Creating Signs

Applications

You can use ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) acrylic sheet when manufacturing the following interior and exterior signs:

• Display Signs: point of purchase displays, including silk-screened or painted designs
• Illuminated Signs: fabricated and/or decorated panel signs (flat, raised, or thermoformed) illuminated from behind using fluorescent lamps or tubes
• Painted Signs: sign face may be hand-painted, spray-painted, or silk-screened by standard systems
• Raised-Letter Signs: flat letters of ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) sheet cut by mechanical means or by laser and then cemented into place of held to background sheet using fasteners
• Single Illuminated Letters or Characters (Shapes): raised thermoformed sign letters fastened to a flat panel or used individually
• Thermoformed Signs: small 2”x2” or less, or large signs thermoformed in vertical or horizontal ovens

Service Temperatures

Use ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) acrylic sheet at temperatures from 30°F (-34°C) to +190°F (88°C), depending on the application. Temperature should not exceed 160°F (71°C) for continuous service or 180°F (82°C) for short, intermittent use. Do not expose components made of ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) acrylic sheet to high heat sources, such as high wattage incandescent lamps, unless you ventilate the finished product enough to dissipate heat.

Expansion and Contraction Allowances

Allow for expansion and contraction of the sign face. The coefficient of linear expansion is 0.000040 in/in -°F (0.000072 in/in -°C). A temperature change of 100°F (56°C) will cause ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) sheet to change dimensions by about 3/64" (1.2 mm) per foot. Table 1 is adequate for installation at room temperature (68°F or 20°C) with a maximum face temperature of 160°F (71°C) and a minimum face temperature of -30°F (-34°C).

Examples:

• For a sign face of four by eight feet, allow expansion of 11/64” and contraction of 3/16” for the four foot length. For the eight foot length, allow expansion of 23/64” and contraction of 3/8 ".
• For lengths not in even feet, go to the next largest dimension in the table. Thus, for a length of 6'5", use the seven foot dimension.
• For lengths larger than ten feet, simply combine dimensions found in the table to determine expansion and contraction allowances. For a length of 17 feet, combine the ten and seven foot dimension allowances (expansion = 7/16" + 5/16 "; contraction= 15/32" + 21/64 ").

Code Information

Signs designed with ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) acrylic will meet requirements of Underwriters Laboratories standards for Safety Electric Signs-UL48 (in the U.S.) and C22-2 no. 2 (in Canada) as well as applicable municipal sign ordinances. Regulations vary, so check local codes.

Safety

This sheet is safer than glass because of its greater breakage resistance. When subjected to an impact beyond its resistance limit, it does not shatter into small slivers but breaks into comparatively large pieces. ACRYLITE® premium complies with American National Standards Institute {ANSI) 297.1-1975, Safety Glazing for Buildings and Canadian Government Specifications Board (C.G.S.B.) CAN-2-12-12, 1979, Glazing Sheets, Plastic, Safety.

Material Strength and Stresses

Although ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) tensile strength is 10,000 psi at room temperature (as measured per ASTM D 638), continuous loads below this value can cause stress-crazing. In applications subject to continuous loading, design loads should not exceed 750 psi at 73°F. (23°C).

Mold Design/Materials

Adjustable-size mold bases are commercially available - for example, the PVI (Plasti-Vac, Inc.) aluminum extrusion system, which features a porous mold board, can be obtained on the commercial market.

Molds can be of wood for short runs; aluminum is best for long runs. An S.P.E. #5 mold finish will prevent air entrapment if your tool is metal. Cover a wooden tool with felt, rubberized flocking, or thin polyurethane foam. To achieve special background effects, use wood-shake shingles, expanded metal, bamboo curtains, or other similar materials.

Luminance

Thickness tolerance for this sheet is carefully controlled, enhancing the sign’s consistent color transmission. Dark lettering on a large, bright background attracts more attention than bright lettering on a dark background if the sign is not back-lit. For back-lit signs, the reverse is true. If the width of the letters is about 1/7 the height of the letters, they can be read from a maximum distance of about 600 times the height of the lettering.

Adequate luminance of the bright sign background is necessary in back-lit signs. If luminance values chosen are too low, the sign may be too dark and lack eye appeal. Excess luminance may cause glare, reducing the sign's effectiveness.

