Description
Acrylic tubes are produced in two different qualities: cast or extruded. Cast tubes are characterised by excellent transparency and complete freedom from streaks and are ideal for machining. However, they are considerably more expensive because their production is much more complex than the extrusion process. In diameters up to approximately 60 mm, extruded tubes hardly differ externally from cast tubes, but they are more difficult to machine. In diameters of 150 mm and above, their quality can leave much to be desired in terms of transparency and freedom from streaks.
In addition to their use in architectural model making, acrylic tubes are also used in the manufacture of furniture, displays and decorations, as they are easy to bend when heated. They can be combined effectively with the tube connector system.
To prevent the tubes from buckling, they should be tightly filled with sand before bending and sealed with plugs at both ends so that the sand cannot be displaced. After heating to the forming temperature, bend them in the bending jig. To avoid wrinkles on the inside of the bend, pull lightly on the ends of the tubes. To cut the tubes, simply saw them using a metal-cutting saw blade with only a slight set.