CNC Machining
8× 3-axis + 1× 5-axis centers. Tight tolerance, pockets, threads, thick block.
Capabilities
Plastic Fabrication Services in Acrylic and Polycarbonate
Acrylic and polycarbonate machined, cut, formed and finished to your drawing — 25 machines, one QC chain, one accountable factory.
Plastic fabrication here combines CNC machining, laser cutting, bending, thermoforming, bonding and polishing across PMMA and PC, with the process route selected by material: acrylic may be laser-cut, while PC is routed or CNC-machined and never sent through the laser. Single-site processing removes handoff damage, mixed tolerances and multi-vendor lead times.
Laser Cutting
5 CO₂ machines. Flat profiles, polished edges off-machine, volume.
Bending & Thermoforming
3 heat + 4 cold + 2 ovens. Angles, curves, domes, wrap guards.
Bonding & Assembly
Invisible seams, hardware fitted, full assemblies.
Polishing
Diamond, flame and buffing to optical clarity.
Large Format
Oversized panels to 3000 × 2000 mm, walls, big enclosures.
Two materials, different rules
Most buyers who send us a drawing already know they want a clear plastic part. Which one matters more than people expect, because the two fabricate differently.
| Acrylic (PMMA) | Polycarbonate (PC) | |
|---|---|---|
| Impact strength | Moderate | ~30× higher |
| Light transmission | 92%, stays clear | 88%, yellows uncoated |
| Scratch resistance | Good | Poor without hard coat |
| Cutting method | Laser — flame-polished edge straight off the beam | Routed or CNC-machined — laser leaves a scorched brown edge |
| Material cost | ~30% lower | Higher |
That last row is the one that changes a quote. A flat acrylic profile comes off the laser finished; the same profile in polycarbonate has to be routed and then edge-finished, which is slower. If the part does not need impact resistance, acrylic is cheaper twice over — material and process. If it guards a moving tool or takes a knock, polycarbonate earns the difference.
We cast our own optical-grade PMMA as Calypto cast acrylic sheet, and stock Mitsubishi and Lucite optical-grade PMMA for orders that specify a branded material. Polycarbonate is bought to the grade your drawing calls for. Other plastics — PVC, PETG, HDPE — we do not fabricate, so if your part needs one of those we will say so on day one rather than three weeks in.
Fabrication specs
| CNC machining | 8 × 3-axis and 1 × 5-axis centers, travel to 3000 × 2000 mm |
| Laser cutting | 5 CO₂ machines, sheet to 1600 × 3000 mm, up to 25 mm — acrylic only; a polished edge is typically specified up to 20 mm |
| Bending & forming | 3 line benders, 4 cold-bending stations, 2 thermoforming ovens; bends to 3000 mm |
| Thickness range | 3–100 mm |
| Tolerance | ±0.1 mm on holes and machined features, ±0.05 mm on critical dimensions; larger spans to GB/T 1804-2000 (ISO 2768) fine class |
| MOQ | 20 pieces per design for production; samples and one-off prototypes quoted separately |
| Lead time | Samples in 48 hours, production in 7 days — both from drawing approval |
| Quality | ISO 9001 certified (certificate details on request); first-article inspection on every new drawing |
How multi-process parts flow
Most real parts need three or more processes. An equipment enclosure, for example:
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Laser-cut blanks
Profiles cut with polished edges straight off the beam.
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CNC features
Vent slots, cable ports and threaded inserts machined in.
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Line-bend the wrap
Sharp, crisp corners with confined heat.
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Anneal & bond
Stress relieved, then solvent-welded into seamless housings.
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Polish & fit
Visible edges polished, hinges and latches fitted, crated.
One PO, one QC chain (see quality), one accountable factory.
Capabilities FAQ
Do I need to specify which process to use?
No. Send the drawing and application; our engineers route each feature to the most economical capable process and note it on the quote. You’re welcome to specify if your spec requires it.
Do you fabricate polycarbonate as well as acrylic?
