Category Archives: Blog

Why Diamond Polishing is Essential for Acrylic

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When purchasing fabricated plastic products, there is nothing better than a clean and smooth finish with a pristine shine. It adds another layer of quality to the piece and looks very appealing. One of the best ways to achieve high quality on acrylic sheets is through the process of diamond polishing. Many processes used to form acrylics such as sawing and laser cutting will leave the surface rough and matte. This is typically not wanted as the aim of acrylic sheets is usually to be clear.

When using diamond polishing, the acrylic surfaces are passed over sharp diamonds rotating quickly, these will clean the surface of excess plastic and leave a smooth, clear finish. There are many benefits of using this polishing technique for acrylic sheets. Firstly, the quality of the resulting finish is the best you can get for acrylic sheets, with the resulting edges being as clear as the uncut surface. Diamond polishing will also remove any potential weaknesses in the material, making the product tougher and more durable. As the technique is quite inexpensive, it can drastically improve your value for money.

Despite its many advantages, there are some limitations to diamond polishing; it can only be done to straight or flat surfaces. Acrylic sheets with rounded corners or edges will require another polishing method such as flame or manual polishing to obtain a clear surface.

FX Plastics are expert manufacturers of acrylic products in Sydney. They can design, cut, and diamond polish acrylic to provide the highest quality product at the best value for your money. Contact us today for more information or a quote.

Different ways to polish acrylic

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Polishing acrylic sheets is necessary if you want smooth and translucent to clear finishes to your plastic products. There are three main methods of polishing acrylics, each method producing a different result. Different types of products will require a different method of polishing. The three methods used by most fabricators are Diamond polishing, Flame polishing, and manual polishing.

Diamond Polishing

This method results in perfect smoothed out edges on straight or sloping surfaces. Suitable for acrylic materials up to 2100mm in length this method will ensure your product does not have any structural weak spots improving on the longevity of the product. Overall diamond polishing results in attractive and longer-lasting products typically used for high-end retail, thick materials, and items that will be viewed up close.

Flame Polishing

This method of polishing acrylic sheets involves heating the surface so much that it causes slight melting to create smoothness around the edges. This is necessary on items with edges that are difficult to reach/access or for holes. It’s far cheaper than the other two methods and is faster to do whilst still providing high-quality finishes.

Manual Polishing

The last method used by plastic fabricators for acrylic sheets is manual polishing. Through utilizing a rotating polishing disk or polishing cloth with paste this method requires extensive manual labor and takes longer than diamond or flame polishing. Manual polishing is commonly used in larger items, low volume items and to repair or remove scratches.

Don’t get Complacent, Stop the Spread and use COVID-19 Protective Shields.

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Top plastic fabricators in Sydney are doing their part to stop the spread of COVID-19. COVID-19 protective shields are increasingly being used by many fast-food restaurants, convenience stores, medical practices to lower the risk of infection spreading during transactions. Protective shields are a precaution that causes no harm and demonstrates a business’s duty of care during these struggling times. Perception upkeep is an absolute must for any business especially now, so don’t be the business that leaves its customers in the dark wondering “what are they doing during this pandemic”.

COVID-19 Protective shields are made of acrylic sheets and are cost-effective. Plastic fabricators from Sydney, FX Plastics are a subsidiary for Covidscreens who offer quality protective shields at an affordable price and do much more than just sell them to you. The services they offer include site investigation, customization, installation, and maintenance. The stress and work is taken out of your hands and handled by professionals who are here to help your business and the wider society with stopping the spread of infection in beautiful Sydney. Inquire today at www.covidscreens.com or www.fxplastics.com.au to find out more about COVID-19 Protective Shields or Acrylic sheets and plastic fabricators.

Businesses at risk of spreading COVID-19 are installing Hygiene Screens.

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As discussed in the previous blog, a new priority has been set by many essential services on ensuring that health and safety measures are put in place during the COVID-19 outbreak to help reduce the spread of infection. A device for ensuring that a satisfactory level of health and safety is maintained between customers and staff is Hygiene screens or COVID-19 Protective Shields. The device blocks potentially infectious particles from transmitting between parties in a non-invasive manner allowing for regular transactions to function for businesses. It is not just the health sector that are installing these devices but every essential service still running during these times that are involved in face-to-face transactions with many customers on a regular basis. This includes retail stores, supermarkets, restaurants, hotels, convenience stores, petrol stations, etc.

