Transparent acrylic glass GS cut to size (colourless)

Buy cast acrylic GS cut to size online

UV- & weather-resistant ✓ Colourless, transparent ✓ Precise cutting ✓

We offer transparent cast acrylic GS sheets cut to size in thicknesses of 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 8mm and 10mm at competitive prices. The acrylic sheets are highly transparent and crystal clear. Cast acrylic GS is characterised by its excellent UV and weather resistance. The sheets are also waterproof and highly resistant to ageing, making them suitable for outdoor use without concern. To protect the glossy, mirror-smooth surfaces from scratches and damage before and during processing, the sheets are supplied with high-quality protective film on both sides, which can be removed easily.

Our modern CNC panel saws are used to produce the cast acrylic GS cut pieces in a horizontal cutting process. This allows the sheets to be processed particularly gently and with a very low tolerance of +/- 1mm. Acrylic cut pieces are available from as little as 30mm x 30mm. The maximum format for online orders of our colourless, transparent cast sheets is 1500mm x 1000mm. Larger cut pieces are available on request.

Properties of transparent cast acrylic GS cut to size

Acrylic GS is cast. This means that the raw material is melted and poured into a mould between two plates, creating a sheet with a high-quality, smooth surface. This process is more complex than the extrusion of plastic sheets, which is reflected in a slightly higher price. However, casting has the advantage that the sheets contain no internal stresses, making cast acrylic GS less prone to stress cracking. The surface quality and optical quality are also higher than with extruded sheets. Thickness tolerances can, however, be slightly greater with cast acrylic GS. Another advantage is that cast acrylic is easier to polish and process further. With laser cutting, for example, the edges are significantly smoother than those of acrylic XT.

Due to its different manufacturing process, cast acrylic offers even better UV and weather resistance than extruded acrylic. It is highly resistant to ageing, does not yellow and does not become rough or brittle as a result of weathering. Cast acrylic also performs particularly well in terms of its outstanding surface quality. With a light transmission of approximately 92%, the sheets transmit more light than conventional glass, while being significantly lighter and more impact-resistant than a glass pane of comparable size.

The cut edges are saw-rough as a result of panel-saw cutting. In most cases, the cut edge is of secondary importance, so no further edge finishing is required. For acrylic in thicknesses of 3mm and 8mm, we also offer high-quality aluminium profiles that slide onto the edge. Especially in partition walls, the solid aluminium profiles increase the rigidity of the plastic sheets.

Application examples for transparent cast acrylic GS

Acrylic is suitable for countless applications in which conventional glass is also used, but it offers several notable advantages over glass. Firstly, acrylic has a higher light transmission of around 92%. It is also easier to process and does not splinter as severely as glass when it breaks. While glass processing requires special tools and is generally carried out only by specialist companies, acrylic can also be processed in a home workshop using simple tools.

Acrylic is significantly more impact-resistant than a glass sheet of the same size and thickness. It also weighs considerably less. This weight advantage in particular makes the material suitable for lightweight glazing in caravans, motorhomes and boats, where every gram saved counts. In terms of UV and weather resistance, acrylic is in no way inferior to genuine glass. Cast acrylic GS, whose UV and ageing resistance is even higher than that of acrylic XT, is ideal for permanent outdoor glazing, for example for side walls on patio roofs, pergolas or windbreaks.

Indoors, transparent acrylic is well suited for clear partition walls and protective screens. In recent years, this plastic has increasingly been used as a hygiene screen in checkout and waiting areas. With very low water absorption of less than 0.3%, acrylic can also be used as a waterproof plastic for lightweight shower partitions in bathrooms. Continuous contact with water is also possible, which makes acrylic suitable for terrariums and aquariums.

Acrylic is also widely used for decorative purposes. These include direct printing on the reverse side to create a distinctive depth effect, company signs and UV-protective glazing in art galleries and museums. Thanks to the thermoformability of acrylic, custom shapes for art objects, lamps and decorative items can also be produced and remain timelessly popular.

• Cast acrylic GS is highly UV- and weather-resistant and ideal for crystal-clear side walls on patio roofs
• Cast acrylic GS is ideal as weight-saving glazing in caravans, motorhomes and mobile homes
• Cast acrylic GS is used in art galleries as UV-protective glazing for prints, lithographs and photographs
• Cast acrylic GS is waterproof and suitable for shower partitions thanks to its relatively scratch-resistant surface
• Cast acrylic GS can be used to manufacture high-quality aquariums and terrariums
• and many other applications

Processing cast acrylic sheets

Our cast acrylic GS is cut to your required dimensions, so no additional cutting is necessary. Nevertheless, the material can be processed in many different ways without the need for special tools or machinery. This is one of the reasons why the transparent plastic sheets are so popular with hobbyists, DIY users and tradespeople.

