Drilling Plexiglass Sheets

Using the right kind of tools is important when working with many types of plastics.

Drilling plexiglass sheets.

Because of the internal stresses it will quickly crack or break. Equipment to drill acrylic drills. Acrylic or acrylate is available in two types. Drilling acrylic is not difficult if you have good tools and are drilling the right kind of acrylic sheet.

Cast and extruded acrylic. Buy a plexiglass drill or plexiglass drill bits that can be used with a regular drill. Many diy plexiglass and lexan sheet projects require a hole or two. These bits have a different geometric structure that is designed to puncture acrylic more easily and they are less likely to melt plexiglass.

Drill bits for plexiglass lexan and other plastics. The extruded type is in fact unsuitable for drilling. Standard metal drill bits will work but without extensive modification the metal drill bit will crack and chip the brittle acrylic sheet. Plexiglass is a clear plastic lightweight alternative to glass.

Specialty drill bits prevent the cracking and chipping. Any commercially available power driven equipment is acceptable for drilling acrylic sheets. With the necessary equipment ensure you practice the drilling process on smaller pieces of plexiglass sheet before you work on the main sheet. To drill your plexiglass sheet you may consider acquiring a plexiglass drill to simplify the process.

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. This includes portable drills drill presses lathes automatic multiple spindle drilling units cnc routers and machining centers. Lay the sheet on a flat surface and. Alternatively you can acquire plexiglass drill bits that are compatible with normal drillers.

Designed specifically for plexiglass and polycarbonate lexan these drill bits are great tools for drilling through plastic sheets. Drilling holes in plexiglass can be challenging. 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. Several manufacturers offer drill bits designed especially for plastics.

Often the traditional drill bits used for metal and wood chip and crack the plexiglass while drilling through its surface.