What is Custom Acrylic Printing? When to Use It & Why

Customization allows the creation of something truly your own, which aligns with your needs, preferences, and identity. It can be used for self-expression, to create a memorable aesthetic, and to ensure a thoughtful touch. This makes custom acrylic printing a smart choice, whether you’re a business owner in need of impactful signage, a homeowner wanting to elevate your interior design, or someone searching for the perfect personalized gift. In this blog, we’ll further explain what exactly custom acrylic printing is, and when and why to use it.

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Achieve Your Design Dreams with Custom Cut Acrylic Shapes

Custom cut acrylic shape for a coffee table

Designers and hobbyists alike are always on the lookout for materials that can offer both flexibility and durability without compromising on aesthetics. Custom cut acrylic shapes provide the perfect blend of these qualities, making them the choice for various creative projects. Whether you’re transforming your home with unique décor, crafting eye-catching signage for your business, or diving into a personal DIY endeavor, custom acrylic shapes can turn your vision into reality. Their adaptability and high-quality finish make them indispensable for anyone aiming to create standout pieces.

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How to Work with Bullet-Resistant Acrylic

 

Bullet-resistant acrylic

Bullet-resistant acrylic sheets are commonly used in place of glass when impact protection or ballistic security is needed. The material is chosen for use in many applications from retail panels and POP displays to schools and television studios. It is less expensive than bullet-resistant polycarbonate and laminated glass, making it a cost-effective option for those uses. Underwriters Laboratories approve Level 1 bullet-resistant acrylic sheets  for the following: “protection is provided against complete penetration, the passage of fragments of projectiles, or spalling (fragmentation) of the protective material to the degree that injury would be caused to a person standing directly behind the bullet-resisting barrier.”

Bullet-resistant acrylic is also easier to work with since it is pliable and can be cut, sanded, and heated. Here’s what you need to know if you want to work with bullet-resistant acrylic

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6 Acrylic Barrier Uses to Consider

 

Woman sitting behind an acrylic partition in office

Before the pandemic, acrylic barriers and shields were hardly given much thought—if they were given any thought, or use, at all. Post-pandemic, however, shields and other acrylic barriers are more mainstream as they are a prevalent part of the personal protective equipment (PPE) toolkit. 

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What is Plastic Fabrication? Everything You Need to Know

Plastic fabrication

What is Plastic Fabrication?

Plastic fabrication is the transformation of raw plastic materials into finished products – from household items to complex industrial components – through the use of various techniques. The versatility and adaptability of plastics make them a preferred material in a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, medical, and consumer goods, so it’s important to fully understand the scope of the question, “What is plastic fabrication?” Read on to discover the different methods, finishing processes, benefits, and challenges of plastic fabrication.

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8 Best Plexiglass Uses in Your Home

Homeowners are always looking for ways to make their houses not only look better but also become more efficient. One of the easiest ways to do both is to incorporate plexiglass into your living arrangement.
Acrylic—which is also known as plexiglass—is a transparent thermoplastic homopolymer that comes in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Plexiglass can be used in several different ways. Plexiglass is typically sold in sheets and is available in styles such as frosted, mirrored, or non-glare. Take a closer look at these 8 exciting plexiglass uses in your home to elevate efficiency and design!

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Why Acrylic Works for Directional Signage

Acrylic plastic directional sign for public restrooms

Whether it’s a store, office, school, or hospital, people need to be able to know where to go. Enter directional signage, which will help visitors and staff get to exactly how to get where they need to be. So, what is directional signage? And why is acrylic the best option for it? Read on for all the details.

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What is ABS Material

 

Construction worker carrying hard hat made out of ABS plastic material

When it comes to finding a manufacturing material that is tough and durable, but flexible enough to be used in an array of ways, look no further than ABS material. Not familiar with it? Here’s a breakdown of what is ABS material and how it can be used. 

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5 Versatile Uses of Styrene

Popular use for styrene in packaging and shipping

Whether you’re a hobbyist, a DIY enthusiast, or a professional in the signage and display industry, styrene has proven to be a versatile and indispensable material. Learn about the many facets of styrene and its five remarkable applications that could revolutionize your projects in the blog post below. 