Installing COVID-19 Protective Shields (Hygiene Screens) definitely should be considered by these customers however, it is not the only measure that should be implemented. Employers have been advised by WorkSafe to provide handwashing facilities and maintain those facilities, provide soap or alcohol-based hand sanitizer where available and put up signage that encourages and informs customers and staff of the importance of maintaining health and safety measures during this pandemic. Furthermore, personal protective equipment in the form of masks and gloves should be provided to the staff. These measures in combination with the installation of COVID-19 Protective Shields functioning as Hygiene Screens will ensure the reduction of the risk of COVID-19 spread within the confines of your business place. Every employer should be taking these necessary steps provided by WorkSafe and even are encouraged to go the extra mile by taking their own measures to help improve the health and safety of society.

Reap the Benefits that Come with Engaging the Best Laser Cutting Services in Your City

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A number of people might not be aware of it, but lasers increasingly coming into use in a myriad of applications with each passing day. Many people might associate laser beams with sci-fi movies or aerospace applications. But, in reality, laser cutting services in Canberra and other places use lasers to assist various kinds of businesses on an everyday basis. Therefore, you might not realise it, but your life could well be incomplete were it not for the presence of various applications and devices that use laser technology.

In the industrial sector, workers use lasers for slicing and transforming objects with minimal fuss. For instance, in the laser material processing sector, a laser will strike an object, resulting in the object undergoing various kinds of alterations. These alterations or changes take place because of the absorption of photons. For the uninitiated, photons refer to particles of light emitted from the laser. On striking the object for a specified span of time, these particles of light will change into heat energy.

Lasers are devices that control the manner in which highly stimulated atoms emit photons for creating streams of light. When a laser strikes an object or a material, only three activities can take place. Therefore:

  • The object or material will reflect the laser light stream
  • The object or material will transmit the laser light stream or,
  • The object or material will absorb the laser light stream

In some cases, two or all three of the above-mentioned activities could take place at the same time. It is worth mentioning that laser beams have a specific wavelength and colour. In addition, they offer tight and concentrated light. This is quite unlike light that a torch provides, which usually scatters or disperses in all directions.

The use of lasers has revolutionised the manufacturing industry. Laser cutting is particularly useful in the petrochemical, automotive and construction sectors. But, it is worth mentioning that this technology is increasingly becoming invaluable for manufacturing a diverse range of products for all kinds of industries. Laser cutting has helped manufacturing companies produce their wares more accurately, more quickly and relatively less expensively. Not surprisingly, many businesses are on the lookout for laser cutting firms all across the country to capitalise on the competitive edge that laser cutting technology typically provides.

What is a Laser?

Several people might find it hard to think that a beam of light could cut through various materials more easily than a spinning or rotating blade. This is especially so if the materials that needed cutting were metallic, glass, wooden or other hard substances. But, when these individuals reflect on this aspect, they will probably be thinking of traditional beams of light. Using traditional beams of light to cut through hard materials would certainly be a hopeless proposition. In contrast, if you were to use a concentrated laser beam, you would be able to accomplish this objective with minimal fuss.

For the uninitiated, a laser denotes a device that emits light. This device emits light based on a process of optical amplification, which traces its origins to the principles of stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation. The first laser emerged in 1960 by Theodore H Maiman at Hughes Research Laboratories. The term LASER is an abbreviation for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Some people might feel that a laser is similar to other sources of light. However, this is not the case. Unlike other sources of light, lasers emit light coherently. This trait enables workers to focus the laser beam on a specific spot in fields such as lithography and laser cutting. Lasers can emit light with a very narrow spectrum as well. This means that lasers can emit a single colour of light only, if required.

