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PMMA, also known as polymethyl methacrylate, is one of the most common transparent engineering plastics and is often machined in large quantities. At ANKRO, we machine this plastic primarily for customers in the food, medical, and analytical industries, where its clear, glass-like appearance is of great importance. Curious to learn what else this plastic excels at? Find out now!
PMMA is a hard, transparent thermoplastic also known as acrylic, Plexiglas, or Perspex. It is lightweight, weather-resistant, and available in multiple varieties. With a light transmittance of 92%, it outperforms glass and is also more scratch-resistant than most other transparent plastics.
Engineers and other clients choose PMMA because the combination of optical clarity and machinability in mass production is unmatched by any other material. Glass is too fragile for dynamic applications, and polycarbonate lacks the necessary surface hardness. As long as the machining process is properly set up, PMMA fills that exact niche.
Wondering if PMMA is really the right fit for your application? We’d be happy to discuss this with you before providing a quote, so we can help you find the best solution.
PMMA is harder and more brittle than POM or PA6. How does that play out in practice? What do we need to take into account? Consider the following situations:
When dimensional accuracy must be combined with surface finish, this requires careful choices regarding tool paths and cutting parameters. Correcting the issue afterward is simply too late. The following two points are decisive in this regard:
At ANKRO, these are not exceptions that have to be reinvented for every job. They are built in from the start: for the first part and for the thousandth.
Making a single high-quality PMMA part is relatively simple. But delivering a thousand parts that all have the same dimensional accuracy, the same optical quality, and the same surface finish? That requires a stable, controlled process.
In mass production of PMMA, batch-to-batch variation matters. PMMA from the same supplier can vary slightly in machinability from one production batch to the next. A machining specialist who recognizes this will adjust their parameters. A machinist who doesn’t will produce defective parts that only become apparent to the end customer.
For customers transitioning from prototyping to full-scale production with PMMA, this is the difference between a supplier and a partner who actively contributes ideas throughout the entire process.
Would you like to have a series of PMMA parts machined?
In the food industry, the need is simple: the operator wants to see what’s happening inside a machine or pipe. Sight glasses, liquid level gauges, inspection windows, these are all components that must last for years in an environment subject to cleaning, pressure, and temperature fluctuations.
In the analytical and medical industries, the requirements shift. Here, the optical quality of the surface directly affects the measurement result, and a housing is not just a casing but an integral part of the instrument itself.
In the graphic arts industry, transparency is an aesthetic consideration: the quality that the end user sees in a display or showcase is the product. Three industries, three reasons for using the same material.
ANKRO machines PMMA in series for customers who know what they want, but also for those who first want to discuss the choice of material. Is PMMA really the right choice for your application, or would PETP or another engineering plastic be a better fit? We ask that question before providing a quote. Not because it’s an extra service, but because a part built with the wrong material ultimately doesn’t help anyone.
PMMA isn’t the easiest material to machine in series production. Experience is key here. ANKRO has been machining plastics in series production for over 25 years, using CNC machines for 3-axis and 5-axis machining and a quality process that is measured and documented for each batch. That’s how we work every day.
Would you like to know what we can do for your PMMA production run?
Please feel free to contact us. You can do so by phone at +31 (0)183 304 872 or by filling out the contact form. We will handle your question as soon as possible.