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Best Practices for Choosing a Plastics Supplier

Plastic is flexible, literally, and figuratively, providing a wide range of use cases. It can used to keep us safe, such as bullet-resistant shields and eyewear lenses. It can be energy efficient, such as greenhouse panels and UV-resistant acrylic windows. It can used to provide style and function, such as acrylic furniture and retail displays. But no matter what you are using it for, you want plastic to be made from high quality materials from a reputable plastic supplier.

Acme Plastics uses the highest quality materials available to distribute, fabricate, and manufacture products. Then there’s selection, stock, shipping, service, and satisfaction to consider. At Acme Plastics, we are proud to offer all the above—and competitive pricing. Read on to learn more about these best practices that we’ve adhered to as a plastic supplier in the USA since 1943.

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5 Creative Glowforge Project Ideas

Whether you’re a DIYer or designer, a craftsman or a maker, you’ve probably heard of Glowforge®. If not, it’s a machine that can cut, engrave, and print on a wide variety of materials, such as leather, wood, and acrylic. Technically, the Glowforge® is a CNC laser cutter engraver, but the company refers to it as a 3D laser printer. Whatever you want to call it, you can use it to create custom signs and designs, jewelry, accessories, home goods, personalized items, artwork, furniture, and much more. The machine is similar to a Cricut (the Cricut uses metal blades to cut, whereas the Glowforge® uses a laser). That laser can handle thicker materials making it more accommodating for crafters and professionals alike. Both machines use the SVG file format to print but make sure any downloadable files used are labeled for the Glowforge® or as a “laser ready SVG file” when searching for Glowforge® project ideas. Being able to create hundreds of projects from hundreds of materials makes this machine limited only by your imagination. Here are just a few Glowforge® project ideas to give you an idea of what it can do.

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10 Marine Board Use Cases

If you’re a boat owner, you might already be familiar with the benefits of marine board. A form of HDPE plastic, marine board is stronger than typical HDPE. In fact, it is formulated and designed to withstand the harsh weather associated with oceans, lakes, rivers, and such. Not only will it not rot, splinter, swell or peel, but it doesn’t require any painting, finishing, or maintenance. All of this makes it a popular choice for boats and docks.

But that is just the beginning of what is marine board used for. With that in mind, here are 10 marine board use cases to consider for your next project.

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5 Fun Acrylic Sheet Craft Ideas

There is no denying that acrylic is one of the most versatile and user-friendly materials on the market. Although it is half the weight of glass, acrylic offers up to 17 times the impact resistance of ordinary glass. While acrylic can crack and fracture, it is shatterproof and impact resistant. It is also as transparent as glass and comes in a variety of color options, including black, white, red, blue, yellow, green, and more.

All of this makes acrylic sheets the perfect material for an array of crafts. From home décor and jewelry to lighting and accessories, you can find an acrylic sheet art idea to fit your needs and bring out your inner artist.

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What Are Sneeze Guards and Where to Use Them

Asia businesspeople discussing business brainstorm meeting together share data and write on acrylic partition stand back in new normal office. Lifestyle social distancing and work after coronavirus.

When Covid-19 hit, companies, schools, restaurants, and other locations put safety measures in place to help limit the spread of the virus. One item that became a staple in buildings across the globe is sneeze guards, which are protective barriers made of acrylic or glass that help prevent the spread of germs and viruses. In February 2020, the World Health Organization advised the use of “physical barriers to reduce exposure to the COVID-19 virus, such as glass or plastic windows,” while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that venues “place a barrier between employees and customers.” So while they were once used almost exclusively in food service and healthcare locations, sneeze guards are now found in practically every type of building imaginable. From students and teachers to customer service reps and restaurant workers, sneeze guards have become increasingly popular in various settings.
Here’s a quick guide on everything you need to know about sneeze guards.

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5 Reasons to Use Acrylic Sheets for Your Pergola Covers

 

With warmer weather on the way, people are ready to start enjoying their backyard areas. One way to do just that is with a pergola, which can offer protection from the harsh rays of the sun or a summer sprinkle throughout the season. That means you’ll have more time to enjoy a book, eat a meal, or simply relax outside with family and friends.

After making the investment in a pergola, you’ll undoubtedly want it to last for years to come—and if it can offer more protection from the elements, even better. Enter acrylic sheets such as Acme’s Pergola Roof Panels. They not only resist harsh weather and UV rays, but are also easy to install, customizable, and cost-effective.

Not convinced acrylic is right for your pergola cover? Here are five reasons why you should make the choice.

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