Designing the Sign Box

In sign box design, provide sufficient support for the face. Minimize face bending or twisting, since either could cause blowout or damage. Sign box design should provide for easy servicing.

Planning for Service

Plan easy servicing access. For small signs, provide a hinged end panel to slide the face out of the frame. For larger signs, hinge one side or install service doors in the frame.

Fabrication In Sign-Making

IMPORTANT: The handling and fabrication information in this section is intended as a guide. More detailed information for equipment, procedures, trouble-shooting, and equipment materials suppliers is provided in the Fabrication Manuals.

Marking

You can mark paper masking with most writing tools, including pencils or ball point and felt tip pens. On polyethylene masking, mark with grease pencils and certain felt tip markers. See Handling & Maintenance of Acrylic Sheet, for general information.

General Fabrication

Woodworking equipment is usually adaptable for use with ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) acrylic sheet. Note, however, that exceptions exist. Improper fabrication techniques or dull tools may cause slight melting of this sheet. Watch for this during cutting or trimming operations. Proper tools and methods are available for an excellent edge finish. A router is satisfactory. Band saw cutting may require further edge finishing, depending on the quality of the cut.

For more information, refer to Cutting with Circular Saws and Routing.

Many plastics, including acrylics, are notch sensitive and can crack if edges are smoothed insufficiently. A smooth edge increases sheet strength. After cutting, smooth the edges to remove uneven ridges. Use a router, scraper, or carbide double-edged scraping tool. Edge surface also affects chemical compatibility. After trimming, but before painting, mask the edges. This prevents solvent attack and pads the edges to protect against wind vibration after installation.

Cutting

A table saw is best for cutting this sheet. Other methods of cutting include traveling panel saws and band saws. Control vibration to prevent overheating. Cutting speed should be fast. How much finishing is needed to produce a smooth, notch-tree edge is in direct proportion to the quality of the saw cut. Select a carbide-tipped blade for a durable cutting edge. A sharp blade will reduce finishing work. The blade's teeth should be of triple-chip design, with a beveled cutting edge on every other tooth to help clear saw chips. Prevent heat build-up with a spray coolant, thus reducing finishing effort.

If you plan to cut the sheet into individual letters, decals, logos, etc., laser cutting offers an attractive option. A C02 laser focuses energy onto a small, defined area, melting, and vaporizing the sheet. This yields a clean, polished, chip free edge. Use lasers to cut complex parts with minimal waste. However, since a laser imparts a high level of stress to the sheet's edge, anneal the part if you plan to apply solvent cements, paints, or inks to the edge.

For more information, refer to Cutting with Circular Saws, Cementing and Annealing.

Drilling

Drill bits for acrylic sheet are designed for a clean, sharp hole. Bits made for use with metal can overheat acrylic and create stresses, cracking the sheet. However, such bits can be modified for use with acrylics.

When drilling, solidly clamp the work piece to the table. Back up the piece with acrylic or plywood so the bit will continue on into solid material after it penetrates the bottom surface. Use a slow feed at first to allow the bit to enter the material. Again, slow the feed rate at the bottom of the hole. Using a counterbore, deburr any hole which may be subjected to forces from screws or bolts. Use a drill of larger diameter than the hole and deburr the rough edge on the exit side of the hole.

For further information, refer to Drilling.

Routing

If finishing is required, rout the edges of individual letters for smoothness. The router can be handheld or mounted upwards through a table. Select a double-fluted, carbide-tipped bit with a large-diameter shank long enough so that the entire collet chucking length is used. Keep cutters sharp. Dull bits cause chipping and overheating. Routers should have a no-load speed of 18,000 to 20,000 rpm.

Use a hand router and work with a pre-cut template pattern to produce prototype and replacement parts. The template may be made of plywood, fiberboard, or similar material. Guide the router around the pattern using the sub-base, template guide, or router bit pilot bearing assembly as the guide.

For further information, refer to Routing.

Edge and Surface Finishing

You can finish the edges of ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) acrylic sheet by any of several methods, depending on the finish desired:

• Polishing- restoration to high luster
• Sanding- matte or satin finish
• Scraping- matte finish
• Flame polishing- high luster (subject to edge stresses)

For further information, refer to Edge and Surface Finishing.

