Knowing how to cut polycarbonate sheets correctly is crucial when working with them for home projects like building a greenhouse or a roof. There are two primary types of polycarbonate: monolithic and cellular. Because of their distinct structures, each type requires a different set of cutting methods and instruments.
Multiple chambers, or cells, within the sheet of cellular polycarbonate provide both light diffusion and insulation. Cellular polycarbonate needs to be cut with a saw with fine teeth, like a jigsaw or circular saw with a fine blade. These instruments aid in maintaining smooth edges and preventing cracking. To prevent destroying the material, it is essential to use steady, gentle strokes and to properly support the sheet.
Conversely, monolithic polycarbonate is air pocket-free and completely solid. When impact resistance and transparency are crucial, it is frequently utilized. The best tool for cutting monolithic polycarbonate is a power saw with a carbide-tipped plastics-specific blade. This kind of blade guarantees smooth edges and reduces chipping.
It is important to take the necessary safety measures before cutting any kind of polycarbonate. This entails donning a dust mask to prevent breathing in plastic particles and safety goggles to shield your eyes from flying debris. Accurate cutting and accident prevention also depend on clamps or a stable work surface holding the polycarbonate sheet firmly in place.
Marking your cutting line with a pencil or marker in advance for both cellular and monolithic polycarbonate sheets helps ensure precision and helps guide your saw. To prevent overheating the material, take your time and apply light pressure while letting the saw blade do its job. To smooth out any rough edges after cutting, deburr them with sandpaper or a fine file.
Tools needed: | Utility knife, circular saw, hacksaw, or jigsaw |
Cutting process for cellular polycarbonate: | Measure and mark the cut line. Use a utility knife to score the polycarbonate along the marked line several times. Snap the sheet along the scored line. Smooth the edges with sandpaper if needed. |
Cutting process for monolithic polycarbonate: | Measure and mark the cut line. Use a circular saw with a fine-toothed blade or a jigsaw to cut along the marked line. Ensure the sheet is supported and secure to prevent vibrations. Smooth the edges with sandpaper to remove any roughness. |
- Preparatory stage
- Choosing tools and cutting rules
- Using a knife
- Cutting with a grinder
- The use of circular saw
- Using metal hacksaw
- Cutting with an electrician
- Laser cutting
- Video on the topic
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Preparatory stage
You should first create a design project and determine the dimensions of each glazing element. To reduce the quantity of waste, it is advised to consider the material’s dimensions, which are standard. Prepare the necessary thick paper or cardboard patterns if the elements have curved outlines. End elements with a semicircular top receive extra consideration when preparing the materials for the arched type greenhouse.
Setting up and labeling:
- The site where it is planned to cut polycarbonate plates is cleaned of garbage, aligned, covered with sheet material – plywood, chipboard, etc.D.
- A sheet of polycarbonate is placed on a flat solid surface if the material has a special layer that protects the material from aging under the influence of UV rays, pay attention to the labeling of the sides – the sheet should lie down with a protective layer upward. Similarly laid material with a mirror or laminated coating. A film that protects polycarbonate from mechanical influences during transportation and fastening is not removed until the end of installation work.
- They mark the project according to the project using a black marker and a metal (or wooden) ruler, roulette, ready -made patterns of cardboard.
Mm and step only on it. This prevents damage to a sizable portion of the polycarbonate sheet during the marking process. A board measuring 100 mm in width and roughly 2,000 is placed on top. This does not include the possibility of material deformation or surface scratches.
Two parallel boards measuring 40 × 100 × 2200 mm are placed under a polycarbonate on both sides of the cut line to make cutting polycarbonate easier and to prevent damage to the material’s surface. The panel must be raised on the area where it will be cut.
Choosing tools and cutting rules
Think about the best materials and methods for cutting monolithic translucent polymer and cellular polycarbonate.
It is crucial that the instrument does not contaminate the material; for instance, construction or plastic cutting scissors should not be used as they compress cellular polycarbonate and distort the cut’s edges.
Large-toothed saws, such as hacksaws, should not be used on wood as they can tear the material and produce uneven cuts that have burrs and zazubes.
Cutting polycarbonate is done as follows:
- knife (mounting or stationery);
- corner grinding machine (grinder);
- circular saw;
- hacksaw for metal;
- electric jigsaw;
- laser.
The thickness, structure, and available tool are taken into consideration when choosing the cutting technique.
Using a knife
A clerical knife is used to cut polycarbonate; the blade is made up of broken off segments. A construction knife would also work well; its ergonomic handle makes it easier to use. A shoe knife can be employed.
This tool is not appropriate for monolithic polycarbonate because the material is too hard and the task will take a lot of time and energy. Using a knife to cut cell sheets that are no thicker than 6 or 8 mm is convenient.
Verify the blade’s sharpness on extra scraps before cutting the panel. If required, remove the dull parts from the drawer blade or sharpen the boot knife. To make straight cuts, use the rule or metal ruler. The angle at which the knife blade is positioned in relation to the surface should be closer to the straight edge the thicker the material.
Initially, the end is cut, and then it is gradually guided along the marking line without removing the blades from the serif. Once the element is removed from the stove, irregularities and sporadic extra fragments are eliminated. If a call does not yield enough polycarbonate material, repeat the procedure using the same plan. The sheet cannot be broken or disinfected without severely deforming its edges.
Selecting a tool with greater performance is preferable if you need to cut sheets covering a big area. In this instance, the knife will be needed to cut off irregularities and remove burrs, precisely adjusting the glazing element to the required dimensions.
Cutting with a grinder
Use metal-cutting circles when using an angle grinder to cut polycarbonate. Use a grinder to cut the panel, being careful not to melt the polymer material’s edges. Assistance:
- the use of a cutting circle to work with aluminum (it is less heated during friction);
- Using a grinder with a speed regulator (work should be carried out at low speeds, this also reduces the risk of burrs).
