes

Use sharp carbide-tipped tools made for plastics, support the sheet close to the cut, and keep the feed rate steady to limit chipping, melting, and heat stress. Acrylic expands and contracts with temperature, so leave clearance in frames (roughly 1⁄16″ per foot of length and width), drill mounting holes oversized, and tighten fasteners only until snug.

Clean with mild soap, lukewarm water, and a soft cloth, then dry with a lint-free cloth. Avoid abrasive pads, ammonia-based or glass cleaners, and solvents such as acetone or lacquer thinner, which can scratch, haze, or craze the surface.

Cut tolerance: +0.0″ / −0.2″