Cementing

Cement ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) acrylic sheet using common solvent cements or polymerizable cements. Machine the part's edge sufficiently to avoid stresses. Cement and cement fumes should not contact formed or polished surfaces.

Be sure to obtain a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) from the manufacturer of the cement you choose, and follow their recommendations regarding ventilation and personnel safety.

For further information, refer to Cementing.

Cementing Flat Letters (Characters/Logos)

Capillary cementing is well suited for attaching flat letters to a sign panel.

CAUTION: Improper cutting, drilling, and routing techniques can cause stresses. This can lead to stress crazing. It is helpful to anneal the material.

You can apply unannealed letters or characters with embodied solvent cement placed in the center of the part. Seal the perimeter from dust and water using silicone.

Thermoforming

Roehm America LLC has engineered ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) acrylic sheet for excellent forming capability. It has deep draw characteristics, unlike ACRYLITE® cast (GP) or other similar materials. Thus, molds for the premium sheet must be designed exactly to the configurations desired.

ACRYLITE® premium sheet softens as the temperature increases above 170°F (77°C). This gradually changes it from the thermo-elastic state to the thermo-plastic state.

Forming temperatures range between 290°F (140°C) and 320°F (160°C) ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) sheet has little "memory" after forming. If reheated, it probably won't return to its original flat shape.

For further information, refer to Thermoforming.

Working with Molds

For short runs, the fastest way to make signs is by using a universal panel mold base. This system's board does not require vacuum holes. Fasten interchangeable letter molds or forms to the base board as required.

Multiple Letters from a Single Sheet

Allow enough space between letters, a minimum of ½ times the depth of the letter, using the proper draft angle. Round sharp mold edges to prevent over-stresses. Avoid excessive depth.

Keep the draw down ratio low, 3:1 or less. This means the sheet should not be stretched more than three times its original size. Experience shows that drawing down to a one-inch depth with a 3-inch gap between letters or other dimensions in the same proportion makes the most durable sign. Width of the letters is not a factor in this computation.

Pigment Selection

In choosing a pigment, be sure to understand the difference between durability and color-fastness. A color may have excellent permanence on its own, but when it's tinted or shaded with white or other colors, permanence may be reduced. Similarly, if you reduce a color with a compatible clear to gain translucency or transparency, you may lose permanence.

Mounting Considerations

Consider the following when mounting signs:

• Thermal expansion and contraction of the sign face. Humidity is adequately covered by the formula for temperature expansion since high humidity normally exists with high temperature. See the section at the beginning of this brief entitled Expansion and Contraction Allowances.
• Foreshortening by deflection under load.
• Panel shifting from end to end.
• Fabricating tolerances (width of saw kerf).

Bumpers stop the sheet from deflecting into the sign frame under strong wind loads. Use them for thermoformed signs where stiffening is unnecessary. Firmly affix bumpers to the structural framing. They should extend out to within one or two inches of the face.

Top-hanging reduces sag and "oil-canning" (expansion of the sign face from the edges to the center and resulting ripples). This is because total face weight is suspended from the top. To construct a top-hanging bar, cement a continuous piece of ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) sheet, 6 mm (.236 ") thick by 1/2" wide, along the top edge of the sign face. Then slide the face and bar into the upper hanging bracket from one end.

Cleaning

ACRYLITE® Premium (FF) acrylic sheet's smooth surface lends itself to easy cleaning. Clean all signs at least once a year to remove surface build-up from air contamination. More frequent cleaning may be needed in some surroundings-for example, an industrial area. For routine cleaning, use a mild detergent and water solution. Rinse thoroughly and wipe with a lint-free cloth or chamois. Click here for more information and tips on how to properly clean, disinfect and maintain this sheet.

Equipment & Materials Suppliers

Suppliers listed below offer materials tested and approved by Roehm America LLC. Authorized ACRYLITE® sheet distributors may also offer materials and supplies.

Masking compounds
Spraylat Sign Strip
Spraylat Corporation
716 South Columbus Avenue
Mount Vernon, NY 10550
(914) 699-3030
Fax: (914) 699-3035