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RandyT:
--- Quote from: krick on March 18, 2004, 10:08:17 pm ---A tip for drilling plexi courtesy of those guys who put windows in their computer cases...
Take a cheap drill bit of the desired size and drill it into concrete first to dull the tip.
Now when you drill into the plexi, it won't grab and crack the plastic, it will just get hot from friction and melt through.
--- End quote ---
I heard something similar from the plastics fabrication guys. They say to take a drill bit and grind off one of the flutes at the tip of the drill. Basically sounds like anything that defeats that grabbing action as it goes through the other side will do the trick.
Lexan is a little tougher to crack, but plexi can be tricky. Oscar's method sounds like the best approach, but if you do need to use a drill in plexi, also make sure you have a piece of "waster" underneath where you are drilling. This will also reduce some of the flexing and possibilities of cracking.
RandyT
Santoro:
--- Quote from: OSCAR on March 18, 2004, 09:10:02 pm ---I agree with Randy, the best way to cut plexi is with a router. I do it a little bit differently than Randy suggested, tho. I try to drill plexi as little as possible... if you are not careful, the pressure from the bit can cause it to crack because you can press a lot harder with the drill than the bit can remove material. Plexi does not respond well to a point pressure like you can induce with a drill bit. If you have to drill plexi, do it slow so the material is removed before you try to force the bit through it.
What I do is use a template bit, not a laminate bit. The difference is that the bearing is above the cutter head on a template bit so you don't have to drill pilot holes. With a template bit, I plunge directly into plexi without a pilot hole. I've built many panels this way and have never cracked a piece of plexi.
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Oscar, do you generally use Lexan, or the cheaper plexi? This thread is making me think that if I am careful I don't need to waste money on the Lexan..... I was using it because it was much easier to work with.
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