What a pre-shipment inspection of acrylic sheet and fabricated acrylic parts should check, how to sample a large order, and what to agree with the supplier before the inspector arrives.
Pre-shipment photos on every order · inspector access by appointment
A pre-shipment inspection of acrylic should check eight things before the crate is closed. Surface: scratches, specks and bubbles under a defined light and viewing distance. Thickness at several points on each sampled sheet. Length, width and diagonal. Flatness. Edges and corners for chips and hidden cracks. Colour against a retained sample. Film, labels and lot numbers. Count and packing. Agree three things in writing before production: the defect limits, the sampling plan (for example under ISO 2859-1) and the lighting. Otherwise the inspector and the supplier will judge the same sheet differently.
The checklist
| Check | How | Agree in advance |
| Surface defects | Film peeled back at sampled spots; viewed against a bright light at a fixed distance | Which faces are visible (A/B), allowed defect size and count per face |
| Bubbles, specks, inclusions | Look through the face and along the edge | Maximum size and number per square metre |
| Thickness | Micrometer at corners, edge midpoints and centre | Standard and tolerance written on the order |
| Length, width, diagonal | Steel tape or rule; compare the two diagonals for squareness | Size tolerance; for parts, the drawing revision |
| Flatness and bow | Sheet or panel on a flat table; gap under a straightedge | Allowed bow for the panel size |
| Edges and corners | Chips, saw marks, polish quality, hidden cracks near holes | Edge finish per edge |
| Colour and tint | Side by side with the retained sample under the same light | Which sample is the master |
| Film, labels, lot numbers | Film on both faces, labels match the packing list | Label content and position |
| Quantity and packing | Count per size; interleaving, corner protection, crate bracing | Crate marking and packing sequence |
Sampling a large order
Nobody inspects every sheet in a container. A sampling plan decides how many pieces to check and how many defects are allowed before the lot fails. ISO 2859-1 (sampling by attributes, often called AQL) is the common reference. Agree the inspection level and the acceptance limits for major and minor defects on the purchase order. Then check dimensions and thickness on a smaller sample, and appearance on a larger one. For parts made to a drawing, add a first-article check against every dimension before the run, so the pre-shipment inspection only confirms that production matched it.
Dimensions
Measured at agreed points
Appearance
Against a defined light
Packing
Checked before the crate is closed
How it works with AcrylicFabWorks
- Pre-shipment photos of the parts and crates are sent before loading on every order.
- Your own inspector can inspect at our Suzhou plant. You appoint and brief them, we provide access, drawings and our own QC records, and the visit is scheduled into the lead time.
- Transit damage. Photograph the crate and parts before fully unpacking and report within 7 days. Confirmed transit-damaged pieces are remade.
AcrylicFabWorks, the acrylic division of SinoPlastix, works from one ISO 9001-certified plant in Suzhou, China. Samples take 48 hours and production 7 days from drawing approval. For how the sheet itself is made and what defects come from where, see how cast acrylic sheet is made. For packing and freight terms, see landed cost of shipping acrylic from China.
FAQ
What should be checked in a pre-shipment inspection of acrylic sheet?
Surface defects under defined light, bubbles and specks, thickness at several points, length, width and diagonal, flatness, edges, colour against a retained sample, film and labels, quantity and packing.
What AQL is used for acrylic sheet inspection?
There is no single figure. Buyers usually sample under ISO 2859-1 and set separate acceptance limits for major and minor defects on the purchase order.
Can I send my own inspector to the factory?
Yes. At AcrylicFabWorks you appoint and brief the inspector; we provide access, drawings and our QC records, and schedule the visit into the lead time.
What if acrylic arrives damaged?
Photograph the crate and parts before unpacking fully and report within 7 days. Confirmed transit-damaged pieces are remade.
Planning an inspected order?
Tell us your sampling plan and defect limits with the drawing. We reply within 12 hours.
Or email [email protected]