PMMA / PC

What is it?

The two clear-plastic options, each with a different tradeoff: PMMA (acrylic) for optical clarity and lower cost, PC (polycarbonate) for genuine impact resistance.

Key behavior

PMMA is rigid and highly transparent but brittle under impact. PC sacrifices a little clarity and cost for dramatically better impact resistance.

Why choose it

PMMA when appearance/clarity is the priority and impact isn't a concern; PC when the clear part might actually get hit or stressed.

Applications

Optical windows, machine guards, light pipes, display panels, protective covers.

Machining notes

Both need sharp tooling and cooling to avoid melting or cracking at the cut edge — clear plastics show machining defects more visibly than opaque ones.