Yes — acrylic (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC) are both fabricated in-house, and plenty of assemblies use both: an acrylic viewing window in a polycarbonate guard, for example. We do not fabricate PVC, PETG or HDPE.
Can you handle prototype and production on the same drawing?
Yes — CNC and laser need no tooling, so your prototype and the 5,000-piece rerun use the same programs, which is why reorders measure identical to first articles.
Can you laser-cut polycarbonate?
No. Polycarbonate is routed or CNC-machined; the laser is reserved for acrylic, where it delivers a polished-quality edge straight off the beam.
Which materials do you fabricate?
Acrylic (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC) only. PVC, PETG and HDPE are outside our fabrication scope, and we flag that at quoting rather than after you have committed.
What is the largest part you can process?
Large-format panels are reported up to 3000 x 2000 mm, a company-declared figure, with flatness and transport limits confirmed per order; most parts are routed across several processes in one facility.
How are tolerances confirmed for my part?
Tolerance bands in the matrix are company-declared starting points; the actual values for your part are confirmed against the drawing and first-article inspection before production.
Can one supplier machine, bend, thermoform, bond and polish my acrylic parts?
Yes. Fabrication combines CNC machining, laser cutting, bending, thermoforming, bonding and polishing across PMMA and polycarbonate, with the route selected by material: acrylic may be laser-cut, while polycarbonate is routed or CNC-machined and never sent through the laser. Most real parts need three or more processes under one quality chain.
What thickness and size envelope does a typical acrylic fabrication order cover?
Standard acrylic sheet stock commonly runs 1-30 mm and fabricated parts 3-100 mm; large-format panels reach 3000 × 2000 mm. Availability depends on grade, colour and source, and the quote states which material and thickness were assumed for your part. Process figures are confirmed against the drawing and first article.
How do I know which fabrication process fits my acrylic part?
The capability matrix compares each process by practical size, thickness, tolerance and surface result, and the quote assigns each operation to your drawing. A part may be laser-cut to blanks, CNC-featured for vents and ports, bent, annealed, bonded and polished. Every cell is confirmed per order; no cell is an automatic engineering approval.
From process to product
Where these capabilities are applied
The same CNC, laser, forming, bonding and polishing lines feed every part we ship. See the finished work by application:
- Architectural acrylic panels — wall panels, cladding, skylights, partitions and balustrades for buildings and interiors
- Machine guards & safety panels — clear guarding and covers for industrial equipment
- Equipment enclosures — PMMA housings and covers for machines and electronics
- Industrial components — machined acrylic parts, fixtures and PMMA components
- Custom acrylic products — the full made-to-order product range
Not sure which process fits?
Send the drawing and application — we route it for you and quote within 12 hours.
Evidence and verification
- Process records, first-article reports and machine details are supplied on request per order.
- A certificate of conformity or batch COA can be supplied per order on request.
- Process and capability statements on this page are company-declared by AcrylicFabWorks unless stated otherwise.
- Applicable product grade: Cast and extruded acrylic (PMMA); polycarbonate
- Fact owner: Engineering and quality review, AcrylicFabWorks
- Last reviewed: 2026-08-27
Technical details
Factory & quality system
Flame polishing the edge of a clear acrylic part
Flame polishing the edge of a clear acrylic part
Solvent-bonded clear acrylic assembly with seamless joints
Solvent-bonded clear acrylic assembly with seamless joints
Technical details
Ordering & lead times
What the quote confirms
Final process routing, tolerances and lead times for your part are confirmed against the drawing and first-article inspection, not assumed from the matrix alone.
Technical details
Choosing the right route
Processes under one roof
Company-declared
How parts combine processes
Most real parts need three or more processes; an equipment enclosure, for example, may be laser-cut to blanks, CNC-featured for vents and ports, line-bent into a wrap, annealed, solvent-bonded and then polished and fitted under one quality chain.
How to read the capability matrix
The capability matrix below lists each process with its practical size, thickness and feature limits; cells without an approved value say so rather than guessing an industry figure.
Materials we fabricate
We fabricate acrylic (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC) only; PVC, PETG and HDPE are outside scope, and we say so at quoting rather than late in the process.
