hey I currently have a modding project underway, to make a long story short I have an 1/8" acrylic sphere and I need to cut some holes in it. First of all I'm just guessing preventing this giant (24") globe from cracking is going to be a pain, and that I'll have to make a wood die on the insides to take the weight of the drill. now here's my questions I need to make some clean joints. the problem is I'm trying to mount http://www.usplastic.com/catalog/pr...SPlastic&category_name=21315&product_id=11248 clear acrylic tube to a sphere so just joint fitup and squaring is going to be strange, the real problem is does any one know the tolerance of hole saws? and acrylic tube? I was thinking of using 4.5" acrylic tube and a 4.5" hole saw but I'm not sure of dimension tolerance as I believe acrylic needs a flush joint? also can anyone reccommend cements or glues for acrylic? this tube wouldn't be under any other force save for its own weight. Any general guidelines to cutting holes in acrylic (especially formed spheres) That sphere is $150 so I don't want to fudge it on the hole cutting, drilling, or bonding. at least I have access to a full machine shop
don't use anything with a solvent in...that is what is causing it to crack. My dad gave me this few days ago which he uses to stick his plexiglass (prespex) ACRIFIX-106 Mini - fix made by MAIZEY (my dad stays in South Africa, so you might have to find a place that sell perspex and ask them. I hope I have helped
pm captain slug. For plastics bonding: Tap plastics. I use 3, I've heard that 16 is nice if you want something less liquid. For delicate cutting, my guess is a circle cutter and a drill press would be your best bet. It's a low trauma/sheer/pressure way for cutting a hole. I think a hole saw would be very very dangerous, it is a very rough tool and I would only cut 1/8in acrylic with full complete backplating with a holesaw. I suppose a scroll saw might be possible, if awkward. I might actually suggest finding a laser cutting professional. navig
by cirlce cutter, do you mean a fly cutter? I do have access to a laser cutter, and even preferably a water jet plus several milling machines, the problem is I'm cutting on a sphere. so the holes never align on the x,y or, z access so when I'm plunging the cutter it has to be plunged at some wierd angle. plus some of the cuts will be tangent to the surface. oh and thanks for the link to the plastic glues I've heard really good things about weld-on 4 and weld-on 16 so I'm thinking of picking those two up.