As mentioned earlier, not many people are aware of the extent to which lasers have come into widespread use in contemporary times. Laser cutting and welding companies specialise in providing laser cut intercom facia plates to spec. – among other things. Lasers are also an essential feature of optical disk drives, laser printers and barcode scanners. In the healthcare industry, lasers come into use in laser surgery and skin treatments. Law enforcement and military agencies use laser for marking targets. In addition, they use lasers for measuring the range and speeds of projectiles. Lasers are useful in DNA sequencing instruments and fibre-optics as well. And, many people would not have failed to feel impressed by laser lighting displays in fairs and trade shows. All of this does not merely highlight how versatile laser technology is. It also goes to show how this technology is affecting our lives more significantly than we might have thought possible.

What is Laser Cutting?

Laser cutting refers to a process by which workers cut precise patterns in a variety of materials, ranging from wood to metal. In the past, workers often used conventional machining tools to cut patterns into various hard surfaces. But, these devices did not provide the commensurate levels of accuracy and complexity that some applications required. The emergence of lasers in the 1960s, led to the evolution of laser cutting technology.

Laser cutting services in Sydney and other places use lasers for cutting various materials. The use of this technology is quite widespread in industrial manufacturing applications. However, in recent times, even schools and small businesses have been employing this technology to good effect. Industrial laser cutters are ideal for cutting flat-sheet material. But, they can cut structural and piping materials as well.

The process of laser cutting works by stimulating a gaseous medium i.e. carbon dioxide. This results in amplifying light reflected back and forth multiple times within the laser chamber. The beam of light will emerge from an aperture. Thereafter, it remains focused on to a specific point by a lens. Some of the most common process lasers will produce beams that are about 1/5th of a millimetre in width. These beams can focus 1,000 to 2,000 watts of energy at the desired point. This intensity is usually sufficient for melting a diverse range of materials.

However, this does not mean that lasers can penetrate entirely through all the materials placed before these beams. It is worth highlighting that as they penetrate a material, laser become less focused. In addition, they start losing energy as well. This is why experts recommend using this technology for making cuts that are below 20 millimetres in depth.

Another aspect that is worth dwelling on is the fact that lasers typically comprise photons. Because of this, materials such as copper and aluminium alloys can reflect away part of the laser’s energy. In addition, it is worth mentioning that these materials happen to be good thermal conductors too. As such, they will easily be able to distribute the incoming heat more evenly throughout their volume. Therefore, workers engaged in laser cutting will usually avoid using lasers to cut through such materials. Instead, they will use laser cutting techniques on surfaces that are poor at absorbing heat, such as stainless steel and carbon alloys. Materials that are poor at absorbing heat tend to concentrate heat into the path of the laser more easily. As such, cutting them with lasers becomes considerably easier.

For More Information About Laser Cutting Services, Visit Fx Plastics Today!

Battle between Plastic and Glass!

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An array of  many products being produced, acrylic or plastic is often preferred over glass. Some , acrylic items can be polished to attain the clear and polished look of glass using a diamond polisher. Apart from the aesthetics though, there are many more reasons why acrylic is the material .

  • Pieces made from acrylic are much lighter than their glass counterparts. Take the case of a plastic display cabinet versus a glass cabinet for instance.
  • Plastic is sturdier than glass and will not break as easily. They are also dent and impact-proof to certain degrees, so you no longer have to fear about your kids and pets running around the house. The only disadvantage is that it is more prone to retain scratch marks than glass.
  • Objects made with acrylic are cheaper than their glass or metal counterparts
  • Acrylic items are synthetic with UV-resistant coatings.

Acrylic has replaced glass in many areas including windshields for motorcycles and snow mobiles, display cases for museums or establishments, lighting fixtures, and many more. Complex acrylic fabrication procedures like CNC routing and machining will be required in the creation of many of the above mentioned products.

The way  Acrylic Fabrication Helping Businesses?

Acrylic fabrication has been helping businesses in a myriad of ways. For one, acrylic fabrication can help to create point of sale displays, plastic display cabinets and shelves that allows retailers to showcase their products in a stylish manner. This then attracts more customers to come over and take a look at the product, and can thus help in increasing the potential customer’s urge to want to buy the product – think “impulsive” purchases. In addition, these cabinets provides for a secured means for shops to display their products without fear because these cabinets are secured. The same is true for businesses in the food industry, where hygiene is important and flies are a common problem.