Using an angle grinder to cut mobile panels and monolithic polycarbonate is convenient, especially when cutting along a curved path. Make sure you wear safety glasses when working to shield your eyes from flying chips.
Once the power tool is turned on, you should give it time to reach the required rotation speed. Move the grinder away from you along the cutting line as you cut the sheet material. When cutting the panel along the jumpers, make sure the tool’s blade stays in a straight line and doesn’t come into contact with the stiffness’s ribs.
Check the sections’ levelness at the conclusion of the work, and use a blower or vacuum cleaner to get rid of any chips and dust that get inside the cells.
The use of circular saw
Use wheels made to work with plastic or metal to equip the circular saw with a working disc with small cloves. Apply the same logic to cutting a monolithic or cell panel as you would when using a grinder. Let the tool to pick up speed first, then move the tool away from you by cutting the pancreas raised with two boards. Pressing the tool’s supporting plate against the sheet will enable more precise cutting of the material along the contour that has been drawn.
Use safety goggles, please.
Using metal hacksaw
A polycarbonate sheet can be cut along or down with the aid of a hacksaw fitted with a canvas that has tiny, regular cloves. With this tool, it is impossible to cut parts of complicated outlines.
When preparing to cut polycarbonate with a hacksaw at home, keep in mind that the panel must be securely fastened in order to ensure that the cut line is as smooth as possible. Using boards and clamps is advised. The hacksaw’s canvas is positioned at a roughly 30-degree angle. Drink the panel facing in your direction.
Since a hacksaw only cuts polycarbonate in a straight line, it can be used to cut the material for a greenhouse with a pitched roof. The semicircular end elements of arched structures can be cut with the aid of electrolobsik.
With a short cut length, using a knife is acceptable when working with metal. Use a small-toothed hacksaw on wood for long cuts.
Cutting with an electrician
An electric jigsaw is the best tool for cutting polycarbonate on components of intricate shapes. When compared to a grinder or circular saw, the tool with a thin saw is safer and more convenient to use, but when using a knife, the labor intensity and cutting speed are much different. Cutting both cellular and monolithic polycarbonate is permitted for electricians.
Consider the shape of the cloves when selecting a file. Split teeth are made for wood; they will break polycarbonate, leaving the cut’s edges flawed. Use a file with small, straight or wave-shaped cloves to make cuts with smooth edges free of burrs and cracks.
A metal, outflow, or plastic file with at least nine TPI (the number of cloves per inch length) is ideal for cutting a polycarbonate monolith or mobile panel. Best: at least thirteen. The cut quality increases with the number of teeth.
It is necessary to use a fresh, sharp canvas for work. When cutting the material, there will be a lot of burrs and zabin along the edges if it is not properly fixed and adjusted in the tool.
- Electrician is connected to the network and brought to the starting place of cutting at the sheet end. Previously, they make a notch with a sharp knife there.
- The supporting plate of the power tool is lowered onto the sheet and pressed. In this case, it is impossible to press hard, bending the material. It is recommended to preliminarily fix the cut panel with clamps or invite assistants to fix polycarbonate, extinguish its vibration during cutting.
- Electrics include, give a file to dial the desired speed of movement. Then they carefully lead the instrument from themselves along the cut line. It is important to advance slowly, especially carefully about the opening of the panel in curved areas. It is recommended to practice unnecessary material in advance in order to confidently perform curved cuts.
- Upon completion of cutting, the tool is turned off and disconnected from the outlet. The cut off the element is cleaned with a construction knife from irregularities, remove the chips and dust.
Laser cutting
High-precision tools are needed to cut monolithic panels and cellular polycarbonate with a laser. Among the technology’s benefits are burr-free, perfect cut edges and the lowest possible cutting error of 0.5 mm. The technique can be applied to the mass production of other architectural and ornamental elements made of a translucent polymer, including greenhouse glazing. When using laser equipment, professionalism is required.
Whether cutting monolithic or cellular polycarbonate sheets at home, clean, accurate cuts need careful planning and the right equipment. You can successfully complete your do-it-yourself projects if you know how to cut the two types of polycarbonate and their differences.
It is advised to use a circular saw with a fine-toothed blade or a sharp utility knife when working with cellular polycarbonate, which has several walls or channels. To guarantee straight lines, precisely measure and mark the sheet before cutting. In order to avoid jagged edges during cutting, make sure the sheet is properly supported.
Conversely, depending on its thickness, monolithic polycarbonate is a solid sheet that can be cut using a range of tools. A utility knife or jigsaw with a fine blade works well for thinner sheets. A circular saw with a carbide-tipped blade might be necessary for thicker sheets. Again, the key to smooth edges is accurate measurement and stable support.
When working with polycarbonate sheets, safety must always come first. Put on safety goggles and gloves to shield your eyes from flying debris and sharp edges. To prevent breathing in the dust particles produced during cutting, work in an area with good ventilation. Take your time to make sure you cut precisely and carefully with each cut.
You can successfully cut cellular and monolithic polycarbonate sheets at home for a variety of projects, like greenhouse panels, DIY roofing, or skylights, by following these instructions and selecting the proper tools for the job. You can become proficient at handling polycarbonate sheets with assurance and produce results that look professional with practice.
This guide from "All about the roof" looks at doable at-home techniques for cutting both monolithic and cellular polycarbonate. We provide step-by-step instructions and break down the necessary tools and techniques to ensure safe and accurate cutting. Whether you’re starting a do-it-yourself project, building a skylight, or improving your greenhouse, knowing how to cut effectively will enable you to accomplish professional-quality results without the need for expensive equipment.