Drilling Holes In Acrylic Sheets

It is possible to drill acrylic with regular metal drill bits.

Drilling holes in acrylic sheets.

Before you start drilling you ought to place a barrier below the plexiglass. If this is not the case the drill is too slow. Press only lightly on the drill the drill must sink itself through the material. The tip must scrape the acrylic not gouge it.

This barrier will help avoid cracking of the sheet when drilling the final hole. Drilling holes in acrylic requires the use of a drill bit specially designed for use with plastics. Ensure you go slow stop often to cool the drill and always support the sheet. This barrier may be a piece of wood that you would not mind drilling into.

Drilling holes in acrylic sheet place the drill perpendicular to the acrylic sheet and set the drill to medium speed immediately. However the likelihood of melting chipping cracking or breaking the acrylic is much higher. The cutter bit must also be modified to accommodate the material properties of acrylic. Standard metal drill bits will work but without extensive modification the metal drill bit will crack and chip the brittle acrylic sheet.