Extruded Acrylic (PMMA)
Overview
Extruded acrylic (PMMA). Different from cast — made by extrusion, not casting. Cheaper but tends to melt and re-fuse when cut, giving rough edges. Not recommended for quality laser work.
Properties
Difficulty
intermediate
Pros
- Less expensive than cast
- Good clarity
- Easy to cut
- Wide availability
- Good for general purpose
Cons
- Lower clarity than cast
- Edges not as polished when cut
- More internal stress
- Can melt during machining
- Not ideal for premium engraving
Best For
- Prototyping where edge quality is unimportant
- rough functional parts only
Avoid For
- Any quality cut work
- display pieces
- awards
- any application where fire-polished edges matter
Laser Compatibility
Extruded PMMA — similar to extruded acrylic. Melts more than cuts cleanly. Best for engraving not cutting. CO2: engrave 250mm/s 30W. Diode: 150mm/s 80%.
Brands
Generic sheethardware stores