Acrylic fabrication is also a great method of creating branding materials for companies and businesses. Nameplates, signs, or labels can all be made through acrylic fabrication with the aid of computer aided drawing (CAD). In the same manner, cabinets and point of dale displays can also be customized into a wide array of designs and colours that reflects the company’s brand. This being said, there are more and more industries which are turning to acrylic fabrication companies to help them in promoting their business and institutions. For more information, visit FX Plastics Today!

Laser Cutting Service Sydney: Get Stainless Steel Benchtops for Your Residential or Commercial Kitchens

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When it comes to building and putting together the perfect kitchen, there are certainly many points to consider. Whether it’s a residential or commercial kitchen, everyone will always want something that not only looks aesthetically appealing, but is also highly practical and functional as well. To achieve this end, you’re going to need to decide on which cabinets you’ll want installed, the type of flooring to be used, and so many other things like lighting, furniture, appliances and others. Speaking of installations, one installation that you can’t ignore is your benchtop. Given their size and purpose, they do influence the extent to which your kitchen looks great and its functionality. There are different options available to kitchen owners when it comes to choosing a benchtop, but one of the most highly recommended is stainless steel. There are many benefits to having stainless steel benchtops installed in your kitchen as outlined below, as well as why you may want to consider using custom cut stainless steel benchtops from a company offering laser cutting service in Sydney.

Tailor-made to Your Preferences

Stainless steel benchtops can be laser cut and custom made according to your preference – and if you’re looking for laser cutting service in Sydney, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us. In fact, laser cut stainless steel benchtops are popular options because they can be made to fit perfectly in any kitchen. With these benchtops, kitchen owners can have a tailored countertop that looks elegant and perfect once installed.

Stainless steel is one of the most flexible materials available when it comes to laser cutting in Canberra. With a little imagination, you can have an interesting looking countertop made specifically according to your needs and wants. Along this line, you can also have stainless steel splashbacks made together with your countertop, or even have a sink attached to it, which makes cleaning it much easier because of the lack of edges and grooves between the countertop and the sink.

A Contemporary Appeal

One reason why many kitchen owners like stainless steel benchtops is because it blends perfectly well with contemporary kitchens. It has this nice sheen that gives it a shiny and sleek appeal. Because of the neutral gray colour, it is a perfect choice for all types of kitchen – whether it be residential or commercial. In addition, stainless steel also works well with traditional kitchen styles. If you’re having trouble incorporating stainless steel benchtops, splashbacks or any other stainless steel appliance in your kitchen or even laser cut decorative metal screens, you can ask the help of an interior designer.

Stainless steel also comes in the usual sleek finish or in brushed finishes. With brushed finishes, it will not be as shiny and vibrant, but it does come with the advantage of having a textured looks. If you are not sure whether to go for the traditional finish or a brushed finish, you can always drop by any retailer so you can see for yourself the difference between the two.

Durable and Resilient to Stains

Aside from being beautiful in the kitchen, stainless steel benchtops are also very resistant to water, heat, and other elements. This resilience to elements is one reason why stainless steel is a favourite materials for laser cut sculpture panels, laser cut decorative timber panels and outdoor installations as well. Because of its non-porous surface, water and any other type of liquid is unable to penetrate through its surface. One of the many issues that people have with wooden benchtops and even some low quality tiles is that they usually get stained with food coloring, grape juice, wine or any other coloured liquid. With stainless steel countertops, this should no longer be an issue. Now, you can let your kids who are aspiring to be chefs to work on the kitchen without worrying that they’ll leave messy stains on your countertop. If there are any spills, simply wipe it away with a clean towel and your stainless steel countertop will look just like new. As mentioned, stainless steel benchtops are also resilient to heat, so you can put down a hot pan on it and you don’t have to worry about damage (like cracked tiles) or burned wooden counter.

