shelves full of plastic and other materials in our distribution se

Acrylic, Polycarbonate, and PETG – Machining and Fabrication

Erie Industrial Plastics consistently stocks  and provides machining and fabrication for acrylic, polycarbonate, and PETG in a variety of thicknesses and colors. Our experienced staff can help you select which material is best for your application and offer insight on edge finishing, mechanical or adhesive fastening systems, hardware, and even cleaning products.

Acrylic Machining and Fabrication

Acrylic sheet is offered in wide variety of colors, surface finishes, thicknesses, and sheet sizes. It also can be purchased in rod and tube form for special projects. The surface of acrylic is relatively hard and resists scratching under moderate conditions. It can be bent, laser-cut, engraved, polished, and glued with great ease and optimum aesthetic value.

Acrylic is commonly used in sheet form for signage and glazing applications but because of its outstanding fabrication characteristics is also a favorite for display cases, literature racks, machine covers, candy bins, POP displays, and more.

Polycarbonate Machining and Fabrication

Polycarbonate is the most impact-resistant thermoplastic used in the glazing and signage markets. It comes in variety of sheet sizes and thicknesses to meet a wide range of industry demands. There are a few colors and finishes available to choose from, but the selection is more limited compared to acrylic. Polycarbonate can be machined, bent, glued, and mechanically fastened to produce machine guards and other enclosures; however, due to its composition, polycarbonate is not an ideal material to thermoform or polish.

Erie Industrial Plastics produces hundreds of polycarbonate machine guards every year for all types of businesses. Let us help you put safety first with free design advice on your next guarding application.

PETG Machining and Fabrication

Like acrylic, PETG is a clear thermoplastic sheet that is commonly used for fabricated products. It is easily cut, machined, and glued for assembly and also can be thermoformed to produce very detailed and uniquely designed parts. It is softer than acrylic, making it more vulnerable to scratching, but it has greater impact strength to resist breakage. It’s mix of strength, clarity, and ease of fabrication make it an ideal choice for machine guards, equipment covers, and POP displays.

Fabrication of Clear Plastics in Erie, Pa (serving a wide area including NY, Ohio, WV, and More)

Machining and fabrication play a major role in how acrylic, polycarbonate, and PETG perform in real-world applications. Erie Industrial Plastics uses modern CNC routing, milling, and drilling equipment to cut these clear plastics to precise dimensions, maintain tight tolerances, and produce clean edges that are ready for assembly or finishing. Our team routinely machines components such as machine guards, equipment covers, and custom displays, ensuring each part fits correctly and performs reliably in service.

Beyond basic cutting, we offer bending, thermoforming, plastic welding, and adhesive or mechanical assembly tailored to the material you select. Acrylic, for example, responds very well to laser cutting and edge polishing, which makes it ideal for museum-quality cases, literature racks, and other high-visibility displays where clarity and aesthetics are critical. Polycarbonate and PETG, on the other hand, excel in impact resistance and durability, so they are often fabricated into safety shields, machine guards, and enclosures that must withstand demanding industrial environments. By combining material expertise with a full range of machining and fabrication services, Erie Industrial Plastics can deliver clear plastic components that look good, fit right, and hold up over time

Acrylic is a thermoplastic material with outstanding strength and stiffness that is easy to fabricate, bonds well, and is easy to thermoform for durable signs, fixtures, displays and more.

Technical Data Sheet – Acrylic (Polymethyl Methacrylate / PMMA)

Acrylic (PMMA) is a transparent thermoplastic material with outstanding strength, stiffness, and optical clarity. Acrylic sheet is easy to fabricate, bonds well with adhesives and solvents, and is easy to thermoform. It has superior weathering properties compared to other transparent plastics. Acrylic sheet exhibits glass-like qualities – clarity, brilliance, and transparency – but at half the weight and many times the impact resistance of glass. It also comes in a wide variety of colors, finishes, and textures. From durable signs and skylights to eye-catching retail store fixtures, displays, and shelves, acrylic provides outstanding versatility, durability, and aesthetic qualities.

Acrylic Material Options

  • Extruded vs. Cast Acrylic – Extruded acrylic is the easiest grade of acrylic to thermoform and bond and is cheaper than most cast acrylic. Cast acrylic sheet has better chemical resistance, superior machining characteristics, and often greater optical clarity. Both types come in a variety of sheet sizes, colors, and finishes, but cast acrylic typically has greater versatility, such as UV-resistant, impact-modified, and mirrored grades.
  • Acrylic for Architectural Applications– Acrylic’s clarity, light weight, impact resistance, and weather resistance make it a popular choice for architectural applications. Some examples include windows, wall partitions, lighting fixtures, and canopies. Acrylic is naturally UV- and weather-resistant but sheeting with additional UV protection and mar-resistant coatings are available.
  • Acrylic for Transportation Applications– Acrylic is used throughout the transportation industry for instrument panels, windows, windshields, and mirrors.
  • FDA Compliant Acrylic– Acrylic is available in FDA-compliant grades.
  • Acrylic Rod and Tube– Acrylic rod and tube are available in a wide range of sizes in both cast and extruded grades.
  • Cut-to-Size Acrylic Sheet– Acrylic is available in a variety of sizes, including “cut-to-size” sheet options. Optimize your order with us to save time, eliminate scrap, improve productivity, and reduce wear and tear on your equipment.

Industry trade names: ACRYLITE, AZCRYLE, CHEMCAST, OPTIX, PLEXIGLAS, POLYCAST

Acrylic Applications

  • Indoor and outdoor signs
  • POP displays and exhibits
  • Architectural glazing and skylights
  • LED diffusing lighting panels
  • Transportation – aircraft, boats, mass transit, and vehicles
  • Shelves, brochure holders, and retail fixtures
  • Transparent manifolds

Performance Characteristics

  • Strong, stiff, optically clear
  • Easy to fabricate, machine, and thermoform
  • Easy to solvent bond
  • Good dimensional stability
  • Good weatherability

Acrylic Properties Chart

UNITS ASTM TEST Acrylic
Tensile strength psi D638 10,500
Flexural Modulus 10^5 psi D790 4.5
Impact Strength, Izod ft-lbs/in of notch D256 0.4
Heat deflection temperature @ 264 psi °F D648 198
Coefficient of thermal expansion 10^5 in/in-℃ D696 3.6
Water absorption (1/8” thick, 24 hours) % D570 0.3
Refractive Index   D542 1.49
Light transmittance % D1003 92

Values may vary. Please ask your Erie Industrial Plastics representative for more specific information.