PMMA is a multipurpose material of great durability, light weight, resistant to ultraviolet action and chromatically stable.

It is present in a wide variety of industries such as lighting, lettering or display due to its optical properties, resistance to weather and good behavior against wear.

Thanks to being a material that is easy to machine, it can be worked both with a milling/CNC machine and with cutting with CO2 laser technology. Therefore, depending on the type of our work (dimensions and thickness of the part), we will choose one technology for machining or another.

In general, when we use CNC milling and cutting machines, it will be necessary to eliminate the marks/scratches produced during the machining phases (the machine is in contact with the material), so a final polishing work will be carried out, allowing for different finishing options such as ultra glossy or a satin effect. On the other hand, if CO2 laser cutting technology is used, the edges will already have a mirror effect if the cut is done with the right power and speed.

In both cases, keeping the surface free of imperfections, whatever the finish, is essential to improve the strength of the part and avoid possible cracks.

Within the machinery suitable for polishing, we can find different tools, from flame/hot air polishers to automatic polishers with diamond tools.

Flame polishers allow you to polish all types of parts made with acrylic, whether with sharp, rounded edges or with notches, drills or scratches on the surface with one or more steps of hot flame, depending on the thickness. The tool produces a high temperature and very precise flame ideal for polishing, but requires a manipulator to manually use the tool and apply heat to the part to be polished.

Automatic polishers with diamond tools achieve high quality results with a single pass and allow a wide variety of finishes, depending on the diamond accessory used and the material of the piece. Therefore, with an easy and quick exchange of diamond tools, with the same machine you can proceed to polish compact non-ferrous materials, such as: PMMA, PMMA XT, PC, PETG, PMMA. PC, PS or other technical plastics, in addition to aluminum composites, and give a different finish in each case according to the need of the work.

There are a wide variety of models on the market, from small portable machines to large CNC-controlled diamond polishers for large, high-production parts. With the latter, the manipulator can have control over the depth of cut, the speed of rotation and feed, the polishing angle of the bezel, etc.

Diamond tools are referenced through a color code (common among different manufacturers) that determines what material they can be used with and what finish can be achieved. For example, for an extra glossy finish for colorless cast PMMA, a blue diamond finishing tool would be used, for a standard glossy finish for PC it would be light brown or for a PMMA with a matte/satin finish it would be green.

In all cases, the finish achieved with these tools is of very high quality, both in clarity and brightness, giving rise to aesthetically very attractive pieces.