Create a larger kitchen

One of the best features of stainless steel is its ability to reflect light. If you’ve seen stainless steel laser cut house numbers reflecting sunlight, the effect is pretty much the same. When installed properly and with the right lighting, you can make the stainless steel benchtop reflect light and thus create a brighter kitchen. Aside from this, this can help create and illusion of a wider and more spacious kitchen. You will want to talk to a professional designer to help you achieve this effect.

Keep Flavour of Foods

Another benefit of using stainless steel benchtops is that they don’t affect the taste of food that is prepared on top of them. Stainless steel will not react with the foods and their chemical contents, unlike wooden countertops. This is one reason why many kitchen utensils are made from stainless steel materials because they don’t affect the taste of the food they are used in. Despite this though, it is still best to make it a practice to clean your stainless steel benchtops so it doesn’t develop any bacteria that can affect the taste of foods.

Stainless Steel Benchtops Are Sanitary

Stainless steel benchtops is a non-porous material, which means that there is lesser chances that bacteria and mold will grow and thrive on it. This is unlike tiles or wooden benchtops where bacteria and mold can grow in the grout or on the surface of the wood. This same property is why stainless steel is used in laser cut house numbers and other outdoor installations because it is able to resist mold growth caused by heat and moisture. However, it is still wise to keep in mind that bacteria can grow on stainless steel benchtops when not cleaned properly. Using an appropriate metal cleaner is sometimes recommended, but generally, wiping it clean with a towel and detergent should be enough. So when using stainless steel benchtops, you have lesser worries about your food being contaminated with germs and bacteria, making it not only delicious but safe as well.

Things to Wary about with Stainless Steel Benchtops

Although there are many good reasons why you should consider installing stainless steel benchtops in your kitchen, there are certain things that you’ll want to know first. Like in any other purchase – whether it’s laser cut shapes or laser cut checkered metal floor plate or whatnots, a little knowledge of both the pros and cons of the product is necessary. The following are some of the most common drawbacks of stainless steel benchtops, or stainless steel in general. By knowing these, you’ll have a better idea of stainless steel benchtops and thus be able to make a wiser decision when buying countertops for your kitchen.

  • Stainless steel benchtops are not scratch-proof. When you first buy and have stainless steel benchtops installed, they will have a clean and shiny surface. However, this won’t stay that way forever. After using them for years or even months, you will make a scratch on your stainless steel benchtop. The good thing about this is that stainless steel will develop a patina that will look better as it ages. And there is no saying that you will only make one scratch on your stainless steel benchtop, especially when you are not careful or subject your countertop to extreme use. But then, all those scratches will blend together and look natural.
  • Stainless steel benchtops can dent. Aside from scratches, stainless steel benchtops are also prone to developing dings and dents overtime. This is but normal, especially in commercial kitchens. The best way to combat this is to call a professional and skilled benchtop installer because the quality of the installation will play a huge part in preventing these dings and dents. What pros usually do is to layer the stainless steel over solid, which helps to absorb the impact and therefore reduce the occurrences of dings and dents.
  • Stainless steel benchtops can be noisy. One comment that you will usually hear about stainless steel countertops is that they can be noisy when used aggressively, as is the case in many commercial kitchens. However, the noise isn’t really too much of a bother if you’re using it at home since you don’t usually have to cook every minute like they do in commercial kitchens.

Custom Cut Stainless Steel Benchtops from Laser Cutting Service in Sydney

Stainless steel benchtops can definitely look great in any residential and commercial kitchen. But aside from the look, stainless steel makes for the perfect benchtop because it is sanitary and requires little to no maintenance. Aside from this, they can be very durable and last for a long time. Still, there are some things to consider when it comes to choosing stainless steel benchtops, and you should keep these in mind when looking to buy such item.

In order to get the best quality possible, considering going for custom cut stainless steel benchtops. This will make sure that your get the exact measurements you want for your benchtops, and at the same time you also get finely cut stainless steel so you don’t have to worry about any sharp edges that can cause unwanted accidents, especially when you have kids who love to run around the house and the kitchen. If you are looking for laser cut stainless steel benchtops, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through our telephone line at +61 – 2 9550 5844 . You can also email us through Sales and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can. We also do laser cut shims, laser cut intercom facia plates to spec and other laser cutting services.

