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Thread: help making acrylic disks

  1. 04-15-2010, 6:26 AM #1
    Paul Clay2
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    help making acrylic disks

    Hello everyone.

    Not sure if this is the right forum, but it seems some of you use acrylic. I have a question about the best way to make an acrylic disk. I need it to be .250" thick and 2" in diameter. I have no manufacturing knowledge but it seems to me that I could either buy a .250" thick sheet of acrylic and have 2" circles cut out... or... here's where I'm taking a guess.... is it possible to buy a 2" diameter acrylic rod and somehow cut it into .250" disks reliably?

    Great forum, thanks for any help you can offer.

    -Paul C
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  3. 04-15-2010, 6:43 AM #2
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    Mike Null
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    They can be laser cut from sheet stock. Rod sounds good too but the only way I'd know to cut it would be with a saw. Depends on the finish you're looking for.
    Mike Null

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  4. 04-15-2010, 6:52 AM #3
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    Rodne Gold
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    I think rod is a LOT more expensive than sheet - of course the flat surfaces of the discs would also be problematic what with saw marks etc
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  5. 04-15-2010, 6:54 AM #4
    Kenneth Hertzog
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    round disc

    Paul
    you stated that its to be .25 thick
    most acrylic is MM which is .22 to .23 thick
    and I would use flat sheet to control thickness.
    Ken
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  6. 04-15-2010, 7:08 AM #5
    Paul Clay2
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    you guys are great

    That was nice! Seems like rod is more expensive, tough to cut at the proper thickness and might not give me the finish I'm looking for.. Yes, I need .250" thick, 2" diameter, "shiny, smooth finished" disks. I wasn't aware .250" was hard to come by. Anyone have any ideas? On top of everything, I'm looking for a colored sheet. :/

    -Paul C
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  7. 04-15-2010, 7:27 AM #6
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    Mike Null
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    Paul

    Take a look at Delvies. Their selection is pretty good and prices competitive.
    Mike Null

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  8. 04-15-2010, 7:36 AM #7
    Conrad Fiore
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    Paul,
    What is the +- tolerance of the .250" thickness? As Ken stated, you will be way low if you try to use 1/4" thick acrylic.
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  9. 04-15-2010, 7:38 AM #8
    Paul Clay2
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    thanks a lot guys.

    It looks like a sheet of 1/4" thick is real cheap here! thanks!

    -Paul C
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  10. 04-15-2010, 7:44 AM #9
    Paul Clay2
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    Quote Originally Posted by Conrad Fiore View Post
    Paul,
    What is the +- tolerance of the .250" thickness? As Ken stated, you will be way low if you try to use 1/4" thick acrylic.

    I'd like it to be no more than 1/32nd of an inch off. Am I dreaming?

    -Pablo C
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  11. 04-15-2010, 8:13 AM #10
    Kenneth Hertzog
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    thickness

    Paul and others
    6mm is very close to .25
    I find it to be .225 to .23 which is very close but not .25
    not sure you can find .25 ( I've tried )
    in my shop 6mm works
    in size it is a little more than 1/64th undersize.
    ken
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  12. 04-15-2010, 8:29 AM #11
    Paul Clay2
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    thank you

    Quote Originally Posted by Kenneth Hertzog View Post
    Paul and others
    6mm is very close to .25
    I find it to be .225 to .23 which is very close but not .25
    not sure you can find .25 ( I've tried )
    in my shop 6mm works
    in size it is a little more than 1/64th undersize.
    ken
    Much appreciated. It sounds like this might work for me.

    -Paul C
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