Annealing as standard
Machined parts are annealed as standard with the cast-acrylic industry-standard schedule before bonding, and annealing reduces but does not eliminate stress-cracking risk.
Where to look next
The full per-process acrylic fabrication capability matrix sets out the size and thickness envelope, tolerance bands and annealing rules for each process. For where these processes are actually used, see custom acrylic applications — sight glasses, robotics covers, lighting diffusers, large-format panels, precision rings and control-panel fascias.
Choosing the primary process for your part
| Choose this when | Do not choose this when | Process |
|---|---|---|
| You need flat profiles with polished edges at volume | Your part needs deep pockets, threads or tight feature tolerances | Laser cutting (acrylic) |
| You need pockets, threads, slots or tight tolerances in sheet or block | The part is a flat profile better cut by laser | CNC machining |
| You need angle bends, curves, domes or wrap guards | The geometry is machined rather than formed | Bending and thermoforming |
| You need sealed, leak-tight assemblies or fitted hardware | The part is a single-piece machined component | Bonding and assembly |
| Visible edges or faces must be transparent or optically clear | Edges are hidden and only a machined finish is required | Polishing |
| You need panels beyond standard sheet size | Your parts fit standard sheet dimensions | Large-format fabrication |
Process capability matrix (company-declared values; per-part confirmation required)
| Property | Value | Unit | Product grade | Thickness specimen | Test method / standard | Evidence status | Qualification | Claim IDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CNC machining | 8 x 3-axis and 1 x 5-axis centers | machines | Acrylic (PMMA) and polycarbonate | 3-100 mm | Drawing plus first-article inspection | company-declared | Tolerance per drawing and first article | AF-C06, AF-C05 |
| Laser cutting | 5 CO2 machines; flat profiles with polished-edge quality | machines | Acrylic only; not polycarbonate | Sheet per machine limits | Company process statement | company-declared | Thickness and geometry limits confirmed per part | AF-C06 |
| Bending and thermoforming | 3 line benders, 4 cold-bending stations, 2 thermoforming ovens | stations | Acrylic and polycarbonate | Order-specified | Company process statement | company-declared | Formed-dimension tolerance confirmed per part | AF-C06 |
| Bonding and assembly | Solvent and cement bonding; seams described as near-invisible | n/a | Acrylic (PMMA) | Order-specified | Company data | company-declared | Bond type, strength and appearance grade pending | AF-C17 |
| Polishing | Diamond, flame and buffing stations | stations | Acrylic (PMMA) | Order-specified | Appearance per agreed sample | company-declared | Acceptance standard agreed per order | AF-C16 |
| Large-format panels | Up to 3000 x 2000 mm | mm | Cast acrylic and polycarbonate | Per sheet type | Company statement | company-declared | Flatness, transport and crating limits pending | AF-C04 |
| Fabrication thickness range | 3-100 mm | mm | Cast and extruded acrylic | Fabricated parts | Company statement | company-declared | Cast versus extruded ranges pending | AF-C05 |
| Laser cutting tolerance | +/-0.2 mm | mm | Acrylic sheet | Per sheet and geometry | Company statement | company-declared | Thickness and cut-geometry scope pending | AF-C24 |
| Formed-part tolerance | +/-0.5 mm on formed dimensions | mm | Formed acrylic | Order-specified | Company statement | company-declared | Forming method, thickness and geometry pending | AF-C26 |
| General tolerances | GB/T 1804-2000 / ISO 2768, varying with size span | n/a | Fabricated acrylic parts | Order-specified | GB/T 1804-2000; ISO 2768 | company-declared | Grade and size-span mapping pending | AF-C03 |
| CNC feature tolerance | +/-0.1 mm on holes and machined features | mm | Machined acrylic | Order-specified | Company statement | company-declared | Applicable hole and thickness range pending | AF-C01 |
Beyond fabrication, we also supply sheet: AcrylicFabWorks is a China cast acrylic sheet manufacturer — Calypto cast acrylic in 1–30 mm — with bulk and cut-to-size sheet supply.