CNC Techniques for manufacturing any machine entity in electronic and agricultural sectors

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Below are the different techniques for manufacturing any machine enitity:

  • Yield Superb Levels of Precision and Facilitate Easy Repeatability: CNC machines function by virtue of programs stored in the computer’s processor. As a result, you can run the program each time you need to churn out a specific part or product. The program will always yield an exact replica of the desired part. This consistency in producing precise and identical products makes CNC machines highly popular. In contrast, the use of conventional machines might yield products with slight variations.
  • Reduce Production Costs: Any reputed metal or Perspex cutting company in Sydney or elsewhere will use CNC machines. These machines will not be as labour intensive as their traditional counterparts. Thus, the production costs will remain low. As a result, you will be able to pass the cost savings on to your customers. This could give you a significant competitive edge in the market. On top of this, unlike human operators, CNC machines will not need to take breaks. Nor will they exhibit signs of distraction or weariness. This means that you will be able to use these machines on a 24×7 basis to increase revenues. CNC machines also help in minimising wastage.
  • Offer Enhanced Levels of Versatility: CNC machines can produce the most elaborate and complicated designs with minimal fuss. Some designs can be so intricate that even the most skilled of engineers could find it tough to make them. In contrast, CNC machines can produce any designs at high accuracy and precision levels.
  • Remain Superior in Terms of Safety Levels: When using traditional machining tools, the engineers will need to be in close contact with the tools and materials. This increases the likelihood of accidents – especially if the person’s concentration starts wavering. In contrast, CNC machines keep the moving tools and materials away from the engineers, which enhances safety levels considerably.
  • Require Minimal Levels of Maintenance: Many acrylic laser cutting companies in Sydney and other places use CNC machines. These machines can speed up production levels in minimal timeframes. In addition, they require minimal levels of maintenance. All that you will need to do will be to keep the machine clean. In addition, you might need to replace certain tools periodically. If you take care of this, the machines will continue to yield superlative levels of productivity with minimal fuss. Moreover, CNC machines will update their software as and when needed automatically. This will not require any manual intervention. For more information, Visit FX Plastics Today !

Design and Fabrication – Key Design Principles

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Design and fabrication is an approach with emphasizes on the importance of designing a product such that it meets the need and can be manufactured easily. It deals with dimensional tolerance to the number of components in a finished part so that companies can manufacture more parts faster and at a lower cost.

Simple products with fewer elements are more reliable and easy to assemble and they are also subject to less inventory control issues. Design and fabrication also includes the use of standard components whenever possible since it eliminates a lot of potential issues. Re-use of parts which have been designed and fabricated across product lines also ensures lower manufacturing cost.

Design and fabrication goes hand in hand which means that use of shapes which are easy to mould and avoiding the need for surface finishes that require additional work are given importance. One must also focus on limiting the number of machine operations required. Capitalize on smart and innovative designs with state of the art design and fabrication will reduce chances of error.

For more information, contact FX Plastics Today !

CNC laser cutting – Simple Mistakes to Avoid

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The main components of CNC Laser cutting machine includes the machine host part, control system, laser, chiller, regulator etc. Most of the recent models are equipped with self-diagnostic tools that provides key details of the CNC laser cutting system. In such case, one doesn’t really need to outsource all maintenance activities of the CNC laser cutting machine, rather in house team of technicians can fix most of the problems.

High wattage certainly makes CNC laser cutting machine to cut materials at a faster rate, however that is not the only determining factor. Other factors like the performance of the optical system where it can focus the beam onto the material to be cut can enhance productivity. The worn out lenses of the CNC laser cutting machine can be replaced to ensure focussed beam and increased productivity.

The CNC laser cutting doesn’t necessarily need a dedicated air supply system. Rather, one can use a supply hose and connect it to the compressor which can supply air to other operations along with CNC laser cutting machines. By making simple adjustments to ensure that common mistakes are not repeated, one can certainly enjoy enhanced productivity with CNC laser cutting.

For more information, contact FX Plastics today.