Cutting and drilling cast acrylic GS

Acrylic can be sawn or milled very easily, although a few points must be observed. Acrylic may be up to ten times more impact-resistant than glass, but it can still break during mechanical processing. The sheet should therefore always rest on a solid support during sawing and drilling, with as little play as possible to prevent vibration caused by the saw blade. A suitable saw blade for PMMA should also be used, as it has finer teeth than conventional wood saw blades. Metal saw blades are only suitable to a limited extent because their teeth are generally too fine. Regardless of whether a circular saw, jigsaw or, as with our acrylic cut pieces, a panel saw is used, the speed should be kept low to prevent the saw blade from overheating. Milling, for example for cut-outs, edge rebates or countersinks, is also a chip-removing process, so the rotational speed and feed rate should also be reduced and a suitable milling cutter must be used.

In principle, acrylic can be drilled with any standard HSS drill bit. Most metal drill bits have a point angle of 118° and a standard helical flute, which is ideal for drilling aluminium, iron or steel. For drilling hard, brittle plastics, a special type HK plastic drill bit is more suitable. These drill bits have an elongated flute for removing drilling chips. The drill point is also considerably sharper, with a point angle of 80°. This allows the drill to glide more easily through the hard surface and reduces heat generation, resulting in more precise holes without breakout as the drill exits. As with all plastics, a low rotational speed should be selected for acrylic. The sheet should also rest firmly on a supporting surface to reduce the risk of breakage caused by excessive vibration.

The saw-rough edges produced during cutting can be smoothed with very fine-grit sandpaper or a sanding block. The final fine marks can then be polished out using an acrylic polishing compound and a polishing attachment for a cordless drill. Alternatively, a standard gas torch can be used for flame polishing by applying the hot flame to the cut edges until they become clear and transparent. Care is required, because if the hot flame remains in one place for too long, the surface will burn, causing bubbles and soot inclusions that are very difficult to remove.

As an alternative to chip-removing methods, cast acrylic GS can be cut extremely well using a CO2 laser. This allows exceptionally tight manufacturing tolerances and produces a crystal-clear cut edge that requires no additional polishing. PMMA can also be engraved very effectively with a laser. We offer transparent acrylic sheets with precision laser cutting. In addition to rectangular formats, our laser-part configurator also allows custom shapes to be configured conveniently online.

CAUTION: Before laser cutting, the protective film should be removed so that it does not fuse with the cut edge and become difficult to remove.

Printing, painting and applying film to cast acrylic GS

Direct printing on acrylic is very popular for company signs and wall decorations and is offered by many online printing companies. The acrylic sheet is not printed on the visible front, but on the reverse side. It is important to mirror the image beforehand, otherwise it will be displayed the wrong way round. Direct printing creates a distinctive depth effect that makes the image a real eye-catcher in any living room. The greater the sheet thickness, the more brilliant the appearance and depth effect of the image.

A less expensive option is to attach a digital print to the reverse of the acrylic sheet. However, this must be done carefully so that the print adheres to the sheet surface without bubbles, as even the smallest air inclusion will later be clearly visible from the front. Instead of bonding the print, a poster, art print or large-format photograph can simply be placed between two acrylic sheets, which are then bonded, screwed or riveted together. Although the effect is not quite as striking as direct printing, it still creates a distinctive appearance and brilliance.

Cast acrylic can also be lettered using self-adhesive film. Combined with our high-quality solid stainless steel spacers, attractive company signs, information panels or door signs can be produced in no time. Cast PMMA is also very well suited for use as a transparent whiteboard. Cleaning with a soft, lint-free cloth does not leave scratches on the hard surface.

Bonding and sealing cast acrylic GS

Acrylic is easy to bond and can be joined using almost any solvent-based adhesive, both to itself and to other plastics that are compatible with solvent adhesives. With our acrylic adhesive PMMAprofi, we offer a high-quality adhesive that joins the parts using a cold-welding process. Its thin, water-like viscosity creates strong capillary action. This allows the special adhesive to penetrate even the finest gaps and produce almost invisible bonded joints. A key advantage of cast acrylic is that contact with solvent-based adhesives does not cause stress cracks at the cut edges, because cast acrylic GS is free from internal stresses as a result of its manufacturing process.

For bonding to other materials, our transparent MS polymer is a good choice. Although virtually any silicone can be used for watertight sealing, particularly for joints between two acrylic sheets, Parasilico AX Plastics T silicone sealant offers significantly stronger adhesion combined with very high transparency and has been specially developed for sealing acrylic and polycarbonate.

Cleaning cast acrylic GS

Cast acrylic sheets have a very smooth surface that is easy to clean. However, PMMA is sensitive to solvents and alcohols, so it is essential to ensure that the cleaner is suitable for acrylic. Only soft, lint-free cloths should be used. Microfibre cloths are generally unsuitable for smooth or painted surfaces because they can cause fine scratches that may be more or less visible depending on the pressure applied during cleaning. This applies not only to acrylic, but to all smooth surfaces. Even genuine glass is no exception.

CAUTION: The acrylic sheets are supplied with protective film, which must be removed beforehand for certain processing methods. These include bonding, applying adhesive film, printing, laser cutting, engraving and thermoforming, as the film cannot be thermoformed and is intended solely to protect the surfaces from scratches during sheet processing.