If you're planning to laser cut or engrave acrylic, this is one of the most important things to understand.
There are two main manufacturing methods you'll come across:
Cast acrylic
Cast acrylic is made by pouring liquid acrylic resin into moulds, where it hardens into sheets.
Cast acrylic is generally the go-to choice for laser cutting and engraving.
It produces clean, crisp cuts and gives excellent engraving results.
Cast acrylic is also available in a huge variety of colours, effects and finishes — which makes it particularly popular with makers.
Extruded acrylic
Extruded acrylic is produced by pushing acrylic material through a machine to form a continuous sheet.
It can be useful for many applications and is often more economical, but it isn't always the best choice for laser cutting.
Extruded acrylic can behave differently under a laser, particularly when engraving. It can produce different engraving results and may not give you the crisp finish you're looking for.
So which one should you choose?
If you're buying acrylic specifically for a laser cutter, look for laser-compatible cast acrylic.
If you're using acrylic for another application such as fabrication, glazing, CNC routing or general DIY, the best type may be different.
Always check the manufacturer's specifications before purchasing.