Drilling Holes In Acrylic Sheets

Before you start drilling you ought to place a barrier below the plexiglass.

Drilling holes in acrylic sheets.

Standard metal drill bits will work but without extensive modification the metal drill bit will crack and chip the brittle acrylic sheet. Press only lightly on the drill the drill must sink itself through the material. If this is not the case the drill is too slow. Drilling holes in acrylic sheet place the drill perpendicular to the acrylic sheet and set the drill to medium speed immediately.

This barrier will help avoid cracking of the sheet when drilling the final hole. Drilling large holes to drill a hole in acrylite sheet greater than 1 25 4 mm a circle cutter may be used. Ensure you go slow stop often to cool the drill and always support the sheet. It is possible to drill acrylic with regular metal drill bits.

This barrier may be a piece of wood that you would not mind drilling into. The tip must scrape the acrylic not gouge it. Drilling holes in acrylic requires the use of a drill bit specially designed for use with plastics. The chip should break off immediately.